“The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.” – Falstaff, in Henry the Fourth.
Last time I started to talk about various steps you can take to address on-leash aggression. A big of part of dealing with and eventually alleviating the problem is avoiding over-threshold outbursts in the first place. That’s where the quote above comes from.
First and foremost, put the phone in your pocket, leave the coffee home, and start paying attention to your surroundings! You need to be proactive not reactive.
Second, start practicing leash skills for both you and your dog.
If you are approaching potential trouble, and you know best what that is based on your dog, one option is to stop and then block your dog’s view.
This is simply practicing a fast pivot in front of your dog and then getting a sit.
You see me looking at Caffeine before the pivot both times: I am being over cautious about losing balance and stepping on my dog, my knee is still interfering with my balance. (I’ll be making a better version of this when I am walking better.)
After you make the emergency stop you can then decide what to do: “Body block” so your dog cannot see? Start walking in another direction, away from trouble?
Another option is a quick change in direction without stopping at all.
Note, as highlighted in the video, this is not turning and jerking the leash. Start out using a lure and teach your dog a cue that tells her to turn around. Practice this and make it a game!
These are two examples of simple exercises you can use to avoid on leash hazards. Are there any other exercises you have used to avoid trouble?







