Why I Don't Like Dog Walking With A Long Leash

It seems to me that the number of leash-reactive dogs is growing - at least that's what I've been experiencing in the region where I live.

From my vantage point I see a lot of leash-reactivity coming from dogs that are walking well out in front of their handlers, at the limit of their leash-length. Combine less than stellar socialization with this type of unstructured on-leash walking and it's the perfect recipe for leash-reactivity.

I'm just not a fan for this type of unstructured on-leash walking. There's an old saying that suggests "out of sight, out of mind," and when the dog is anywhere from six to twenty feet out in front of its handler, "out of mind" is completely accurate.

When on-leash I want the dog to be in a position to look to and listen to the handler for direction. This, rather than the dog being put into a position where it has to meet all oncoming traffic head-on and decide for itself how to handle the situation. For a dog that doesn't have the necessary socialization skills, you're just asking for reactivity.

This is one of the reasons I launched my Master The Walk program, so dog owners can lead their dogs in a structured and well-mannered walk which can go a long way in preventing behavioural issues such as on-leash reactivity.

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