Loose Leash Heeling vs Controlled Walking

Uploaded on January 30, 2014 • 9 min
Using a harness to fix pulling when taking a dog for a walk is a common mistake from new dog owners. This question and answer is from a customer who is having this exact problem. Ed will explain what the options are to train a dog to walk on a leash and what we consider the 3 different ways of taking a dog for a walk.

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swanson8714
February 5, 2016
I like how it mentions how hard to pop the collar....I've been doing it too hard on my GSD and now realize that it is probably stressing her out...she constantly looks down and puts her ears back when I give a correction even though she's happy about putting on the collar.
billypayton
April 9, 2015
Great talk, lets me know I'm on the right track.
SEllsessor
January 31, 2014
Mr. Frawley, Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences with all of us. This paticular segment has cleared up so much for me. I have a 2 1/2 yr. old shepherd that even with a prong collar(lg links) still likes to pull on the leash when loose leash walking. She does not self correct. I have the dominant dog collar I purchased from you but have not used it yet. I will be getting the double ended leash and a small link prong collar. As of late, I have been using the sense-ation harness which I purchased from you also and that seems to control her somewhat. She is definitely what you would classify as a Hard Dog.
continueded4training
January 31, 2014
Thanks Ed! That was perfect! As a Certified Dog Trainer I am working hard to help my owners understand about pulling. I don't use prong collars to start, however, if the owner has one and the dog is too distracted especially with a high prey drive, I have had to resort back to it. After about 3 pops with 'a command' put to that and a 'praise' and food, I get the dog to work with me in one short circle around my cones.

I will go to the next level of using an apparatus that is required if necessary. I do however need to be very careful because of the psyche in the use of these more harsher methods. People are just scared of them and yes, they get stupid with the idea of using them. I always instruct the owners to give it a command and praise (with food) to teach the dog what you are asking him to do. You can't expect a dog to learn and retain it if you don't give it a command (or a name: identifying the object to keep the dog from knowing what it is while delivering the appropriate command, keeping him from taking you done and staying with you, under your control. The Leadership Position, the Heel, is what I teach and has been very successful with.)

I really like your talk about the back up collar to the prong. Makes lots of sense. Also, I have owners with huge, large and strong breeds that have a very large prong collar on their dog and I see stress in the dogs face. Not to mention, they look like they want to react in a very bad way, so I take that off the dog and start using food to motivate with lots of praise and I watch the stress removing (most of the time) from the dogs face and a look that shows he/she feels better. I do put on 1 of 2 different types of harnesses but not the original, traditional body harness and it really has truly made a huge difference in the dogs temperament and willingness to comply better with it on them. However, if the pulling has become a habitual habit then there is more work to be done.

What I do is teach the heel in order to get the dog back to the owner (or in my case to me with my 90lb dog). This is one of my back up commands to the come since that was very negative (a punishment) in his first 4 years with the previous owner. When I stop, no matter how far out he is on the leash, 6 ft or 15 ft., he knows that I want him back to my side in the 'Heel' position. It is sloppy at times because he just wants to keep going but he knows where I want him to be when we stop. Still working on the HIGH distractions. Getting there.

All that said to say...Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. I do value it.

I also like the way you've described the controlled walking and the heel. One thing I have trouble with is allowing the dog to be so close in a heel that we (or an owner) end up tripping over the dog or visa versa.

Many thanks for sharing your knowledge to us. I have had an officer tell me that I talk like you or we say the same things. You help me hear what I say, but you say it better!
trenns
January 30, 2014
Very informative video I took in a lot from this. Liked how he used a personal experience also.
lynda
January 30, 2014
Great info. ABs are bullheaded. Can't wait for your online course. Any date yet?
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