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Having a good, engaged, and obedient walk is the foundation for most other training, it is nearly impossible to have a reliable recall without a solid and engaged walk. You teach your dog confidence on your walk, you show your dog new novel environments on your walk, you solidify your newly found leadership relationship on your walk. Do not skip keeping your dog accountable for their behavior while on your walk!
There are a few important reasons to prioritize loose leash walking (aka your dog not dragging you everywhere).
1. Leash pressure is communication.
A leash isn’t just a tether — it’s one of the most valuable ways we “speak” to our dogs. If they’re pulling constantly, that steady pressure becomes white noise. When you finally try to use leash pressure to mean something, your dog won’t notice — they’ve tuned it out.
2. Constant pressure builds frustration.
If your dog tends toward leash reactivity, I’d bet they’re more reactive when pulling. Think of it like a frat guy in a bar: when his friends are holding him back, he puffs up and acts tough. But if they actually let him go, he’s usually much less intense. Dogs can be the same way - a tight leash often makes them feel bolder, more frustrated, and more explosive.
A loose leash isn’t just about manners on a walk, it’s about clear communication, less frustration, and a calmer dog overall.
Why Have a Loose Leash?
The walk
We have taught all dogs in our program that they should be in the heel position when they are in the 'here' command. Even though your dog knows this command, that does not mean they need to be in this command all the time. In fact, I find my most successful training sessions take place when I ask the dog to be in command 50%-75% and the dog is in 'break' for the rest of their walk. This helps stimulate an off leash walk, gives your dog the freedom they need to pee, poo, and sniff, and I find it help us to learn how to have a more communicative and cooperative relationship with our dogs.
*Even when dogs are out of command do not allow pulling on leash at any time
Throughout every walk I recommend practicing all the commands you want to be reliable in every environment (sit, down, wait, here, break). In order to keep your walks low-pressure and fun for your pup, bring lots of rewards and make sure to stay engaged with them throughout! Training tools should also be brought with you on every outing so you have them incase you need them.