Walk & Wag

Practice a Structured Walk

Every walk with your dog should be structured or have structured elements. When walking your dog, I find it's best to walk with your dog in a structured manner, instead of having your dog pull you to say hi to every dog, and smell every tree. You should decide the pace of your walk and when your dog gets to go potty or have a sniff,

While walking your dog keep them on one side of you at your heel and release them from time to time to go sniff and smell where it is appropriate, Your dog can have as much time to go sniff and smell and explore as you like. But when it's time to go, your dog needs to understand to walk with you by your side. Over time this will make walk far more enjoyable for you both and in turn have longer walks.

How structured the walk is depended on your dog and what they need at that time.

The structured walk is broken down into three parts.

  • First, the dog walks with you and sits, for the most part, every time you stop or lay down.

  • In the second part the dog is released to sniff, smell, explore, or potty as much as you allow.

  • The third part is adding different forms of training to the walk everything from obedience like sits and downs, to focus and attention exercises, even fun tricks, and urban agility/parkour, and conditioning and desensitization to various things as well.

Leash Tension and Active Release

One of the most important aspects of teaching your dog is for them to understand proper leash communication.

  • Start by walking your dog around your home on leash and create a consistent pattern.

  • If your dog stops, get ahead of you or tries to walk in a different direction, use leash tension for a 3 count and then release, creating a rocking motion. Apply leash tension for no more than 3 seconds. When your dog gives into the tension, immediately give the leash back to them (active release) and move forward.

  • The goal is to walk the pattern you created three times without your dog having any tension on the leash and is following you.

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In this video, we are starting to teach Korean K9 Rescue alum Dax to respond to gentle leash tension and learn to follow, as we practice inside the house with little or no distractions to help him learn to walk with us with more distractions.

This later leads to walking outside as well as guiding them in other training aspects such as teach them “Place”.

Here is Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue Alumni Hank practicing the "Heel with me" exercise.

Here is some of the work we are doing with Miss Nala while she is staying in our "Train Away" program. 

Heel with me 

To teach your dog to pay attention to you by looking where you are we practice right turns with the “Heel" cue. Walk at your natural pace and be prepared to turn right turn 180º.

Right before you flip and turn 180º say “Heel”. If your dog turns with you great, you can use verbal praise or mark and reward with a tasty treat, if your dog does not turn with you, keep walking and let the leash get to the end, he will realize you are not there and hit the end of the leash, turn and walk to you. Keep practicing, repetition is key. The better this gets you can also practice changing the speed/pace on your walk. Always start in an area with the least amount of distractions and enough space. 

Puppies first steps

With your dog on a leash on your side take a piece of food or a tasty treat in your palm covered by your thumb, pressed against his nose/mouth as he tries to eat it, lure your dog forward and take 3 steps and then mark with a Clicker or “Yes” and give your dog the food. Keep practicing this until you can take more steps and longer distances. When you stop we will work on teaching him to sit too.

Loose leash walking with Attention

Start the walk with your dog in a sit on your left side. Show your dog a treat and get their attention, this will become "Look" you can say his name as well and once you have his attention say "Let's Go". Take a few steps and stop and have him sit. Repeat this and take a few more steps gradually increasing the distance. When your dog's paying attention to you Mark with a "Yes" and or a Click" and reward with a treat. Continue your walk and give your dog plenty of praise as your dog is paying attention to you. Vary your speed and change directions. If your dog starts pulling stops. When he stops and comes back to your mark and reward. If your dog continues to pull, change directions.

While walking your dog keep him on one side of you at your heel and release them to go sniff and smell when you say so. Sniff time is a reward, so make sure you are controlling it.

Slowing Your dog Down

There are a few techniques I use to communicate via the leash to remind them where we would like them our walk.

Pump the Breaks

Side Taps

Pressure to Sit and Relax