Category: Common Problems ¤
  Author: Line Farr ¤
   Title: Teaching Loose Leash Walking With A Double Ended Leash ¤

On 3/10/04
> Line Farr wrote:
>> The TTouch approach will also use a double ended leash connecting to the 
>> ring over the withers as well as the front ring...

Kathy Johnson wrote:
> Can you elaborate on this a bit? Do you hook up the leash to the rings at
> both points (front and withers) at once? How does that keep the dog from
> pulling?

Yes, hook to the front ring and the withers or back ring (withers if you
have a choice).  I have also done this with a collar and harness (withers
or back ring), a harness and a head collar and a head collar and a regular
collar.

With one attachment (point of contact), it takes somewhat educated hands
to stay soft and not wind up with a tight leash when you have a dog who
is being persistent about pulling.  Sometimes it works to just hold until
the dog gives up, then reward them for releasing the leash tension themselves.
Often, it works better for me to give little release signals in the leash
(I keep my arms close to my body so I have leeway here) and reward when one
of those signals gets answered.

Using a double ended leash with two points of contact lets you do something
slightly different.  If the dog is pulling on point A, totally release it
and he'll suddenly be pulling into point B, at which point you totally
release B and he's pulling into A again.  Do this smoothly enough and it
takes the wind right out of their sails because there is no way to get
leverage.  This is just another way to get a window of opportunity to start
teaching and rewarding the behavior you want.  When I do this, I stand
right up by the neck / head.

You can start to use the leash as a signal to start and stop (if you want
leash signals.) A gently signal on the collar or withers / back ring is a
start, and one on the front ring or head collar is a stop.

Does this make any sense?

Line Farr
Wed Mar 10, 2004