by Ian Dunbar

CD109   $10.00  (60 minutes)

Pulling on leash is a huge problem for many dog owners and they try and solve the problem by buying all sorts of specialized leashes, collars, halters, and harnesses. In reality, leash-pulling masks the real problem: What would happen if you had no leash? No dog , right?

Owners should not let the leash become a “crutch” in training. Instead, owners should train their dogs off-leash — to teach the dog to want to be close to his owner — via all sorts games and exercises to teach the dog first to follow and then, to heel by their side. Once the dog happily and willingly follows and heels off-leash around the home and garden and in other safe (fenced) areas, then owners should use 1. all-or-none reward training techniques to teach their dog to walk on leash and 2. lure/reward training and differential reinforcement to perfect snazzy on-leash heeling.