The Structured Walk

Caffeine Central would like to start a movement throughout the Carolinas and throughout the country to END the use of retractable leashes.

***FOR SPECIFIC TRAINING TACTICS FOR YOUR DOG, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL DOG TRAINER***

Fact: Dogs live healthier happier lives when they are balanced with no stress. Unfortunately, we as humans place a lot of human characteristics and psychology onto our dogs. The reality is that dog psychology has not changed much from their wolf ancestors. Dog emotion and human emotion are extremely different.

A dog is balanced, easier to handle, and trouble free when we as humans be their pack leader. This means giving dog rules, boundaries and limitations. A dog becomes more stress free when they no longer have to play the leadership role because their human cannot. A dog on a retractable leash has to fulfill this role of leader.

Retractable leashes do not provide the structure necessary to mentally stimulate your dog. Nor do retractable leashes create the trust bond vital in the dog/human relationship. Structured walks are essential training tactics that make all other training and rehabilitation possible. This kind of walk forces the dog to follow you as the leader instead of you following him. If performed correctly, the leash will be loose (see video below).

If you have even the smallest issue arise (fight, flight, fear, or aggression), the structured walk, where the dog walks along side of you, stops when you stop, and turns when you turn, can easily be controlled. No dog should pull their human. The behavior that a retractable leash instills translates to all other poor behaviors. If dog has no rules or boundaries outside, I guarantee other behaviors are present when the dog is inside and off leash.

Don't look to the dog for behavioral problems (even the slightest ones). Look to the owner who has not taken the time to create structure for their dog. Why should a dog be stressed to make human decisions? Instead, the dog becomes more balanced when we say, "Hey, trust me. Follow me. Relax. I have everything under control." The dog is more apt to take our guidance (even averting a horrible dog fight) when we are paying attention to the dog's signals. Balance requires we humans to have the dog under control, relaxed, waiting for our next directions.

 

Featured is Josie, Caffeine Central's guardian Xoloitzcuintli. Note her loose leash. Even when a car passes by, she remains calm and relaxed looking for her next instruction. This is balanced. She stops when her human stops. 

Make a commitment today to take your dog out for a structured walk at least once a day. Simply throwing your dog into the back yard isn't enough. If you can do more than one walk per day, you'll notice an even quicker improvement in your dogs personality and behavior. 

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