Goal

Puppy learns to have impulse control, maintain focus on the handler, and keeps a loose leash while in motion.

Prerequisite

Handler understands what tethering the leash to their leg is.

Set Up

• Quiet location with distractions present but under handler and assistant control
• Leash being held at a length where puppy can make good or bad choices (12-18 inches of leash)
• Bait bag with plenty of food rewards
• Distractions such as leaves, sticks, toilet paper, food, people

Procedure

1. Distractions are presented to entice the puppy, but not to be so enticing that the puppy cannot be successful in maintaining a loose leash.
2. Criteria for marking and rewards
3. The puppy maintains a loose leash
4. The puppy moves with the handler; each step is to be marked and rewarded
5. The puppy sees a distraction but chooses not to engage.
6. The puppy engages the handler by looking at them when approaching a distraction.
7. The handler and the puppy take one step at a time, with the handler rewarding the puppy for the above behaviors. You must reward the puppy in heel position.
8. The handler should slowly increase the number of steps between marks and rewards. Single steps turn into two steps, three steps, etc.
9. If the puppy chooses to engage in a distraction, the handler tethers the leash to their left leg, applying fixed pressure, and waits for the puppy to release the tension. If the puppy looks like it can reach the distraction, handler may back up a step or two while keeping the leash tethered to the left leg. Puppy should never be successful at getting the distraction.

Note

If the puppy is unsuccessful, the distraction level is too high, or the puppy doesn’t understand fixed pressure. The puppy may need more repetitions at stationary tethering or a lower level of distraction.

What’s Next?

Once the puppy is maintaining a loose leash with slow walking, increase pace to a more normal pace. Any time the puppy is on leash, the hand tether must be used as soon as the puppy chooses to engage in a distraction or pulling. The puppy will be confused if the handler is not consistent!