The Truth About Loose Leash Walking
Loose leash walking is a super common training goal for dog owners. It might look effortless when you see well-trained dogs strolling alongside their humans, but it's actually a pretty complex skill that leaves both dog owners and their dogs scratching their heads.
Why Is Loose Leash Walking Challenging?
Natural Instincts: Dogs have an inherent desire to explore their environment. Their noses lead the way, and they often pull to get to interesting scents, sights, or sounds.
Human Inconsistency: Inconsistent training methods and signals from the owner can confuse the dog. If sometimes pulling gets them where they want to go, they learn that pulling works.
Physical Makeup: A lot of dogs naturally walk faster than us. It can be a challenge for them to slow themselves down to match our pace.
Lack of Engagement: The environment is SUPER interesting to your dog. If you lack engagement with them, you are in a position where you are effectively competing with the environment for their attention. And guess what? The environment often wins.
Tips for Mastering Loose Leash Walking
Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward your dog with treats when they walk beside you without pulling.
Consistent Cues: Use a consistent cue like “heel” or “with me” to signal your dog to walk by your side. Consistency helps them understand what you expect.
Short, Frequent Sessions: Practice loose leash walking in short, frequent sessions rather than long, exhausting ones. This helps your dog stay focused and prevents frustration for both of you.
Use Games: There are a lot of loose leash walking games out there that keep loose leash walking fun and interesting for both you and your dog.
Practice in Low-Distraction Environments: Start training in a quiet area where there are few distractions. Gradually introduce more challenging environments as your dog gets better at loose leash walking.
Patience: Training takes time and patience. Celebrate the sm
Jasper Update 🐾✨
We have been doing my ROAM protocol 2 times a day, for approximately 5 minutes each session and we're getting somewhere!
He's lying down on the dog bed, which is great.
But here's the catch and here is where many people fail at ROAM with their own dogs.
Jasper is a high-arousal dog. He wants to go, go, go and has a lot of energy that lacks any direction.
Because we're shaping during this exercise, I have found him searching for the "right" answer (which is fine! Its part of the learning process). He is currently trying to find a BEHAVIOUR that results in the reward and hasn't made the connection that we're looking for the FEELING of relaxation and that the FEELING is enjoyable.
Dogs like Jasper try to turn this exercise into "work" sometimes.
So, I've caught him looking away from me and then quickly whipping his head back toward me as if to say, "Did I do it?! Do I get the treat?!"
Or, he turns his head away from me, but his eyes are still fixated on me and whether or not I am going to drop the treat.
So here's the catch - What we think we're teaching, isn't necessarily what the dog is learning and this has the potential to be just that. If I reward Jasper when he's attempting to turn this exercise into "work", he'll never learn to settle.
All I do in these instances is pause the rewards and wait for him to sort of abandon those ideas and try something that I can reward.
While we begin the exercise with a very high rate of reinforcement, for dogs like Jasper, the rewards should really be just a bonus and not something that he's "working" for.
You can see his tail in the video and where he struggles (tail wagging a mile a minute and him shifting and moving around) and then we end when he's settled a bit more (tail is still wagging, but is slowing down).
We're only a few days into this exercise, so I am overall very happy with how he's progressing. 🐶💖
#DogTraining #ReactiveDog #HighArousalDog #DogBehavior #PetTraining #Positiv
Well… It happened again. ANOTHER off-leash dog. 🐶
Oakley and I were in a much smaller area than last time, so our escape routes were really limited.
Oakley still struggles when triggers appear out of nowhere and surprise her. In this instance, people had been getting their dogs out of their vehicles to go for a walk, and so I was using this as a training opportunity.
…And then an off-leash dog jumped out of a vehicle and started running around.
At one point, the dog began running directly at us, but thankfully, had a pretty decent recall and the owner was able to recall their dog before it reached us.
But guys, this was a Super Mario Bowser, final boss level training session that completely took me by surprise. We were actually at the park just to exercise!
Here’s how I handled it:
✅️ The second I see the off-leash dog, I start creating space while simultaneously getting Oakley practicing her 'dove' cue.
✅️ No tension on the leash.
✅️ When I say 'dove' and she doesn't respond immediately, I give her a second. Turns out she was just 'gathering information' and not preparing to react, so when she was finished looking, she came back to me.
✅️ I rewarded generously throughout.
✅️ There are several times where Oakley disengages and moves herself away from the other dog ALL ON HER OWN.
✅️ When the dog begins to run towards us, I begin walking backwards trying to create more space. Oakley moves towards the dog, and we just do another 'dove'.
All in all, Oakley rocked it. I am super proud of the progress she's making and that we are able to make progress while also giving her more opportunities to make these good choices all on her own.
If you're struggling with your reactive dog, hope is not lost!
📨 [email protected]
🌐 www.idealcanine.ca
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#ReactiveDogs #DogTraining #OffLeashDog #DogBehavior #TrainingChallenges #DogTrainingTips #PetCare #DogLife #PetTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogTrainingJourney #Train
Maverick is working on calmly observing triggers ❤️
There is so much nuance in working with a reactive dog.
One of those bits of nuance is knowing when to let them look and when to get their attention on you.
There is a big difference between a dog gathering information about the environment and a dog that is preparing to react to their environment.
Allowing Maverick to look and gather information about the environment while keeping him under threshold will do wonders for building his confidence. 💪
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#dogtraining #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement #reactivedog #dogsofinstagram #doglife #doglover #PetTraining #pet
I've been seeing a couple of trends lately.
Trainers jumping to "How do I fix it?" without asking, "why is it happening?", "Is it normal?", or "Does this even need to be 'fixed'?" 🤔
The solution always being more structure and firmer boundaries, oftentimes to the detriment of the dog. 🚫
For me, we need balance. There is such a thing as too much structure and too many boundaries when it takes away from the dog's needs being met in a MEANINGFUL way.
✨️Meaningful✨️ being the key word and the dog gets the decide what they find meaningful or not.
As much as your dog needs structure, routine, and predictable patterns in life…
➡️ They also need to have their needs met…
➡️ They also need to be provided with meaningful forms of enrichment and physical exercise…
➡️ They also need to be given opportunities to express normal breed behaviors…
➡️ And they need to be understood as being highly skilled animals who have mostly found themselves unemployed…
➡️ We need to understand that we hold them captive in our homes, and because of that, we OWE it to them to give them all of the above…
So, trainers… Before jumping into the "How do I fix this?!", dig a little deeper, get a little more creative, be a little more understanding and be a little more kind to the dogs that you're tasked to help. 💡❤️
#DogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogBehavior #DogTrainer #DogLife #DogWellbeing #PetCare #BalancedTraining #DogNeeds #DogEnrichment #HappyDogs
Navigating an Off-Leash Dog with a Reactive Dog 🐶🚶♂️
It's no secret that one of the biggest challenges for reactive dogs and their owners is navigating those pesky off-leash dogs in on-leash places. 😬
There's something very unpredictable about off-leash dogs - you don't know if they're going to mind their own business or suddenly charge towards you. Many reactive dogs have had that exact experience of off-leash dogs rushing up to them and invading their personal space.
Oakley and I have been training hard, so I felt pretty good that as long as the off-leash dog didn't take sudden interest in us, we'd be able to avoid a reaction from Oaks. 🤞
As you can see in the video, Oakley's automatic response is to get closer to the off-leash dog (which is true of many reactive dogs, even though it sounds counterintuitive). So, I decided to take this as an opportunity to practice her 'dove' cue. 🕊️
'Dove' just means that I want her to stop decreasing the distance between her and the off-leash dog and instead, to increase the distance.
Some things to notice:
➡️ There is no pressure on the leash at any point.
➡️ I am allowing her to look and use the full length of her leash.
➡️ When I say 'dove', I am also moving backwards because I know Oakley is teetering on the edge of going over threshold. As I ask her to increase distance, I am also helping to create even more distance. The farther away we are from the off-leash dog, the less likely it is the dog will suddenly bolt towards us.
➡️ When she comes back to me, I am rewarding her generously so she knows she is making the right choice.
➡️ After a few repetitions, she comes back on her own without needing a verbal cue.
If you're struggling with your reactive dog, let's chat! I have several training options designed for reactive dogs and their owners.
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.idealcanine.ca
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#ReactiveDog #DogTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogBehav
Reactive Dog Training Hack 🐾✨
Here's a hack that can really help you and your reactive dog: Teach them to jump or climb up onto an elevated surface (picnic table, large rock, bench etc.). 🐶🧗♂️
Here's why it works:
➡️ Increased Visibility: Higher surfaces allow dogs to have a better view of their surroundings, helping them feel more in control and less surprised by approaching triggers. This can reduce anxiety and reactivity since they can see potential threats from a distance and prepare themselves mentally.
➡️ Safe Space: Being on a higher surface can create a safe space where the dog can observe triggers at a distance without feeling threatened. This can be part of their desensitization and counterconditioning program, where your dog learns to associate the presence of triggers with positive experiences (like treats) from a safe vantage point.
In this video, this is exactly what I had to do - out of pure desperation. We were SURROUNDED by small off-leash dogs that kept coming up very close to us. 😫🐕
I put George up on the picnic table and rewarded him generously for remaining calm on the picnic table while I managed the situation from the ground. 🌟🧀
Did George love how close the dogs got? No.
But did he react? No! He knew he was safe where he was and that, while the dogs got extremely close, they weren't jumping up on the picnic table.
It also gives me the opportunity to show him, through my actions, that I've got his back and that I will deal with it (relieving him of feeling like he needs to step up to the plate to deal with the situation). 🛡️💪
PS. I would have loved to keep the original audio on these clips to show you how I worked through it, but I was doing a lot of swearing under my breath that my phone picked up. 😂
#ReactiveDog #DogTraining #DogBehavior #PositiveReinforcement #Desensitization #Counterconditioning #DogTrainingTips #DogTrainer #DogsOfInstagram #DogMom #DogDad
Simba!
Simba struggles a bit with reactivity on walks.
He's your typical GSP, meaning that he is HIGH energy, has lots of feelings, loads of enthusiasm, and just wants to go, go, go!
He's A LOT of dog, and I mean that in the most loving way.
His mom's dedication to not only meeting his needs but to also work him through his reactivity is really admirable.
In this video, I am handling a dog while Simba and his mom are working on engagement, as well as Simba being able to calmly observe the dog I'm handling without losing his complete mind over it. 😅😂
They did GREAT!
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#dogtraining #dogtrainer #positivereinforcement #reactivedog #doglife #dogsofinstagram #reactivity #lowermainland #IdealCanine #PetTraining #DogMom #DogSuccessStory #practicemakesprogress
Most of us only get 12 summers with our dogs ☀️🐾
There is so much more to life with our dogs than strict training, structure, and boundaries.
Get outside with them 🌳
Have fun with them 🎉
Take them on an adventure 🏞️
Make new memories 📸
Make the absolute most of those 12 summers ❤️
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#DogLife #DogAdventures #DogSummer #DogLovers #PetLife #PetAdventures #LiveLifeWithDogs #MakeMemories #DogDays #EnjoyEveryMoment #PawsomeSummer #DogMoments #BestLifeWithDogs #FurFamily #SummerWithDogs #AdventureTime #OutdoorFun #LoveYourDog #PetParents #CherishEveryMoment
🐾 When George started working with me, he was quite young but already showing reactive behavior. His big reactions to people and dogs were very much "Go away!" kind of reactions. 🐶😬
In this video, you can see us working on several things:
🔹 The art of doing nothing while triggers exist around us
🔹 Practicing calm observation of triggers while he remains under threshold
🔹 Practicing being a dove (being a peacekeeper and moving away from stressors, rather than trying to close the distance and having big, explosive reactions)
Some key things to notice:
🔸 The frequency of my marking and rewarding
🔸 When I verbally mark and when I choose to just quietly reward
🔸 When I see him struggle, how I step in and help him
🔸 My use of the long line
🔸️ I allow him to look and gather information about the environment, but will interrupt him before he switches into "preparing to react" mode.
George has come such a long way and his mom has been doing great work not only practicing the skills that George and I work on but also balancing that with meeting George's needs in a meaningful way. 👏❤️
If you have questions about what I'm doing in this training session, feel free to reach out! 📩
If you're struggling with your reactive dog, reach out! I have several options for training available. 🐕
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.idealcanine.ca
#DogTraining #ReactiveDogs #DogBehavior #DogTrainer #DogTrainingTips #CanineTraining #CalmCanine #DogLovers #DogLife #PetCare #DogReactivity #TrainingSuccess #DogMom #DogDad #DogGoals #MissionBC #FraserValleyDogs #LowerMainlandDogs
So, I am doing an experiment. 🧪🐾
I am attempting to train both Bren and Juju to stack these rings, and I am trying a different training method for each dog. 🎯🎲
With Juju, I am using a technique called free shaping.
Free shaping is a training technique where you let your dog figure out the desired behaviour on their own, without guiding or luring them. It's like a game of "hot and cold," where you use a clicker or verbal marker to indicate to your dog when they're getting closer to the desired behaviour. With this method, you reward successively, which means that every small step she takes towards the final behaviour will be rewarded. 🐕🧠
With Bren, I am helping him.
I am getting him to hold the ring, and I am helping him get the answer correct by moving the post and lining it up before he releases the ring.
Now, on one hand, it may take longer for Juju to figure out what the final behavior is, but once she does, she should have a firm understanding of it because she's done it all on her own.
Bren may progress more quickly in the beginning, but he may begin to struggle once I start fading out my assistance and begin expecting him to do it on his own.
So… The question is…. Who will learn this trick first?🤔
Comment your answers below! 👇👇👇
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Follow me as I take Oakley for a walk 🐾
For the folks who are new to the page, Oakley is a dog who is both reactive towards dogs and people, with her reactivity coming from a very defensive place. Her family reached out to me after having tried other trainers. They were really at the end of their rope. 🐕💔
Our starting point was 100's of feet away from triggers - Walking her like a "normal" dog really wasn't an option, and her reactions to triggers were EXPLOSIVE. I mean, on her hind legs, barking, growling, snarling so intensely that she would begin to foam at the mouth. And she's not a small dog, so she's strong. 😱💥
We have been putting in the work and she has come SO FAR!
I know you're probably tired of hearing it, but she really is living, breathing proof of the transformation that can occur when you commit yourself to putting in the work.
Is the work done? Heck no! This is not as good as it gets for Ms. Oaks. We have much bigger aspirations than this! 🚀
We are still decreasing her threshold to where we can walk past a dog on the same side of the sidewalk.
We are still working on widening her social circle.
We are working on teaching Oakley to MOVE AWAY from things she doesn't like and to create space instead of what she would normally do, which is to close the gap and move towards her trigger.
I am also working on helping her less and giving her opportunities to SHOW ME what she's learned and what choices she's able to make. If she starts heading down a path I don't like, I can always step in and go back to helping her.
I am very excited to continue working with Oakley. I have seen so much growth and progress with her and I have seen a lot of new confidence in her family when it comes to handling and navigating life with her. 🌟🐾
#DogTraining #ReactiveDog #DogReactivity #TransformationJourney #DogTrainer #DogBehavior #PetTraining #DogLovers #ReactiveDogsOfInstagram #DogTrainingJourney #PositiveReinforcement #DogLife #DogMo
