The Loose Lead Walking... Miracle?

When it comes to loose lead walking, many people's thoughts immediately jump to the abundance of tips and tricks they've encountered online, from family, or on TV. I used to think the same way! Initially, I operated as a typical dog trainer; I trained dogs! I did what it said on the tin, and that's precisely where I faltered. Some clients showered me with positive feedback, while others grappled with challenges, even if their pets had similar behavioural issues.

My journey with my rescue dog, Enzo, also started around the same time. The challenges I faced with Enzo and the struggles some of my new clients had led me to delve deeper into dog behaviour. I began to understand that many of the problems that frustrated dog owners weren't merely about training; they stemmed from underlying issues. As I embarked on this new understanding of dog behaviour, I felt like a novice once more – and I loved it.

But my lightbulb moment happened back home! My rescue, Enzo, was an obsessive, hyperactive, and frankly, rather stressed dog. He had a compulsive need to interact with everything and struggled with sleep. While he might sound like a prime candidate for a dog that would pull on the lead (which he did, earning him the nickname 'the locomotive'), I was more focused on his underlying issues, which I’d recently become aware of from my new learnings. The pulling didn’t concern me either. I was preoccupied by his evident struggles. I recognised his mental distress and wanted better for him. However, most people around me misunderstood, thinking he was merely boisterous and needed more physical exertion.

A few months later, on a whim, I decided to take Enzo into town. During our 30-minute stroll, he didn’t pull once. Despite zero loose lead training, Enzo walked perfectly around what used to be distractions, not exhibiting his previous compulsions to check containers, run in open spaces, or bolt around corners. This transformation highlighted a crucial lesson: it’s not always about conventional training. After addressing his frustrations, stimulating his mind, managing his arousal levels, and switching to the perfect diet for his body and mental state, these behaviours naturally resolved themselves.

For instance, heel walking requires training since it’s not a natural behaviour for dogs. However, before delving into such training, it’s essential to understand why a dog pulls in the first place. Imagine if I had only listened to others who dismissed Enzo's behaviour as mere rudeness or a need for more exercise. The need for food shovelling, bribing, or the use of harsh tools only arises when the root cause of a behavioural issue is being overlooked.

Training works every time when the dog is okay.

How’s your training going?

or rather, how's your dog doing?