Longlines allow our dogs so much more freedom than a normal short lead whilst retaining some security and safety when we don't 100% trust their recall. If I didn't use a longline with Lilly I've got two options:
1) Let her offlead despite not trusting her recall and hope it all works out okay
2) Walk her on a short lead and dramatically restrict her experience on such a long walk.
Both those options suck so I use a longline whilst we're on our reliable recall journey.
If you would like to work with your dog on a longline and start your own reliable recall journey check out the link in our bio and book a Discovery Call to see how we can help!
Also big 👍 to @peakpawshooves - love your longlines ❤️
Neutral Walks are a great start, but why stop there?
While our Neutral Walks are ideal for building confidence, working on reactivity, and encouraging calm behaviour around other dogs, we believe there’s more to your dog’s social development!
For many owners, the goal isn’t just neutrality—it’s having a dog that behaves appropriately and safely in social settings, understands canine body language, and coexists peacefully with other dogs.
On our recent Neutral Walk, many of the dogs are nearly ready to progress to our structured Social Walks. To test their progress, we introduced our dog, Obie, as an off-lead distraction among the group!
The dogs did incredibly well—they were polite around Obie, and a few even shared nice brief greetings. Seeing the dogs in this ‘in-between’ stage of training was fantastic, and all the owners should be proud of how their dogs managed Obie’s presence.
It’s easy to plateau in training, but it’s essential to keep pushing forward so your dog can reach their full potential.
Join us on our next Neutral Walk or book a Social Walk assessment to see if your dog is ready! ⬇️
www.constellationdogtraining.co.uk/booking
TAILS.. and why you'll hear us talk about them a lot!
When we conduct Social Walk assessments (and during the walks themselves), one of the key body language cues we focus on is the tail. While many of us learn that "a wagging tail means a happy dog," there's actually a lot more that dogs communicate through their tails. This simple statement barely scratches the surface!
In this video, Ryan explains what's happening with Obie and Bella, and what they're saying to each other and the world through their tails. Both dogs have relatively low tails, indicating they're comfortable and relaxed. Obie’s wide, slow wag shows he's content, while Bella’s faster wag, although natural for a spaniel, also suggests she’s more excited and eager to play.
Learning to "speak dog" is a skill that can transform your relationship with your dog, and we're here to help you master it 🫶
To learn more about our Social Walks or other services, or to book a Social Walk assessment, visit our website ⬇️
www.constellationdogtraining.co.uk
