08/29/08 Bend
 
Advanced Training Techniques-Leash Walking
 
If you work on paying attention to your dogs and remind them that you are on the other end of the leash, your dogs will listen and behave better on walks.  If you incorporate some of the below suggestions into your daily walks, you will have a dog with good leash walking skills.  If your dog is not performing these skills well, it means you need to lower the distraction level and go to a quieter area to work.
 
Step One- Change direction frequently and vary your route.  Often dogs know exactly where we are going.  We walk the same route and march straight ahead.  Our dogs say, hey, I know where you are going, let me take you there.  On occasion walk across the street and back again.  Take sharp right turns, left turns, and u-turns to get their attention.  You don't have to do this your entire walk, but if you mix it up on your walks, your dog will understand his job is to pay more attention.  In the beginning you will have to do it more until his skills get better.
 
Step Two- When there is a distraction up ahead, like another dog, bicyclist or even just a walker, take your dog to the side of the walkway and put them into a sit/stay and tell them to look at you.  This tells the dog you are in charge and it is their job to pay attention to you under distractions.  If you do this you will get lots of positive comments from strangers about what a well behaved dog you have and what a good citizen he is.
 
Step Three- Incorporate stays in your walks. On occasion stop and put your dog in a stay, and go out to the end of the leash and back.  Put them in a stay and walk around them.  Again this shows your dog you are in charge.
 
Make sure to reward and praise your dog frequently when they behave well on a leash.  Make it fun to be a good dog, and both of you will enjoy your walks more.
If there's a topic you'd like covered in future episodes, email me at trainingdogs123@bendbroadband.com
 
Meredith Gage
Pawsitive Experience