Impackful K9

If your dog spends most of the walk pulling you from one thing to the next, I want you to stop focusing so much on getting them to walk beside you.

Start teaching them how to engage with you.

There’s a difference.

A lot of dogs are so focused on everything happening around them that their owner barely exists on the other end of the leash.

They see something. They pull toward it.
They smell something. They drag you over.
They spot another dog. They lean into the leash and become completely focused on them.

So one of the first things I teach is how to get your dog actively engaging with you on the walk.

Instead of waiting for your dog to hit the end of the leash, start becoming less predictable and more engaging.

Turn left. Turn right.
Change your pace. Circle back.

When your dog notices your movement, follows you, or checks back in with you, acknowledge it.

You’re teaching your dog that paying attention to you is part of the walk.

And this becomes so much more important than simply having a dog that looks pretty walking beside you.

Because eventually another dog is going to appear.
Or a squirrel. Or a person.
Or something your dog desperately wants to get to.

And now you have a dog who has already learned how to notice the environment without completely disconnecting from you.

They know how to follow your movement.
They know how to check back in.
And they know how to reconnect with you when something grabs their attention.

That’s the skill I actually care about.

If your dog pulls on walks, comment WALK and I’ll send you a free training video showing you how I start building these leash skills.

Your reactive dog doesn’t need another command.

They need an outlet.

I see so many reactive dogs whose entire life revolves around avoiding triggers, practicing obedience, and trying not to react.

But many of these dogs are also frustrated.

They’re carrying around physical energy, mental energy, and breed-specific needs that never have a chance to be fulfilled.

Then we ask them to walk calmly through the world while all of that pressure builds inside them.

That’s a tough ask.
The dog in this video isn’t just exercising.

He’s thinking.
Using his body.
Using his power.
Having fun.
Learning.

Did you see him scale from 9 to 11 feet?

Having an outlet matters.

Because a fulfilled dog is often in a much better place to learn than a dog who’s constantly frustrated.

That’s why you’ll never see me relying on just obedience alone.

We teach leash skills.
We teach dogs how to regulate.

And we give them appropriate outlets where they can run, explore, play, and be dogs.

This doesn’t replace leash skills.
It makes leash skills easier.

That’s why inside my training programs we focus on both.

Teaching dogs how to move calmly through the world…

And giving them healthy ways to be dogs.

Because the goal shouldn’t be a dog that only knows how to behave.

It should be a dog that enjoys life and can still stay connected to you while living it.

If you’re not sure how to better fulfil your dog’s needs, leave me a comment with your dog’s breed and age, and I’ll give you a few ideas.

It doesn’t really matter if your dog walks slightly in front of you, beside you, or behind you.

What really counts is a dog that doesn’t completely lose their mind every time they see another dog.

You want a dog that can stay calm.
And reconnect back with you when the environment gets exciting.

That’s why inside Focused Foundations™ we spend time teaching leash skills that actually work in the real world.

Because the leash becomes a way to communicate with your dog when they’re distracted, overstimulated, or starting to spiral.

When dogs understand that guidance, everything changes.

The pulling starts improving.
The fixating becomes less intense.
The reactivity becomes less frequent.
And walks start feeling enjoyable again.

Because at the end of the day, this was never really about loose leash walking.

It was about helping your dog stay connected to you when it matters most.

I have one spot remaining in my June Focused Foundations™ program.

DM me WALK if you’re ready to experience a completely different reality with your dog.

Calm dogs are created through patterned experiences.

And one of the biggest issues I see are owners taking an already excited dog into a new exciting environment and expecting them to somehow settle down.

Think about it.
The dog is full of energy.
The environment is full of stimulation.
The dog has never learned how to regulate themselves there.

Then they’re pulling, whining, scanning the room, trying to greet everyone, and struggling to focus.

Of course they are.

They’re overexcited, overstimulated, and sometimes overwhelmed.

Before I take a dog anywhere, I always make sure they’ve had an opportunity to move their body first.

A walk.
A training session.
I want the dog arriving in a calmer state so they can think, not arriving ready to explode.

The second piece is just as important.

We’re not in a rush.

If you’re taking your dog into a pet store, to your kids ball game, or a shopping area…

You need to look at it differently.

When I bring a dog into a new environment, my primary goal isn’t shopping or watching the game.

It’s helping the dog learn how to regulate themselves in that environment.

The puppy in this video didn’t go from excited to relaxed because I told him to.

He relaxed because I waited.

I slowed down.
I gave him time to process.
I allowed him to take it all in.

This puppy wasn’t born calm.
These skills were taught.

And that’s exactly what we focus on inside Focused Foundations™.

Have you ever taken your dog somewhere new and realized they were way more excited than they could actually handle? 👇