The type of lead we use, and the way we use it feeds back information to the dog on a number of different elements.
We tell the dog if we are supporting them, paying attention, worried about the approaching dog or just haven’t got the hang of handling the lead at all.
We need to be mindful that extending leads don’t make us clumsy with how we handle the dog on it. This picture is a perfect example of the shapes and moves we can make whilst trying to manage the lead.
Dogs are not fish. We should never reel them in. The click of an extending lead mechanism often creates a “Pavlovian” stress response – the dog learns that the sound means they are about to be yanked or that you are worried about what is ahead.
I once served as an expert witness in court where the mishandling of an extending lead was deemed the primary reason behind a situation.
Dogs are sensitive to our movement and our energy. Be gentle, be subtle, be calm, be mindful of the “shapes” you make when managing the lead. Think about what you are doing – it is important.
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