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Is Your Dog Walking You? What a Struggle!

Well-Mannered-Leash-Walking-Dog-Progam-Fourlegged-Scholars

Written by Ohio Dog Trainer (Middlefield)

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Middlefield Ohio -Dog Training - Articles | Puppy Training - Middlefield Ohio - Articles

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Comment(s): 0

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April 25, 2024

We understand how frustrating it can be when your dog is walking you. There are many tools to help with loose leash walking. We recommend tools that are gentle on your dog.

Purchase a Freedom Harness or a Pet Safe Easy Walk Front Hook Harness. When the leash is hooked on the front of your dog, It is harder for them to pull.

At times we have recommended the gentle leader head collar for leash training. This type of head collar does not work well and can be dangerous when using the method below for leash walking.

However, if you want to use another positive method to train leash walking, a gentle leader could work well for your dog.

You can also use a regular flat collar, for the training method below, as well.

Find a low distracting area when you start training this. Parking lots are great. Once your dog starts to calm down you can progress toward the walking trail or a more distracting area.

This method is simple and unique. Start your walk by walking in a large circle with your dog on the outside of the circle.

You will be taking a small number of steps and your dog will be taking a large number of steps. This is perfect because your dog probably wants to walk fast and has a ton of energy to release.

When your dog isn’t pulling you hard, you can start walking forward.

Every time, your dog pulls too hard on the leash, you will walk in a large circle.

You will keep walking in a circle until your dog stops pulling hard. Once that happens proceed forward.

Because your dog is used to pulling, you will need to be consistent for this method to work.

With consistency, your dog will start looking toward you instead of pulling. He may also voluntarily encourage you to walk in a circle again when he has the urge to pull.

This method works well because your dog can burn off much energy while you just take a few steps.

Don’t be concerned about a perfectly loose leash. You just want your dog to stop dragging you. Even if your leash is taunt and you can easily walk your dog, you are doing it right!

The circle method works extremely fast and you will be able to walk your dog easily after you use this method.

Your dog will expend a lot of energy in this process and will enjoy it. Most dogs want to run and by circling you are allowing them to walk faster than you and to not pull on the leash.

You won’t have to circle forever, you will just need to circle until your dog understands to walk with a looser leash.

We hope you can now enjoy your leash walks! Want to learn more about loose leash walking?

Want help to get your dog to walk loose on the leash?

Join us at the Bainbridge Library for a FREE event to ge t your dog to walk loose on the leash. Sign up here.

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Four Legged Scholars LLC

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Jessica Weinman

15:28 12 Nov 24

Johanna transformed the behavior of my two large dogs. She not only helped them, but help me become a better dog mom and trainer for them. The improvement of the dogs was immense and it’s easier to handle them together now. I can’t thank her enough for the work she put in with them and me.

Jodie Lawless

23:10 20 Aug 24

Johanna of Four Legged Scholars is exceptional. Johanna is very knowledgeable about dogs and their behaviors. I appreciate Johanna and her training of our MiniPoodle pup and us! Johanna taught us alot with patience , kindness, fun, and work! I would recommend Johanna and " Four Legged Scholars LLC" to anyone that needs help training their dogs or puppies.

Danielle Hope

13:48 26 Jul 24

After the loss of our blue heeler. We adopted a young 2 year old blue heeler that didn’t have any training. When we 1st got him he was going to the bathroom in the house, playing with humans like we were pups (strong and bitty), waking up everyday at 4am, jumped on everyone entering the house, pulling/ jumping while walking, playing tug with leash, chasing cars, grabbing food off the counter and barking at us while eating our food.We contacted Johanna with all of this being so overwhelming for our family.Johanna was so much support through all the struggles and was a life saver teaching us how to how to train our young herding dog. She was friendly and understood everything going on through zoom classes. She worked around our schedule. The zoom classes were very beneficial for learning.Thank you so much Johanna for all the support and creating peace in our home 🏠 🐕 ❤️

Cindy Sheehan

18:57 06 Sep 23

Johanna was very thorough and offered many good suggestions and examples to train for or correct various behaviors. I liked that her training methods were very positive and based on science - and that they really worked. Our dog absolutely LOVES her!

Kathleen Clyde

00:10 05 Sep 23

Johanna is a really special trainer. We signed our rescue dog Scout up for training because she almost ran away chasing deer in our neighborhood. Scout also pulled really hard on the leash and I was afraid someone might fall when walking her.Johanna helped us fix all that and more. Scout is a boxer hound mix, so her smell/chase instinct is really strong. Using all positive reinforcement, we were able to train her to go "easy" on our walks and not pull the leash. Scout also comes when we call her, even facing tough distractions like other dogs or food. We can now walk her off leash on trails and be confident she'll stay near or next to us and not run off chasing something. She also learned other commands like sit/stay, go get it, and lay on your bed.We humans were trained too! We learned what harness and leashes to use, which treats were best, when to treat her, how to get her interested in training, how to progress through a more complex command, and more. Johanna really knows both animal and human psychology, and working with her was such a fulfilling and rewarding experience — well worth the investment. Scout loved her and we did too. We cannot recommend her strongly enough!

Kit Blair

18:01 05 Jul 23

When our newly adopted dog started showing ‘stranger danger’ and other anxiety related behaviors, our veterinarian recommended that we contact Johanna Teresi at Four Legged Scholars. Johanna reviewed the issues we were seeing and developed a training plan. We were able to do the working sessions with her using live Zoom and videos of our ‘homework’. Johanna also has a significant file of relevant training videos that she shared to help reinforce the training modification techniques. We are following the training plan and continue to see incremental improvements in our dog’s behavior. We have also been able to apply what we learned to other issues such as separation anxiety and leash walking. We are more confident going forward with a happier dog! Kudos to Johanna and The Four Legged Scholars program.

D Kintop

18:40 08 Nov 24

I highly recommend the personal training sessions! Johanna's approach is to teach YOU how to train your dog using positive reinforcement and she will break down all of the finer details that can really boost the effectiveness of your training sessions with your dog. All of the goals are tailored to you and your dogs needs. You will see improvements in your dogs behavior and more importantly you will feel an improved sense of connection with your dog. Can't reccomend four legged scholars enough!

Bradley Woodrum

18:38 15 Aug 24

Johanna was amazing to work with! This was my first time working with a trainer for my new puppy and she made it fun to learn alongside my dog. It was a very pleasant experience!!

Cyndi Istre

14:34 20 Apr 24

Johanna has been a God send inhelping us learn not only the basic ways of dog training but in how we as humans contribute to our pups behaviors. Biting, jumping and potty training were our biggest challenges and accomplishments. Johanna provided us with the training and informational tools to be successful. She also provided guidance in changing our behavior and reactions to achieve the positive results we were looking for.

Christina Fleck

18:11 15 Mar 24

Johanna has been super helpful and knowledgeable in helping me train our puppy. We went over several techniques including practicing not pulling while on the leash. Our puppy is very responsive to the training tools Johanna has taught my children and me. She’s a wonderful person and a terrific trainer! Highly recommend!

Caleb Edwards

19:11 20 Dec 23

Working with Johanna was an absolute pleasure and my crazy Corgi Skye enjoyed it very much as well. Johanna was extremely diligent and patient with her and myself throughout our learning process. She explained the concepts very well and broke them down into simple to understand steps, which was super impactful for me. It’s a lot of information to learn at once but taking it a step at a time truly helps comprehension. She has helped us get Skye on track to being a calmer and more welcoming household dog and also helped us find better ways to get Skye’s energy out when she needs to. If you need assistance or advice on training or just being better connected with your pets, I would highly recommend Johanna!

Rosemary Krupar

18:04 01 Dec 23

Johanna's positive training system has not only helped our dog but has also helped us to be better pet owners. By learning our dog's body language and applying our own calm demeanor and positive reinforcement, we can help her maintain her own level of calmness during what used to be stressful situations for her. The knowledge and the tools we have gained with Johanna have brought about a more peaceful and pleasant relationship with our dog, Ginny. We highly recommend Johanna for your dog training needs.

Kathleen Clyde

17:25 22 Sep 23

Johanna is a really special trainer. We signed our rescue dog Scout up for training because she almost ran away chasing deer in our neighborhood. Scout also pulled really hard on the leash and I was afraid someone might fall when walking her.Johanna helped us fix all that and more. Scout is a boxer hound mix, so her smell/chase instinct is really strong. Using all positive reinforcement, we were able to train her to go "easy" on our walks and not pull the leash. Scout also comes when we call her, even facing tough distractions like other dogs or food. We can now walk her off leash on trails and be confident she'll stay near or next to us and not run off chasing something. She also learned other commands like sit/stay, go get it, and lay on your bed.We humans were trained too! We learned what harness and leashes to use, which treats were best, when to treat her, how to get her interested in training, how to progress through a more complex command, and more. Johanna really knows both animal and human psychology, and working with her was such a fulfilling and rewarding experience — well worth the investment. Scout loved her and we did too. We cannot recommend her strongly enough!

Christi LaPrairie

17:58 16 Sep 21

I felt pressured to pay prior to services.

Donna Shaffer

19:51 04 Sep 18

Our dog, Bella, was skittish around new people. She would bark and growl. Our veterinarian recommended training. We contacted Johanna from Ohio4LeggedScholars. Johanna taught us counter conditioning and commands paired with treats. Bella has responded well to the training. She has become more comfortable with new people and new situations. We learned to watch Bella's body language to know when she is feeling confident and comfortable.Thank you Johanna!

rachel downey

19:32 23 Aug 18

I love them. Before they came, my dog max, didnt know how to sit for anything, he kept pulling on the leash when we went for walks on our road, and he kept not waiting when we tried to take him out. He would bolt out. Now he sits a waits for the leash to get it on him. Hes such a great listener now.

Stacey Brazie

00:23 26 Jul 18

We were ready to rip our hair out when I found Johanna online. I contacted her and discussed our problems with our 1 year old Lab Laney. She was jumping on us, afraid of people, barked at everyone/everything that walked by, walked horribly on a leash, and barged at the door when someone was there. Johanna immediately reassured me that she could help! She taught us the different signs that our dog gives us. She also taught us about counter conditioning. She gave us the tools we need to change Laney’s behavior. It is not an overnight fix. You need to be able to work with your pup until it sinks in. Laney has made much improvement in all areas! We are grateful to have found Johanna!!!

David McCoy

02:49 21 Jun 18

Four Legged Scholars provided our family with the expertise and guidance needed to train our new puppy Drew. Trainer Johanna Teresi was the perfect person to help us. Johanna's calm demeanor, excellent knowledge and organized approach allayed any fears that we had about dog training. Drew responded well to her weekly training visits and our ongoing daily training routines. My family wholeheartedly recommends Four Legged Scholars and Johanna Teresi as fantastic and caring solutions when one considers the best method to train your dog.Dave McCoy Ravenna, Ohio

Karen A

20:25 10 Jun 18

I contacted Johanna when Cooper was almost 6 months old. He had major issues with jumping on people and constantly barking at other dogs. I was impressed with her persistence and patience when training. She probably spent as much time training me as we spent training Cooper. Classes are over for now and Cooper has met all but one of the goals that we set for him. Johanna has given me the tools and techniques to continue to train him, and I am confident that he/we will someday be able to walk in the park without his barking at every dog he meets. Taking the class has and will continue to benefit my relationship with Cooper for years to come. Thank you Johanna.

Sandy Bailey

00:19 12 Mar 18

Johanna Teresi with Four Legged Scholars helped my husband and I so much with our Chocolate Lab, Autumn. It has been years since we have had a puppy and forgot how much work they can be. Our major concern was how excited Autumn would get when we would get company or our grandchildren would come over. Autumn would jump on everyone. The little kids would get knocked down. My husband and I finally said, we're calling for help and called Four Legged Scholars and spoke with Johanna. Johanna was able to see what we were doing wrong and how we were causing more stress for Autumn by being stressed ourselves and within a few sessions we could see a hug change in Autumn's behavior. Johanna showed us how to react to Autumn"s jumping on our guest. We let all our guest know how to respond if Autumn tried to jump on them and they were all great about helping with the training. We providing a video to Johanna that my grandson took while having a birthday celebration with a house full of people. Johanna was able to look at our video and see that her techniques were working and she could see the improvement in Autumn the next time she came to our door. Autumn's behavior is so much better and we are not afraid for guest to come over or be embarrassed at Autumn"s behavior anymore. The leash training was also extremely helpful. Autumn was constantly biting at her leash and actually had bitten them to the point of breaking her leashes. I was amazed at how the clicker training works, but it was great.Thank you Johanna!

Portage Rescue

16:39 24 May 17

Johanna has been volunteering her time at the County Dog Warden for several months. I love her positive methods. She is very patient with the dogs even when they are acting hyper. Johanna explains everything to me and takes notes so I know what she has done with each dog. I strongly recommend her progressive and positive methods. She has helped me learn so much.

Jamie Flanders

19:34 17 May 17

Johanna was a mentor for me when I was first starting out as a dog trainer. I took my very first puppy class through her with my very first puppy. Johanna is unfailingly kind, not only to the dogs that she works with but the people as well, which is a great trait for a dog trainer to have. Many trainers can work with dogs but have very poor people skills but if you want to make a difference for the dog you have to be able to reach the person. Johanna helped shaped me into the trainer I am today and with her initial guidance my puppy turned into a great companion and muse.

Robyn Jones

01:26 13 May 17

Johanna Teresi with Four Legged Scholars is an incredible trainer. She constantly goes above and beyond the expectations of her clients. I watched her train her own dog in the kindest of ways. She thinks so easily from the perspective of the dog, and is always making sure that the dogs needs are being met as well as the owners needs (both emotional and the training goals). Her classes move smoothly as she is very knowledgeable about all things positive reinforcement. She uses the clicker training and it works magically. She really knows her stuff and uses those skills fantastically. She is the only trainer I'd let help me train my dog.

Ruth Weisman

20:22 12 May 17

I had the opportunity to observe Johanna's work for about two years. She is committed to ethical training through humane practices and tuning herself and her clients to their dog's behaviors and needs. In her own home she focused on addressing even the comfort level of her dog as her family grew, making sure that he felt safe with an over excited toddler as well as successful training to lessen his barking at the door. I highly recommend Johanna for both basic dog training and specific needs. She'll tailor the training to suit your pet and your family.

Angie Kieffer

16:05 11 May 17

I met Johanna about 8 years ago, and I was a full-time parent. I had four kids and four animals. One of my dogs needed training. I see my animals as equals, so I was looking for a positive way to connect with my dog that didn’t involve alpha rolls. One of my dogs, Karma, was very skittish.I had Johanna come to my home. She taught me that my feelings of anxiety were being projected on my dog. I learned to shift and let go of my thoughts and emotions especially around fear and anxiety. I was then able to be more present and focused with Karma. She was able to release her anxiety. Karma has gained more confidence around people, places, dogs, grooming, and other animals such as horses and cows. Johanna taught me how to allow Karma to have her own experience and to not project my own life experiences and thoughts onto my dog.Working with Johanna was a rewarding opportunity. I would recommend Johanna to anyone looking for a successful option to positive reinforcement training with their dog.

Susan Steinwand

17:28 10 May 17

I volunteered with Johanna for about one year, attending and assisting in her group courses. Having met numerous dog trainers using varying training techniques, I can say with confidence that Johanna truly cares about her clients, both human and canine, and will work together to ensure a happy, understanding relationship between pet and owner. She teaches with positive methods that help owners understand how to effectively and kindly communicate with their dog, which results in better training outcomes. One thing that makes her training unique is that she not only focuses on how to modify the dog's behavior, but also helps owners understand how their actions can affect the dog's behavior, and how changing them can help the dog to learn more quickly.I have been using Johanna's training methods with my own dog, Aspen, and in the short time we have had her, she has already learned so much and we have clear, mutual understanding of each other. Whenever I have difficulty with training a behavior, or get frustrated, I think back to Johanna's words and am able to re-approach the situation and get better results.I highly recommend Four Legged Scholars for anyone seeking help training their dog. Johanna creates an open, fun, and accepting environment where owners can learn how to have a loving relationship with their well-behaved dog.

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