Walking Politely on Leash
BEFORE THE WALK, LET'S GET OUT OF THE DOOR, CALMLY, WITH “WAIT”
REMEMBER: The walk starts the moment you pick up the leash – We work to desensitize our pups to their walking equipment by creating calm behavior when presenting the leash/harness, before attaching the leash, again before opening the door and finally, before leaving the house.
Pick up the leash, stand quietly and breathe, waiting for pup to get calm (this may look like a Sit/Down or simply not wriggling and jumping all over the place).
Leash your pup and again, stand quietly and breathe, waiting for pup to get calm on their own.
When your pup is calm, turn your body so that you are now facing the door (square your body) with pup slightly behind you, attentively giving eye contact.
Give pup a hand signal for “wait” (I raise my pointer finger towards my dog to indicate “pause, please”)
Open the door slowly, at first, as swinging it wide open will be too exciting for pup to remain politely at your side.
If pup tries to progress forward without you, close the door immediately. Pup will surely look back to you, confused as to why they have been prevented from going outside.
Reposition your pup by turning back to face them and take a step forward, toward pup, so there is once again, slight space between you and the door.
It may help to ask your pup for a “sit” and then give your “wait” hand signal before once again turning to face the door and repeating the process of waiting for eye contact, then opening the door slowly.
The moment pup Hesitates at the opening of the door and looks to You, mark the behavior with “YES!” And encourage pup to “let’s go!”
Reward pup outside of the doorway, to encourage them to stay with you and not dart down the stairs/walkway.
