The following notes and
suggestions for how to properly
walk a dog, in a structured manner, on-leash, using calm and assertive
energy, are posted here with permission from Barb
Kennedy (360-739-8502). Notes below were developed using Barb's training session hand-out #1, hand-out #2
as well as additional notes taken during training sessions led
by Barb.
To properly
exercise your dog, you must be her pack leader
- Your goal is to properly
exercise your dog in a structured manner, using calm assertive energy.
- Think like a dog, become
a pack leader, and develop trust and respect with your dog.
- Understanding dog
psychology is the key. Love is not enough. Dogs
need physical and psychological challenges. We need to
fulfill them from the dog's point of view.
- Lack of exercise, and
lack of calm assertive leadership are the leading causes of most dog
behavior problems such as fear, anxiety, phobias, fixations,
obsessions, aggression and excessive barking.
- Dogs need leadership and
then affection -- in that order. By providing leadership to
dogs, we show respect for their needs.
- Dogs communicate using
energy, touch and body language. We can influence their
behavior by doing the same. How we feel and what we think
determines the energy we project.
- A dog's instinct is
hardwired to see us as either leader or follower. The energy
we project will determine which one we are.
The
importance of walking your dog on-leash
- Walking behind/beside a
pack leader fulfills a dog's primal need to travel. Leaders
set boundaries to ensure pack survival.
- Dog walks should be
long, quiet and structured with fun time after (or possibly in the
middle) of the walk.
- Think of a structured
walk with your dog, (where
you are the pack leader -- projecting calm assertive energy, with your
dog walking beside you, and not in front of you, on-leash with no
tension in the leash) as a music lesson and team sport practice session
all in one.
- Playing in a fenced yard
or dog park is excitement, not structured exercise.
Play time prior to a structured walk can have it's advantages
-- your dog will burn off some energy and be in a better position to
walk on-leash. However, Ideally play time should come after
the walk, as reward.
- Walking on-leash in a
structured manner can improve a dog's self-esteem.
- Most dogs (90%) are born
followers, but they will take the leader position if the human does not.
- Breathe deeply, be
proud, and use visualization to share calm, assertive energy with the
dog.
Tips and Techniques
Meeting a new or
timid dog:
- Allow them to come to
you.
- Just because a dog
sniffs you does not mean he wants to be touched right away.
- Respect a new or timid
dog: Avoid eye contact (look away), and avoid talking to or
touching the dog. These things create excitement, and our
goal is to project leadership.
- Kneel down, turn to the
side (away from the dog), and ignore them. For most dogs,
their natural curiosity will attract them to you.
Picking-up
a dog from a client's home / getting ready for a walk:
- Enter the home with
strong posture, projecting the energy (with the thought) that
you "own" your physical space.
- Ignore the dog when
first entering, until they come to you calmly.
- Quietly wait for the dog
to sit and be in a calm state (vs. a whiny and "wiggle butt" state)
before attaching the leash. (See notes below.)
- Wait for a few moments.
Patience = respect.
- Always exit the
home/yard first, with the dog behind you.
- Dogs will not follow
excited or lovable leaders. Wait to share an excited and
loving energy with a dog after they've earned it.
How
to properly leash-up the dog:
- Use a short leash (5
feet or less), and a slip collar or a muzzle-type gentle leader.
- You can create
your own slip collar on the end of a short plastic leash by looping the
hook end through the handle loop.
- You can also create your
own gentle leader on the end of a short plastic braid leash.
- If using a "choker
chain" as a slip collar, make sure you are using a collar with the
smallest possible link size. Why? It's imperative
that the collar ride up around the back of the ears, and not down on
the dog's neck.
- Decide what side of your
body the dog will walk on, and put the collar on your own hand/wrist to
"check" it before putting it on the dog. After tightening
(pulling) the leash, immediately let go. The collar should
distantly relax, and not stay "locked."
- With a slip collar, the
metal O-ring and the portion of the leash it is attached to, should be
on the bottom, and the end of the leash that you control should be on
top of your wrist, forming a "P" that faces downward, and toward the
dog.
During the walk --
how to make gentle corrections and using re-direction:
You've leashed the dog properly, you're thinking "I own the
sidewalk" and projecting calm assertive energy, you leave the
house first, you've started the walk, and immediately the dog shoots
forward, What do you do?
- First, make sure that
you're holding the leash in a way that it doesn't give the dog the
opportunity to get very far away from you. There should only
be about 2 feet of leash from your hand to the collar on the
dog.
- Hold the leash behind
your back at waist level.
- Pull on the leash
quickly two times to get the dogs attention and immediately release
after each pull.
- Do NOT look at the dog
when making a correction. Keep sending your energy
forward.
- Keep moving forward.
Continue with corrections until the dog realizes you mean
business.
- A structured" walk means
that at least the first and last 30% of the walk are done in this
manner -- with you in the leadership position, and the dog traveling
with you at your side. The middle 30% of the walk can be a
"free walk."
Dealing
with aggressive off-leash dogs while you are walking a
dog on-leash walk:
- Stand straight and tall.
- Ignore the off-leash
dog.
- Project a strong energy
-- this often diffuses the situation.
- Keep moving forward if
already in motion (walking).
- If
standing still, stay still and keep your body turned away from the
aggressor, with your eyes averted. This will send the signal
that you
mean no harm.
- Backing away may
escalate aggression.
- If needed, hold an
object (such as a coat) away from your body -- not as a weapon -- but
to make you appear larger.
- A firm "NO" or a sharp
"AH" may stop the dog from moving toward you.
Practicing
and mastering calm assertive energy:
- Projecting calm,
assertive energy when exercising a dog takes practice.
Practice during times when you are not with a dog.
- Close your eyes, breathe
deeply, and smile.
- Have
a clear and positive goal -- visualize the desired outcome.
(In
other words, before taking that first step on a walk, think about the
dog walking calmly beside you.)
- Imagine that you own the
sidewalk, street or trail you are walking on.
- Look straight ahead,
don't look at the dog beside you, especially when making gentle
corrections.
- Dogs quickly relax when
we're the leader. Most dog's don't want the job!
- We
can strengthen the bond we have with dogs and help restore them to
their natural balanced state of being by being their pack leader.
- It
may sound "hokey" but if you just keep trying (and usually it doesn't
take long) you'll be amazed at what a difference your calm and
assertive energy will make in how much you enjoy walking with
your dog,
and how relaxed your dog can be walking with you on-leash, and with you
at home.
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