I'm wondering if the following method, from Karen Pryor's website is a good method or not for leash walking. I'm a little confused about whether you can just do something like this, or do you need to figure out how to break it down into steps - like the retrieving demo on Ed's power of marker training dvd.

Here's the instructions I'm wondering about:

Your dog is on leash. You turn away from him and start walking. Your dog follows. As the dog catches up to you and is coming up next to you—maybe even makes eye contact—mark (click) and drop the treat next to your left foot. Don't keep moving and be sure the first few times that you let the dog know that you have food in your hand. Once he's finished his treat, start again. Show him the treat and then turn and take a few steps away from him, walk till he catches up, drop the treat next to you or a little behind.

Note: Dropping food next to your side or a little behind helps the dog to stay close to you. It prevents the dog from anticipating and forging ahead. So drop the food behind you or you can even let the dog take it out of your hand behind your back. Don't drop the food so far away that the dog has to drag you to get it.

Start again. Begin to walk in such a way that the dog is at an angle beside you or is behind you. As the dog catches up, drop the food behind you (or next to your pant leg). Once the dog has eaten the food and is coming back toward you, start walking away from him again. Try for more steps before dropping. Timing is everything! Don't let the dog get in front of you. If he does, pivot away, wait till he catches up BUT is next to you or slightly behind you (or his nose is at your pant seam), and drop the food.

Now it's your job to increase the number of steps before dropping the food behind you. Never drop food if your dog has gotten in front of you. Work towards walking more steps before rewarding. You can vary this and reinforce while he is next to you if you wish, or toss the treat way behind you so the dog has to hunt for it and then reinforce him for catching back up to you.

Lori, I am no expert but I would have to say that yes, this method can work as long as you are in a place where there is little distraction. I had problems using solely positive methods but a comment in another thread from Connie Sutherland made me realize that my main problem with leash walking was expecting too much from a very distracted puppy. Ultimately, however, we have managed success (despite my stupidity). I do not think it will work if right off the bat you have to take your dog to a place too distracting for it.
I give use the "With Me" command that I learned from Purely, Positive Training by Sheila Booth. When we do precision heeling I will use a different command (way in the future!) This mornign we had a wonderful walk with No PRONG and my pup walking happily next to my left leg and me giving the command and feeding treats every so often. When he pulled I made a circle and he is finally beginning to realize that pulling forward is the slowest way to get where he wants to go.