Student: I’ve read what’s in the workbook for our class about the process for encouraging the dog to stay by our side and walk nicely. It’s going nicely in practice, but in the meantime, what should we do when we’re actually walking our dog? I’m confused and feel like I’m being inconsistent.
Jenn: Be consistent. Follow all the same rules. You can't "just walk the dog" during the training phase, because, you're right, then you are being inconsistent.
Do we do that process you described in the last class, where if the dog pulls we anchor ourselves in response?
yep! You got it!
Wait for the dog to turn and look, then reward that?
Yep. But you need to reward more often when he is walking next to you, not just when he comes back after an anchor.
If so, that sure makes the walk stop-and-go and a little problematic.
Allowing him to continue to move forward while pulling is more problematic, as it is the exact opposite of what you are trying to teach him. When he's pulling there are a couple options: anchor, move backward briskly, or 5 yard penalty. In my opinion, backwards movement doesn’t matter much to most dogs unless you are very close to a destination they are excited about, that's why I prefer to anchor and regain focus.
I’ve been doing this. But then he starts turning to look at me all the time as a way of getting treats.
This is GOOD NEWS! Yes, that's what we want. If he's looking "too much" (arguably no such thing), you can alternate between praise and surprising him occasionally with a treat. If there are more distractions or he's less focused, use food rewards every time. The more focused he is, the more you can mix in just rewarding with praise. Ultimately, continuing the walk is its own reward, so you’ll be able to fade treats quite quickly if you’re consistent!