09/06/2026
In this video, Swanson is learning to walk calmly on a loose leash past a barking dog. His owners have stated he will often lunge toward dogs while on walks, and he’s a BIG boy, so I’m giving him some exposure to help his confidence and manners. He’s a pretty sensitive guy, so a big part of his training is to mitigate his insecurities. To do that I:
• Put him in situations that will both challenge him and give him success.
• Establish boundaries ahead of time so he knows what good behavior is before we get into potentially stressful situations.
• Watch his body language and praise him when he shifts his focus away from the distraction.
• Correct him verbally or with the leash if he gets too hyper-fixated.
When he’s walking on a leash, his only job is to walk nicely next to his handler until they release him, no matter the distraction.