I've always held that walking a dog should be a relaxing calm time, and that I'm the leader. Watching Cesar Millan's shows, he really zeroes in on the walk. It's the first thing he does with any dog he goes to rehabilitate. He maintains that the walk is crucial in developing pack structure and that anything the dog wants to do, he is not allowed to do unless it's on the pack leader's terms, pack leader deciding when and where, not the dog's terms, even sniffing. Also the dog always walks next to him, not behind him, not in front of him. It may be that your 4 yr old is a bit confused as to who leads when (at home, you - on walks, him). Which may account for his "crying" when you're out front. He maybe feels that you're going out front or for a walk without his "supervision". He may even fear for your safety cause he's not able to keep his eyes on you, since when he walks with you, he's always checking to make sure you're alright.

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Well, I hope others will chime in here, but to me, walking with my dogs reinforces the pack structure.

They are released often to sniff and wander and do dog stuff to the end of the lead, while I stand, but when we are walking, they are *not* leading me. They enjoy the walks and, as I say, they are released from heel often. Also, I don't mean a formal snappy marching heel on regular walks. I do mean, though, that they do not lead me.

Maybe I put what seems to be a lot of emphasis on this. For me, going first out the door and in the door and always leading on walks are important pack leader actions. In fact, I learned a long time ago (at a seminar) to take a new dog for a walk before starting any training or, if he's my new dog, before entering the house with the dog.

When I volunteer at a local shelter, I make it a point to precede the dog out the door when we head out for a walk, too.

JMO! I am interested to read others' ideas about this.

Yes, Yes, Yes!!! My thoughts exactly. NEVER let your dog lead on a walk. That is one of if not the most important function as leader is to LEAD not follow. He may be whining because he is not there to lead you and is unsure you are safe and doing the right thing. I beleive the right thing for you to be doing (IN HIS MIND) is being his buddy and satifying his need for affection. We as trainers can not mistake love for leadership. To a dog things such as down, sit, stand, etc... are not common leadership duties they just get him want he wants. This means in his mind he is still controlling you because he is doing it for his own end, the reward! Yes we want dogs to be happy to perform the commands not just because they have to, but, to stop this you must put in his mind that he is doing it for BOTH reasons, YOU ARE LEADER, and he gets a reward on YOUR terms NOT his <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck.

""Maybe I put what seems to be a lot of emphasis on this. For me, going first out the door and in the door and always leading on walks are important pack leader actions. In fact, I learned a long time ago (at a seminar) to take a new dog for a walk before starting any training or, if he's my new dog, before entering the house with the dog.""

Did you just watch cesar milan hahaha just kidding. I agree for the average home owner that when going for walks the dog should be by your side or even a little behind you then released to sniff and go to the bathroom. But as for me when i go hiking i let them be free in their natural environment. I think this is very important to maintane the dogs natural instincts "as long as your dog is trained well". I have no problem with control and having extablished the role of pack leader. That`s why i let them roam free when hiking. I sent him on a deer and when he was about 5 feet away i told him down and without hesitation he downs. So with control like that i can let the dog be free and enjoy his natural surroundings.

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"".... I learned a long time ago (at a seminar) to take a new dog for a walk before starting any training or, if he's my new dog, before entering the house with the dog.""

Did you just watch cesar milan hahaha just kidding.

It was a Cesar Millan seminar, Mr. Smarty! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I would never deny that those are his lessons. In the good old days, his seminars and other access to him were readily available. I wish I had heard about him long before I did......... he started TV soon after I met him, and all heck broke loose! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

He deserves every ounce of his success and fame, and I have every episode just about memorized, but I do kind of miss those seminars when they were inexpensive, not booked solid a year in advance, and roomy for each person and his/her dog........ those days are over.

So you were 100% correct when you guessed that it was CM who taught me, along with many others, about walking with every dog I train (or own) before doing anything else.

It was a very good lesson, which I never forgot, and I pass it along whenever I can.

P.S. I think roaming free when hiking is a little different, especially when you have excellent control of your well-trained dog.

It's the dailiness of pack leadership that I think is important: the dog moves out of the handler's way; the dog follows the handler; the dog is not in charge.

I imagine that you have a word or signal that tells your dogs they are free to go off on a hike, and another that tells them it's time to come to you. That would be different only in degree from the release from heel on a walk to go sniff and pee...... it's at the person's discretion.

Hi Michael,

Just thought i'ld pitch in here about the whole "walking" issue.

When I walk my dog, he's in heel, left side. When we get to the park I release him (but keep him on a long line)so that he can sniff around and play and get some exercise on his own, but to establish that whole "pack leader issue even when he's been released, I do call him back to me every so often, changing direction on him so that he has to follow me and realize that even though he does have a bit of freedom, he still has to do what I saw and when I say it.
I enjoy seeing him run around playing, chasing butterflies, rolling around and runnning in the snow, playing fetch etc etc...he loves it and I don't have any issues with him challenging me or second guessing I am the pack leader.
I don't see a problem with letting him run around at a park and being away from your side then. But thats me.
But definately, when we're walking to the park he is right by my side...no exceptions there.