⚠️"Your dog MUST walk beside or behind you"

Have you ever been told that your dog should always walk beside or behind you, never in front? If so, do you remember the reasoning behind it? I’d love to hear about your experience! Hit reply and let me know.

Some common explanations include:

Ensuring your dog knows you’re in charge
Keeping your dog in a submissive position

There are also more practical reasons, such as:

Allowing you to position yourself between your dog and approaching people
Maintaining a shorter leash for better control

I prefer my dogs to walk in front of me!

Although I do train my dogs to heel for navigating narrow spaces, busy roads, and passing distractions, but most of the time, I prefer them to walk ahead.

You might be wondering why! 😊

#1 So I can see their body language. If I have a reactive dog, I really want to see any subtle changes that I would easily miss if they were in heel position.

#2 Dogs have four legs, while we only have two—they naturally walk faster than we do. I can’t imagine having to walk beside someone who never keeps up a good pace! Constantly walking in a heel position can be frustrating for dogs, and for young or less fit dogs, it can even be physically exhausting.

#3 Sniffing, peeing on stuff, and changing pace are natural dog behaviors. When given a longer leash and the freedom to make small choices, dogs tend to be happier, more relaxed, and less reactive.

(On-Line) Leash Reactivity Deep Dive
Starts March 5th, 2025!

Registration is now OPEN for the LEASH REACTIVITY DEEP-DIVE, my group mentorship program in which I spend 8 weeks with a small group of people struggling with leash reactivity. Submit videos, ask questions, and meet awesome people and dogs.

You'll receive daily support and feedback on your training for 8 whole weeks. This is a fantastic way to jump start your training and to get some real progress for both your dog and yourself.

Have fun, build your dog's skills and confidence, as well as your own.

Seriously... this is so much fun. I hope you'll join us!

Click for Info on the Deep Dive!