Dog Training, Health and Products By Zoey Dog!!

Walking Nicely on a Leash

Zoey Dog

People think dogs can’t hear what they are saying, but I know the gossip going around the neighborhood is that I pull terribly on the leash when out on a walk…..well, I used to pull terribly on the leash, I mean!  You see, my owner is a very petite woman.  She’s nice and all, just small, and I, on the other hand, Im a big energetic girl.  I couldn’t help it! I really didn’t realize that I was pulling and dragging her down the street.  I was just so excited to see all the people and dogs in the neighborhood, and the kids love to give me treats and hugs.  One day when out on a walk, I noticed this kitty cat ahead of us, and the cat and I made eye contact and off she ran, and I ran in hot pursuit.  This was the day I realized I really did pull on the leash too much because I heard my owner yell out, “Zoey!!! Slow down!” Of course, this was right before she tripped and fell and dropped my leash. 

We didn’t go on walks for a while after this incident, and I missed seeing all my friends and spending time with my owner.  Then one day she had a surprise for me.  This new stranger came to the house smelling like a lot of different dogs.  They talked with each other and said my name once in a while.  What mattered is that I saw this man take out a handful of meaty, smelly morsels, and I was overcome with hunger.  Give a Lab like me treats, and we’re putty in your hand.  Then, this man put my leash on, and I realized we were going to go for a walk, and I was so excited…..except for the walk with this man wasn’t like with my owner.

We got onto the sidewalk, and I tried to pull and strain against my collar, but I wasn’t moving anywhere! I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my legs, and I looked down and saw they were still there and just fine.  I yanked left and right and again forward, but I wasn’t moving! I barked out a high pitch squeal and nothing.  Finally, out of frustration, I stopped moving and stood still and suddenly the man yelled out, “Good girl, Zoey, “ and he popped me one of those meaty treats.  I wasn’t sure what it was for, but I wasn’t going to argue about it either.  Then he started to move forward.  “Yeah!” he was walking, and I thumped my tail in excitement and began to take off; yet, I quickly came to a dead halt again.  Not again! I barked two loud wuffs this time and still nothing.  I sat down, again frustrated, and he yelled out, “Good girl, Zoey,” and he popped me another treat.  This man was strange; he kept giving me treats when I didn’t move, and this time when we started walking again, I moved a little bit slower since I didn’t know what he was up to.  This time, he didn’t stop; we walked from my house to the neighbor’s house without stopping.  He would tell me what I good girl I was once in a while and give me more treats.  I liked this man! Then I saw our neighbor, and I liked her too, so I tried to run and greet her.  Instead, he stopped moving, and then turned and walked in the opposite direction.  I wasn’t going the right way! He turned us around again and back towards the neighbor.  When I pulled a little too much again, he turned and walked away from the neighbor again!

This was when I had my light bulb-moment, I think that’s what you people call it.  I realized that every time I pulled on the leash, I lost what I wanted: walking ahead or seeing people.  BUT, when I walked nicely, I got what I wanted: nice talking to, good treats, and most importantly, to visit the people I wanted to. 

Sometimes it is hard to remember exactly what I am supposed to do, and I make mistakes. As long as my owner remembers to remind me the same way the man did, I remember the right way to walk quickly. Plus, I love those new treats she bought. I also learned that the better I walked, the more often my owner walked me. So a piece of advice from dog to person, spend some time telling us exactly how you want us to walk. We weren’t born knowing how, but we sure can learn.