Walking and Leash Training

Source:

This topic is one of the most important parts of dog ownership in my opinion.

Cesar Millan talks about the importance of "the walk" and the role it plays in pack psychology.

Before domestication, dogs traveled in packs. They would go out to find food [hunt] together, led by the alpha male. The alpha would lead the hunt and travel at the front of the pack. The other pack members would follow behind him, communicating their submission. After the kill, the food would be taken back to the den, where the alpha would eat first.

Cesar's theory is that the "the walk" represents "the hunt". It is important for the entire "pack" or family to go on the walk together. The "alpha" or humans, walk at the front. They decide when the walk will happen, where they will go, when they will stop, and when they will turn back. It is very important for you to play the alpha role at all times of dog ownership, but especially during the walk. This is simply because "the hunt" represents an essential part of the canine social structure, and all human members of the family need to be at the top of the hierarchy.

But, easier said than done. Dog's of Roxy and Guiness' breed tend to be strongwilled and stubborn. It's in their blood [read American Staffordshire Terrier]. Leash training, and asserting yourself as alpha is not always easy with these guys.

I have found that consistency is key to any type of dog training. We walk Roxy and Guinness twice a day during the week and more on the weekends.

I started off just walking Roxy. She and I both needed to feel each other out and develop some sort of walking rapport.

I would have her walk next to me on a loose lead. When she would start pulling, she would get a quick correction. [This entailed me doing a slight but sudden tug on the leash and making the "chhh" noise]. This represents me as the alpha saying "back off, you're getting too close to the front of the pack". This may be more effective if you have a choke chain or another metal collar. The sound of the metal during the correction will help them to snap out of whatever they are pulling toward.

Eventually, the tug of the leash will no longer be necessary as they have learned to associate the "chhh" sound with the pull. After some training, all you will need is the "chhh" sound and they will stop pulling or trying to lead.

What I have learned, is that my dogs do best when they aren't fed until after the walk. This represents the reward of helping with "the hunt".

BUT, since the alpha eats first, I will pretend to eat some of their dog food before I feed them. You can also send the same message by eating your own dinner then feeding the dogs. But for me, it is easier to pretend to eat dog food than it is to quickly make a dinner right after the walk.

Before we feed them, we make them sit and stay. Once they have demonstrated this calmness and submission, they get their food. If one dog is taking longer to calm or sit, the already calm one will get their food first. This communicates that calm submissiveness results in reward.

If you find this helpful you may benefit from Cesar's model of "Discipline, Exercise, Affection".

http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/basics/glossary-of-terms-from-cesars-way

Any way, this is what really worked for me. I don't have professional advice, but shared experience can be a great teacher!