Why your handling matters more than you think
Practical advice from D.O.P.E Dog Training.
Owners
Why your handling matters more than you think
Dogs read what we do far more closely than what we say. Lead pressure, timing and body language are all communicating something, whether or not you meant them to.
The lead is a conversation
Constant tension tells a dog that pulling is normal. A lead that is loose most of the time, with clear information when it is not, is far easier to understand than a lead that never changes.
Timing is the whole message
A reward or an interruption a few seconds late lands on the wrong behaviour. Marking the exact moment your dog gets it right is the single biggest improvement most owners can make in one session.
Consistency across the household
If one person allows the sofa and another does not, the dog is not confused about the rule. There is no rule. Agreeing the everyday details as a household does more than any amount of extra training time.
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