Let’s talk about extendable/retractable leads… I never recommend them to any dog owner and this post will outline exactly why.
1- Dropped handles can cause dogs to bolt, especially those that are anxious or noise sensitive. The owner accidently drops the handle, this noisy and clumsy plastic object rapidly reels in towards the dog – I have seen many dogs take off in blind panic to try and outrun the handle that is ‘chasing’ them. This can be incredibly dangerous especially if you happen to be near a road at the time.
2- The brake and locking mechanism can malfunction. All to often I see owners walking along with their dogs on extendable leads, not paying attention to what the dog is doing. In a flash the dog has seen something of interest and they dart across the road, the owner desperately attempts to brake and pull the dog back onto the pavement but the mechanism does not engage until the dog is halfway into the road. Or these dogs attempt to go up to a on-lead dog, who may be on a lead for a reason such as anxiety, reactivity or recovering from surgery, which could quickly escalate into an uncomfortable interaction whilst the owner is then trying to catch up to their dog.
3- Whiplash injuries. Exuberant dogs will often full send enjoying the freedom of a longer line but are unaware of how much lead they have due to the constant tension. They suddenly hit the end of the lead which can cause whiplash injuries to their necks. I have seen many dogs hit the end of the lead with such force, they somersault backwards, sometimes even pulling the owner off their feet at the same time.
4- Extendable leads can encourage bad habits such as pulling on the lead. This is because the dog becomes desensitized to lead tension, which is the foundation of loose lead walking skills.
5- Lines can snap. I have seen and experienced this myself. Strong dogs can snap the lines, especially if the recommended weight for the lead has been exceeded. Having this happen can
Fabulous work by Jasper at the Beginners Hoopers class this evening! 🐾
Most owners would like their dogs to be able to walk nicely on the lead. Not only does this make your walks more enjoyable but it can strengthen your relationship to each other 🐾
All you need is clear communication and consistency and your dog could be walking like this! Keep up the great work Bear!
Bear is absolutely smashing his Hoopers training, just look at him go! 🐾
A fantastic session with Billie today! The sound of the doorbell would lead to her jumping excitedly at the door and scrabbling at the side window to greet her visitors!
Here we are redirecting her to the blanket and then asking her to wait patiently for the door to open. Great progress has been made so far and I am excited to continue building on this foundation 🥰🐾
Crate training 🐾
Bear is making fantastic progress with his crate training! Here you can see he is choosing to stay inside even with the door open whilst his owner walks away. This is the foundation of gaining some independence and reducing the need to follow his owner from room to room.
Crates are useful training tools as they help dogs relax or deal with their anxiety.
Crate training your dog can help encourage a sense of security and give them a safe space that is their own. Sometimes just giving your dog the option to go somewhere that they feel safe and comfortable can help them to relax. Building this association can mean that the presence of the crate can help them stay calm and confront new situations successfully.
Luna loves her handmade snuffle-ball! 😍
Thank you for sending in this video of Luna enjoying my handmade snuffle-ball! 😍🐾
Check out the photo in the comments!
Recall session with Bear 🐻
A fantastic recall session with Bear! Well done 👏
"Leave" Exercise
💥Impulse Control/ Self Control! 💥
Dogs that have no impulse control display "I WANT IT NOW" attitudes and behaviours!
Here Luna is demonstrating resisting the temptation of a treat after being asked to "Leave". Well done, keep up the good work! 👏
It's nice to share! 🐾
Here we see Billie's wonderful demonstration of dropping items on command, even her "high value" tuggy toy.
She is consistently replicating this behaviour after just one session! Good job Billie! 🐾
Loose lead walking 🐾
One of the biggest problems owners have is their dog pulling on the lead! It's frustrating and definitely ruins the enjoyment of walking your dog.
In this video, you can see Kayla choosing to check in with me on a long relaxed lead on our walk, making our time much more enjoyable!🐾
Let me know if you would like to start enjoying some stress free walks!
Car training 🚗
Billie was not a fan of going in the car! She would lie down and try to back away when approaching the boot. Just look at her now after using positive reward based training to improve her confidence! Keep up the good work 🥰
Group walk
A little view of our current walk!🥰🐾
Happy pack! 🐾
Happy pack! 🐾
