Dog Walking - out front or behind?

I would say it is best to have them right next to you, with a short lead.  Several reasons, 1 if you let them wander front to back and around they can start chasing something (no matter how well trained they are) and even with just a 5-6 foot leash that can lead to quite a bit of momentum suddenly hitting the end of the lead, they could also go behind you tripping or tangling you up.  Also, regardless of where you live always have your dog on a leash in an open area.  To LUVMYSWISSY, I know you have probably spent alot of time training your pup and he may listen very well, but please don't walk him by an open road with out a lead.  That one (and maybe only) time he doesn't listen and gets hit by a car you will never forgive yourself.

Kim_MacMillan

mudpuppy

but ONLY if you take them on flexis attached to gentle leaders...

With one of those fancy - schmansy no-jump harnesses as well, that look like some kind of booby trap, just in case.

Hey, I know.  How about you take them on couplers on GL's hooked to a flexi that is attached to your belt with a carrabiner.  

I frequently walk all six of my shepherds in town.  Forget the sidewalk or walking trail, even the road isn't wide enough to have all six right next to me!  In town we use six foot leads.  No one pulls, no one ever gets behind me, and no one ever tries to go after a squirrel or anything else.  That's the reason for all the training that we've done.  I can walk almost 500 lbs of dog, alone and I'm a fairly small woman with two bad shoulders.

I also frequently take my dogs out in the woods for an off lead romp.  My dogs have encountered deer, bunnies, pheasant and wild turkeys.  They listen when I tell them "leave it" and do not give chase.  Sheba and I had a hunter fall out of his tree stand....he almost landed on her!  And I sent her, alone, to get help.  I told her "go home and get dad FAST" and thats exactly what she did.  The fool had broken his leg and the poor medics had to tromp through the woods to carry him out.  My crew had never seen snowmobiles up close and personal,and recently one zoomed right by us.  They stopped and looked without a word from me.  Just stood and watched it go by. 

We do limit our off lead time to deep in the woods, and away from the road, but, we also play fetch in the unfenced portion of our yard and while we are watchful, don't worry about the dogs taking off towards the road.

This is what careful and consistent training will do.

I have never seen a dog walk behind CM ever. I have always seen them next to him. And thats where my dog walks, next to me....not in front or behind.

BlackLabbie

I have never seen a dogs walk behind CM ever. I have always seen them next to him. And thats where my dog walks, next to me....not in front or behind.

I don't beleive it matters where your dogs walk as long as their walking nice.  I have seen with Cesar when dogs walk next to him but only be cause he showing someone his method of training.  His own pack is always shown off lead running in front, on side and behind - he's usually in the middle somewhere.  I've seen him walking Daddy to someones home and Daddy is slightly out front and at times behind - Cesar dosen't care because Daddy is "well balanced" in Cesars world. 

 I have heard him say when teaching someone to walk their dog that it is OK if the dog is at the side or behind, as long as it is not in front.

Whenever I saw CM teaching someone how to walk a dog, he would create an imaginary line extending sideways from his body and that the dog is not allowed to past that imaginary barrier. Something about pack leader always walks in front, which is contrary to what I have learned watching documentaries on other canids.

ron2

which is contrary to what I have learned watching documentaries on other canids.

Well i always learned that America is one single continent, not 2 (south and north), i rather to stick with being only one 

Well I prefer to believe the Earth is flat....  Each individual can think what he or she likes.  Doesn't stop some individuals from being wrong. 

CM *does* tell folks the dog must not walk out in front.  He *does* say that this makes you "pack leader".  It doesn't make you pack leader in the dog's eyes.  That notion is outdated tripe and if I wasn't so heartily sick of the idea I would laugh at it.

What I will concede is that some folks will get a power trip out of being up front and that changes their whole attitude and bearing and the dog responds to that.

Another way to look at it:  It's not that the dog "misbehaves" when in front.  It's that the HUMAN "misbehaves" when left behind.
 

Chuffy

Well I prefer to believe the Earth is flat....

You should join the Flat Earth Society.....

 http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm

Chuffy

Another way to look at it:  It's not that the dog "misbehaves" when in front.  It's that the HUMAN "misbehaves" when left behind.

Now, that is a piquant turn of phrase. Well done, Chuffy.

Gosh, thanks  

CM *does* tell folks the dog must not walk out in front.  He *does* say that this makes you "pack leader".  It doesn't make you pack leader in the dog's eyes.  That notion is outdated tripe and if I wasn't so heartily sick of the idea I would laugh at it.

I have to admit I actually laughed out loud the first time I heard this explained to me. Most groups of animals, including dogs, it's the expendable low-rankers that physically move in the front of the group- they'll get eaten or shot or crushed if there is a hidden danger out there so the important members of the group can escape. You put yourself in front of your dog, you're telling your dog that he's more important than you.

Kim_MacMillan

You should join the Flat Earth Society.....

 http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm

Please please tell me that site is a joke...

If the flat earth society doesn't suit you, there's a few people who believe we didn't actually go to the moon, that it was all special effects and expert trick photography.