Learning to Walk in the Slow Lane

Remember when you first learned how to drive? Where did you practice? My husband and I are teaching our nephew to drive. We take him to empty parking lots and practice various fundamental driving skills. (I practice staying calm and giving constructive feedback.)  Driving forward, in reverse, braking, turning, and parking. As he becomes more comfortable and skilled, we practice driving in the neighborhood. He has yet to drive on the highway. 

Highway driving requires advanced skills. Guess what? So does teaching your dog to walk on a loose leash outside. Taking your dog for a walk outside and expecting him to automatically offer loose leash walking is like driving on the highway the first time behind the wheel. Neither activity is likely to be enjoyable, safe, nor constructive.

Loose leash walking practice needs to start inside your home. Just like driving in an empty parking lot, practicing loose leash walking inside your home has the advantage of minimal distractions and challenges. 

Leash up your dog and practice in a hallway, along kitchen counters, or the length of a sofa. Teach your dog to walk on a loose leash by frequently feeding when your dog is in the desirable position. Stop walking any time the leash is tight. When you follow a pulling dog, you're rewarding the pulling!  

Remember, you also need to keep the leash loose on your end so that your dog will keep it loose on his end. The less slack in the leash, the more your dog will want to pull away from you. 

Does your dog check in with you while on leash? Your dog isn't likely to pull on the leash and look at you at the same time. Inside your home, feed your dog for voluntary attention. Your dog looks at you without being asked, feed your dog! Practice this on leash as well. See how much more voluntary attention you notice after rewarding it for a week. 

Once loose leash walking is a breeze inside your home, ask someone to add distractions while you practice. Have someone squeak a squeaky toy, bounce a ball, and wrinkle a treat bag while you practice loose leash walking inside your home. Be prepared to work through these distractions. After your dog can ignore these distractions inside your home, you're ready to start practicing outside. 

If you can avoid walks outside until you have adequately practiced inside, please do so. 

Some of you may not have backyards and need to walk your dogs for potty breaks. I recommend tiring your dog out both physically and mentally prior to walking outside. Practice loose leash walking inside right before going outside. 

I hope this helps you put loose leash walking in perspective so that you can practice effectively. You're in the driver's seat and you decide where to train. Join my Walk this Way class in the Skills Solutions Series on March 1st! Make it easier for yourself, and practice loose leash walking inside before expecting this behavior outside surrounded by squirrels filled with road rage. 

Using the flirt pole to simulate animal movement to distract Zoey while she practices loose leash walking.

Uploaded by Jackie Moyano on 2020-02-03.

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