The dreaded loose leash walk…why is it so hard for most dogs to walk “nicely” on leash?
🌿Start by watching your dog. Maybe it’s in the yard, or around the house. How often does your dog walk at a steady pace from from one point to another? Probably not all that often! Dogs naturally move at varying paces and directions, and generally faster than we do, and with a goal in mind, not just to move. A strict parade around the neighborhood is just not something most dogs understand!
🌿There are SO many ways to help your dog adapt to this important skill, but we first have to realize that it’s not easy for them. Meeting their needs and making it fun for them MUST be a priority for them to respond well to the training.
🌿This video highlights two of the skills I like to use with leash training.
☝🏻Positional training, teaching the dog a position relative to your body. Here you can see Sarge check his position (his head relative to my hand) on a consistent basis. This position has a strong reinforcement history, and gives him clear expectations for the walk, so that it doesn’t become frustrating for him. Even though I don’t expect him to hold this position the whole walk, over time, dogs’ brains tend to default to the most highly reinforced behavior.
✌🏻Responding to leash tension. You can see in the video when Sarge pulls up ahead and feels the leash get taught, without any input from me, knows it’s time to check in. This is a great place to start leash training, as you can adjust the length of leash you’re using to set your pup up for success!
🌿If you’re feeling frustrated or unsure where to start, book a session with me and we can get working toward a well-mannered walker for summer adventures!
🌿What do you see in this video?
A happy dog, enjoying a walk through the woods?
Look closer! That’s a dog doing some muzzle conditioning! It may not look like training, but what Sarge is learning is that wearing a muzzle is no different from wearing his collar, or harness, or a leash— he can still have fun!
🌿Why? Well, in this particular case, Sarge struggles with going to the vet and being poked by strangers. Understandable. But at ninety pounds, this big boy makes the vet techs a bit uneasy. Understandable. So we make everyone feel better and have Sarge wear a comfortable basket muzzle.
Dogs who wear muzzles aren’t bad, or even sad, they just wear a little extra gear!
🌿Next time you see a dog wearing a muzzle, just give them a smile, they’re good dogs too.
Happy Easter! After you’ve found all your eggs, use those empty egg cartons for some enrichment! Toss in a few treats and let your pup play!
Quick and easy enrichment prep! Save those paper towel and toilet paper tubes, fill them with treats, and you’ve got yourself a puzzle toy that it’s okay for your pup to destroy!
I don’t know about you, but I’m more impressed by a dog who walks in a heel because they WANT to, not because they have to.
Not because they were told to, not because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t.
This dog was picked up as a stray in Detroit. I’ve known her for two weeks. And she is CHOOSING me over the environment. I didn’t ask her to, I don’t expect her to, but she wants to. (Included the audio so you can hear that I do not cue her to walk with me, ignore my good-puppy voice😅)
There is no reason, no excuse, for punishment training. Meet your dog’s needs and they’ll choose you.
Real trainers put in real work.
I never use any choke collars, shock collars, or prong collars. My dogs walk with me because they WANT to be with me, not because they’re AFRAID of what happens if they don’t.
This training makes for reliable dogs. Dogs that don’t require any equipment at all in order to follow my cues. Dogs that are happy and relaxed AND well behaved (yes-both are possible!)
The most important take away from these video clips-I’m not just bribing dogs along with a treat in front of their nose the whole time. This is a huge misconception about positive reinforcement training. R+ training REWIRES the dog’s brain and shapes new behaviors by making new associations and forming healthy habits based on the trust and bond with the owner. And that is something an e-collar will NEVER be able to do.
Training that works requires a TRAINER that puts in the work. The research. The time. The patience. The understanding.
How’s everyone’s New Year’s resolutions going??
Whether your dog just has some extra fluff to work off or is in need of some more in depth training, I’m happy to help.
10 week old golden doodle Finn here to give you some motivation to meet your goals (even if its just a spoonful of peanut butter).
Take a Walk Together
Walking your dog (or puppy!) doesn’t have to be a chore. No choke, no shock, no prong, just an enjoyable walk together. Let’s get you on the schedule, Ann Arbor, MI!