Leash & Walking Skills

From leash pressure to loose-leash walking, heel position, and passing distractions like other dogs, joggers, and squirrels — polite walks made simple.

• Introducing the Collar, Harness & Leash

  Before you walk anywhere, your dog needs to think their gear is boring — and putting it on means treats.

• Loose-Leash Walking

  Teach your dog to walk with a relaxed, J-shaped leash instead of dragging you down the street. A calm walk is a daily-life skill — and one where the right method depends on how your dog learns and how much they pull.

• Finding the Heel Position

  Teach a precise "heel" — your dog walking attentively at your side, in a defined position — for crossing streets, moving through crowds, and moments you need tight control. Most dogs learn heel on rewards; a confident, fluent dog can be refined with light remote-collar guidance.

• Walking Past Distractions

  Teach your dog to stay with you when the world gets interesting — other dogs, joggers, squirrels. The right method hinges on why your dog reacts: excitement and curiosity can be worked either way, but fear-based reactivity is an emotional problem that stays firmly reward-based.

• Polite Greetings on Leash

  Not every dog you meet on a walk should say hi. Here's how to greet politely — or skip it entirely.