Loose Leash Walking Summary

Loose Leash Walking encompasses many different skills. We are planning several more posts on the subject. As we post, I hope to bring them all together on this one page.

Loose Leash Walking. Part 3. No Equipment

In our last post, we talked about equipment. But we aren't ready to use it just yet.  Ideally we want the leash to be a safety item, not a steering item.  So we start indoors and reward our dogs for walking next to us or following us around.

Proofing

Murphy and I were at the dog park a while back. We saw a lady enter with two dogs. Before letting them off the leash, the lady told her dogs to sit. The dogs just stood there waiting patiently to be let off leash. She asked them again in a harsher tone. The dogs just stood there. She started yelling at the dogs and the dogs just stood there. Then she started yanking the dogs and they continued to just stand there. Then she kicked the dogs several times. They still stood there. Then she yanked, yelled, and kicked at the same time, and the dogs finally sat. Then she let them off leash to play.

Loose Leash Walking. Part 2. Equipment

Since we are teaching our dogs how to pay attention to us and walk along with us, we do not need to use any type of equipment that will cause or pain, discomfort, or injury - so no choke chains nor prong collars are necessary.

Loose Leash Walking. Part I. Foundation. Attention and Basics

Loose leash walking is one of the harder dog training skills to master (for human and dog). It's about so much more than simply keeping the leash loose. Our pups need to learn how to tune in to us, and not get too worked up about distractions.

When Your Dog Gets Bushy

Well bushy is what I call it. Most folks probably refer to it as a dog who has her/his hackles up.  A more technical term is "piloerction" (like goose bumps in humans).

Nail Trims. Part 15. Don't Be Stingy

Not only do I give treats after each toenail grind,  but I also sometimes give a treat after each pass on a single toenail - i.e. grind/treat, grind/treat. Which means one toe might yield 3 treats. Which means by the time we are done, my dogs have eaten anywhere from 18 to 50 treats.