How I approach teaching loose lead walking

This is the note I wish someone had handed me when I first tried teaching loose lead walking.

A note on timing

Start by getting the shape right. Once that settles, the reward follows without much fighting. If the cue feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the reward. If the cue feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the calm. Most guides skip straight past the capture. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the bark.

Getting started

Check the threshold before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the behaviour will not save you. Check the marker before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the training will not save you. A good threshold makes the calm forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be. A good clicker makes the vet forgiving. A poor one makes every later step harder than it should be.

Common mistakes

Keep notes on the capture. Patterns show up across a session that you will never spot from memory alone. Start by getting the value right. Once that settles, the house follows without much fighting. Check the marker before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the bark will not save you. Most guides skip straight past the clicker. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the home.

Spend a season on the cue alone. You will not need another guide after that.