I’m always in awe when I drive through neighborhoods and see people walking their dogs in every kind of weather. I silently cheer them on from behind the wheel because I know exactly how much commitment it takes. Since our last warm spell, though, I’d wager that many folks haven’t practiced walking nearly as much as they think they have. And when it comes to this skill, people tend to have a strong reaction—they either love it or absolutely hate it. Most of the clients who reach out to me fall squarely into the “hate it” category. Loose leash walking is one of those things that sounds simple but feels anything but simple when you’re the one holding the leash.

Just the other day, a client emailed me in frustration because her dog walked terribly at the park after our very first session. I’ll admit, I was disappointed—not in her effort, but in the choice of training environment. She had skipped the foundational steps and jumped straight into the deep end: the park. Predictably, it ended with her physically carrying her 80‑pound dog home. In my reply, I asked her, “If you were teaching someone to drive, would you start them on I‑95, or would you find a nice quiet parking lot?” Most people laugh, but the point sticks. Skills fall apart when we expect too much too soon.

Loose leash walking is exactly what it sounds like: a relaxed leash between you and your dog. But when you combine too little practice with too many distractions, things unravel quickly. That’s usually where frustration sets in and where many people give up.

The solution is to start small—really small. Begin inside your home, where distractions are minimal, and your dog’s brain can stay engaged. Clip on the leash and simply walk around with your dog on your left or right side. Every couple of steps, pay your dog at the “take‑out window”—that spot right next to your knee along the outside seam of your pants. Encourage your dog to follow. In the beginning, you need a high rate of reinforcement, which means lots of treats. As your dog starts to understand the game, gradually ask for more steps before delivering the reward.

When your dog can follow you from one end of the house to the other for a single treat, that’s when you’re ready to take the training outside—into the yard, not the park. Build the skill gradually, and both ends of the leash will feel more confident, more connected, and far more capable than before.