When I ask the question, “Is your dog leash trained?”, I always get the response, “Oh, yes!” After about 6 separate sits, I started to think I didn’t know the definition of leash trained so I looked it up:
Leash trained means a dog learns to walk calmly on a leash without pulling, lunging, or reacting excessively to distractions, understanding they should stay near their owner with a loose lead for enjoyable, safe walks, which involves positive reinforcement training for behaviors like loose leash walking (LLW). It’s about teaching the dog that walking by your side, rather than ahead or behind, is rewarding, preventing stress and safety issues during outings.
Ok, so I am NOT crazy!
I am considering not sitting for dogs for awhile since my experience turns into a dog training session on how to heel on a leash. It’s a selfish act really since I don’t like being pulled into ditches, and suffer dislocated joints from a short dog walk. While I am good at training, it is a time consuming and laborious exercise. It would be so nice to simply put on the lead, and have a nice easy walk.
Maybe I should be asking more questions and paying attention to statements from owners when they say, “Oh, their nose likes to take them where they want to go.” or “They love other dogs but we always carry treats to distract them from other dogs when we go on a walk.” This use of treats as a distraction from their bad behavior is creating a reinforcement of that behavior.
Am I alone in this? How many dogs are leash trained?
I think you have high (good) standards, which in an ideal world would be the norm. Sadly not the norm as so many people think “oh I’d like a dog” without ever thinking about let alone doing the training. It takes time and effort to train a dog well and some either can’t be bothered or are just unaware. Certainly those well trained dogs are a joy to sit. One of the reasons we tend to gravitate to older dogs as they have usually calmed down a bit.
I think your expectations are too high if you think they are leash trained. I have over 40 sits, some cats, but I have sat many dogs, with high end homes and none have been leash trained to the extent you require. So I suggest sit cats only. I am sitting 2 dogs now, great dogs, and they walk nicely. But they have reacted to a squirrel. One is a larger dog and she has pulled me – waist belt with 2 leashes attached, mostly reacting to squirrels, but once to another dog. They are quite good about other dogs, but not their neighbors.
@Blissful, your OP made us laugh. We hear you. Your question may be subjective, as pet parent may not know the term and you presumably don’t know pet parent background.
In our experience, the reality is that some pet parents may lack personal experience of dog training methods or good dog walk behavior. A subset of dogs on our housesits have walked on-leash only with considerable pulling or with other behavioral quirks. We learn and evolve our tactics during video call .
In video call, we ask if and where housesitter can walk dog(s) off-leash. This is a direct question that is more difficult for pet parent to casually fluff! Typically very quickly we learn whether pet parent walks dog off-leash; typical dog behavior during walks; and pet parent concerns, if any, of housesitter walking dog off-leash. For clarity, we do not only sit dogs that are walked off-leash but this tactic seems to provide informative insight in video calls.
Perhaps I do have too high expectations….it’s sad I suppose that most people do not leash train. I am aware I have a different perspective on dogs. Being the alpha in the human/dog relationship keeps dogs calm. It also keeps dogs and humans safe having witnessed neighbors with broken bones from getting pulled down (yes, this was squirrel chasing… and dog bites (while on leash) due to poorly leash training (albeit the dog biting is a whole other hot mess yikes.) I will be more diligent with my inquiries about “leash training”.
In about 35 sits with dogs, none have been leash trained. Even the one that had all these hand commands. It was reactive and couldn’t be walked if there was another dog on the street. You had to run away.
I no longer sit for dogs. Almost every sit involving a dog had issues that were hidden by the homeowner. You lose access to the vast majority of sits but the ones I did take were also much more pleasant.
Not sure if you’re aware, but alpha theory was debunked a decade ago. So before complaining about HO training, please take a moment to educate yourself.
I would not accept any sitter who tried to the be the ‘alpha’ of my dog.
And unless you have credentials and/or dogs trained to obedience titles, you’re not as a good a trainer as you think you are.
My dog has been well trained, has several obedience titles, and is a working therapy dog. She walks nicely on a leash but even she would lunge after a squirrel if it ran past her. I state that in my listing along with her weight, to make sure sitters have the strength and mobility to handle her.
Perhaps you need to sit for smaller dogs or cats, but either way please don’t try to ‘alpha’ over them. The theory is false.
In FL, where I live, most humans allow their dogs to take the lead and pull at the leash. It is rare that I see a calm dog walking next to their human. Just in my neighborhood on, I’ve been bitten by a pit bull on a leash, have had two large dogs jump up on me while on a leash, and been tripped by a small dog on a leash. It all situations I was minding my own business (no dog with me).
I’m starting to think in this direction too…. the problem is that owners get used to (allow) their dog’s behaviour/habits and aren’t always aware how it compares with other far better socialised/trained dogs. Many dogs make life living alongside them pretty challenging….despite their owners adoring them.
My idea of a good dog is a very well trained dog that isn’t constantly requiring me to adjust to its every whim. I’m very much the leader, the dog had better fit in with me when it’s in my pack!
Oh good! I am glad I made you laugh. This post was meant to be humorous and inquisitive, with a hint of frustration. Good tip on your technique. Thanks!
@BonnyinBrighton I hear ya’. It’s a wonderful experience having a dog that can feel no anxiety and be calm next to you because we are the pack leaders. Everyone (dog and owner ) has a better mental and physical experience.
I think my potty training creates alpha dogs. We got a puppy, pit, 3 months. But after a month we were in a trump building and told we couldn’t have a pit, despite the adoption agency calling management and paying the $900 fee. Kevin Bacon took her at 4 months. But she turned out to be very alpha. We, then got a cattle dog mix, at 10 weeks. Turned out to be quite alpha. So I was thinking it was me…
@felinelover True, the term ‘alpha’ is outdated and perpetuating that narrative was incorrect. I hope my post wasn’t inferring that I am seeking do dominate someone’s dog, but to simply lead by authority. Large vs. small dogs are not the issue as a small dog can be just as challenging. The good news is the tide has turned and many owners are trying to use the reward based theory however most often the reward is for the wrong behavior.
No worries totally understand the term slips in there once in awhile (but if I see that language or mentality in profiles, applications or used in video chats, that person is declined immediately from me). But domestic dogs do not have a pecking order with an alpha. Free roaming street dogs do have a social structure where they come together for some cooperative care but typically hunt/forage on their own. There is no ‘alpha’ and really no ‘pack’, just a social group co-existing together.
And yes humans often misunderstand reinforcement altogether. For most dogs who are reactive to other dogs, understanding whether that reactivity is fear based or excitement based is key. For fear / anxiety based reactivity, those dogs benefit from counter conditioning with distance, treats, toys, and games - but at a distance they feel safe is key. For dogs with excited reactivity (every dog is their new bestie!) food rewards can add to the excitement. For these dogs, keeping them moving with clear signals that interaction will not happen (turn around, have the dog heel on the side away from the other dog, and adding some distance) is a better approach. But keeping them moving forward is key, don’t stop and let them fixate on their new bestie and certainly don’t feed them.
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