The Guiding Leash Training Philosophy

Our Philosophy

There are a lot of differences between how we think and how dogs think and learn. Here at The Guiding Leash we make it our primary focus to give both you and your dog a common language that you can effectively communicate through in order to deepen your bond and broaden your world with them.

Dogs are excellent at pattern recognition, they excel at figuring out what works and what doesn't work. Unfortunately for them, dogs find themselves thrust into the confusing and often chaotic world that we have built; Cars, Buses, Bikes, Buildings and Streets each present their own obstacle to dogs and navigating this confusing man-made world can present a lot of challenges for some dogs.

This is one of the main reasons why we are so passionate about obedience training. Obedience provides the structure and clarity that dogs crave in order for their world to become a predictable one. This predictability helps to ease anxiety, decrease stress, and help the dog become more confident in their day-to-day life.

When thinking about dog training, it's important to remember how differently dogs think compared to how our minds work. When you think back to what you did yesterday, or a week ago, the events might play in your mind like a short film. Dogs don't think in that same way, dogs think in terms of pictures. That's why you might have a dog that behaves very well, or listens very well in one environment but doesn't in another. Even though it might seem like a small change to us, it can be a drastic picture change for the dog. Here at The Guiding Leash, we use dog training to add more pictures to your dogs skills. We work with you slowly and methodically in order to gradually change the pictures to those higher distraction environments and it's that slow progression which sets you up for success. With enough practice and training, the dog will have enough pictures added to their rolodex that you will see them adapt to newer and more distracting environments quickly.

Keeping all of that in mind, we have crafted and honed our training methodology to best help you and your furry companion achieve your goals. To put it into words, we are firm believers in using what is called Balanced Training. What this means is that we use all four quadrants of Operant Conditioning.

To put this concept in straightforward terms, what this means is that anything which increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring is a Reinforcer and anything that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring is called a Punisher. Furthermore, anything in which we are adding something to the situation is Positive, and anything in which we are removing something is negative. So rewarding the dog for sitting when asked would be an example of using positive reinforcement, taking food away from a dog who is jumping up to get the food before we give it to them is an example of negative punishment.

What this means:

We set the dog up for success by using the right tool for the job and introducing that tool in a controlled and fair way in order to set the dog up for success. Dogs don't come pre-loaded with a common language we can communicate to them with. They learn through pattern recognition and cause and effect. Dogs very quickly learn what works and doesn't work for them to get the things they want. Our rule of thumb is whether you are training your dog or not, you are training your dog. They are always learning and building patterns of working behaviors that bring them things they want.

What we do here at The Guiding Leash is we use the leash to develop a common language that helps us better communicate with our canine companions. For us, the leash is that guiding tool that can help to show the dog what we want them to do, how to do it, and that they get a lot of really good stuff when they do, such as tasty food, toys, play and more! We know how important obedience is for you and your dog. Obedience is that peace of mind that lets you know you have control of your dog even in active environments like parks and hikes and during large family gatherings. Obedience is that tool that keeps you from being dragged down the stairs and out the door when you go on walks but also lets you know you can call them back to you at a moments notice, even out of some pretty big distractions.

We understand that learning is stressful, even when it is a subject you love and are passionate about. Every time you learn something new there is that element of stress involved, because you aren't good at it yet, you haven't practiced it yet. We keep that in mind throughout our training process and do our best to keep it fun and engaging for the owners and the dogs. Not only is learning stressful, but it is common sense that when you feel pressure you want to move away from it. This is exactly what happens to dogs when they are out on walks, become excited so they pull and when they hit the end of their leash and feel more pressure they pull even more! Pressure creates pressure in this case because the dog doesn't understand the leash pressure and doesn't no how to turn it off. They feel the pressure so they try to move away from it, which results only in building more, and so the cycle continues until you're being towed down the street!

We keep all of that in mind and flip it on its head, starting by teaching them what leash pressure is and what it means. Pressure and reward will form the foundation of our common language to communicate more effectively with the dog, allowing us to show them when they've made both good and bad choices and to show them what it is we want from them. We teach the dog using light, guiding leash pressure, and food in order to show them not only what it is we want them to do, but that they are in control of the pressure, they know exactly how to turn it off when they feel it and once they've done the behavior we want they get a reward. It is through this approach that dogs learn they are rewarded for making the right choice (listening to commands) rather than being bribed to do them. We've all been there where our dog is distracted and no matter the food we show them there is no bringing them back to focus on us. Obedience is not something negotiable, it's not a suggestion. By using the leash to guide them and follow through, you can build towards that dog that listens every time,the first time. Furthermore, since dogs excel at pattern recognition they quickly learn when you tell them "sit" that they have two options "I can sit the first time I am asked and get some great reward" or "I can try to blow off mom/dad and get made to sit anyway, and now I don't get any reward." It becomes a clear choice to the dog that if I have to do it either way, I might as well do it the way that gets me something great! It is this approach that helps dogs to resist the temptation of distractions that might mean more to them then the food you use for training, the knowing that either way the end up doing the command so it is in there own best interest to listen the first time.

The Tools We Use:

While the leash is the tool we use for guiding, we feel it is critical to speak on a level that the dog can easily listen and understand the message we are trying to convey to them. Imagine you are at a load party, if your friend is trying to whisper something to you, would you be able to hear them over the roar of the crowd and the blaring music? Maybe, but it certainly would be easier for you to listen if they spoke at a volume that helped cut through the fog of the party. That is what tools do for us. Tools allow us to cut through the fog of the world around them, which can be so distracting at times, and help the dog to focus on us and listen. We do this because there are plenty of situations and scenarios in which food can not bring the dogs attention back to us, and we want a dog that listens every time the first time, a dog that is being rewarded for making the right choices, rather than being bribed into action. We set them up for success by using these tools in a very light, guiding fashion in order to show them they control the pressure, they know how to turn it off and so it does not become confusing, or startling in those higher distracting environments they will encounter as their training progresses and their world becomes larger.

As a Balanced Trainer, just because I have a particular tool in our toolbox does not mean that is the tool we will use. Our goal is to use the softest method possible that still acts as an effective training medium. It is all about using the right tool for the job and we fully recognize that every dog is different and what might work for one dog might not work for another, even if they are the same breed, the same age, and even from the same litter! At least 95% of our day is spent rewarding and saying yes to our dogs but something we always keep in mind is even when we aren't training our dogs, we are training our dogs. They are constantly looking for patterns that get them things they want, and constantly trying to train us. It's exactly for that reason that we are balanced trainers. If it is regarding any unwanted behavior we know that if we do not communicate to the dog that it is an undesired action, we are effectively saying "yes" to that behavior instead.

Treat Pouch, Clicker, Treats, and Kibble

The first, and one of the most important tools in our toolbox, is the reward. We use rewards to reinforce for behaviors the dog does that we like, and want them to do more frequently. Whether we are rewarding the dog with petting, praise, food or a toy, we want to communicate to the dog whenever they are doing a good job. Whenever possible we want to use this tool as our primary builder of new behaviors and skills; luring the dog combined with light guiding leash pressure to show them exactly what it is we want them to do and how to do it. Especially at the teaching phase, this tool is our critical builder to keep the dog happy and engaged. This is the tool that sets us up for success and whenever possible we will increment and progress the dog forward in a slow, calculated manner to have as many repetitions in the win column as possible.

Mendota Slip Leash

The slip leash, seen here is typically used as our introductory tool to teaching the dog what leash pressure and leash guidance means. The nice thing about this leash is that it is both a leash and collar all in one. Not only can it be sized to fit any dog, but it is easy to adjust to ensure a proper fit so the dog doesn't slip its collar. This feature is so critical for that safety and peace of mind knowing that the dog can't slip out and run off if they are very determined and focused on some distraction. As tension is applied to the leash, either from the dog's own pulling our our own guidance, the collar portion becomes more snug to communicate pressure that will tell the dog a change needs to be made. We help facilitate the dog through this initial exposure so the dog clearly understands what change it is that makes this pressure go away so that they can be rewarded.

So here's the facts. We know from our high school days of signs that pressure = force/area and what this means for us is that the slip leash is one of the softest tools out there. The entire collar closes in uniform to create a large area for that light guidance we give on the leash to be dispersed. It becomes a clear winner over the traditional flat-buckle collars or leather-strap collars of old where, when the dog pulls, the force of the pulling is transferred only to the front of the dogs neck, this results in a much higher pressure than if the same force was applied to the slip leash. This same closing mechanism also allows the leash/collar system to remain higher up on the neck, providing us with much more control over the dog and making it easier to show them what it is we want them to do as opposed to a leash attached to a harness or a collar at the base of the neck.

Starmark Training Collar

The Starmark Collar is the next tool in our leash/collar toolbox. It acts in a similar fashion to our slip leash where the collar portion becomes smaller when we add some light leash guidance to it. The biggest change here, is how this collar design utilizes multiple rounded plastic prongs to decrease the area that the leash guidance applies to the dog. The end result is an increase in the pressure applied given the same force, but this pressure is still applied in an even and universal fashion. This is one of the tools we transition to after the dog has a foundational understanding of how to turn off the pressure but the pressure provided no longer creates the change in behavior we want in more distracting environments. It's the tool that can help us speak more clearly and easily communicate to our dogs when they are aroused, excited or distracted and still provide that soft, subtle guidance when they are not.

Herm Sprenger Prong Collar

The next tool in our kit is the Herm Sprenger Prong Collar. Lets start by addressing the elephant in the room, it looks scary. However, this tool can actually be one of the most beneficial tools out there for helping to communicate with your dog. Its metal prongs are rounded and curved to allow for incredibly soft guidance and pressure but its multiple contact points provide you with an ability to match higher distracting environments when the dog is more aroused and is struggling to focus on you and listen. Just as the starmark training collar improves upon our old formula for pressure, the prong collar does the same and allows that same leash guidance to convey a more meaningful pressure that can help the dog succeed where they might have otherwise struggled before.

Remote Collar

The remote collar is that tool we use to polish and tweak all the obedience that has been taught and practiced so far. It is our tool of choice for transitioning a dog from on-leash obedience to that off-leash reliability and freedom we want them to be able to safely enjoy. The ecollar provides us the ultimate level of softness, with 100 (or more depending on the brand) levels of stimulation we are able to adjust the level we are using to speak to the dog on the softest level the dog can listen to in that environment and communicate immediately and effectively even over great distances. It is that seat belt you wear in the car to keep you safe while you're on the road and it's the tool we recommend to help you breach your dogs arousal when they're out and about and especially off-leash.