Everybody Needs Leash Skills

Leash skills are important for your own safety and your dogs too. Anyone with a dog should have a good idea how to handle the leash no matter what size the dog is.

1. Safety

2. Freedom

3. Health

4. Fun

5. Reducing Reactivity

Your dog may do well off leash, but the moment the leash is put on your dog changes. Leashes can cause barrier frustration too. A good example for this is a dog that plays well with other dog friends and may have played in group settings with dogs. They have enjoyed their time playing with other dogs. Now you want to take the dog for a walk around the neighborhood, and you notice your dog pulling towards other dogs and people across the road. Your dog wants to go across the street to check out the other dog. Pulling very hard on the leash. You don't know anything about the other dog across the street, and this is one of those moments is when you need leash skills to help your dog out of this situation.

People can often be pulled down by small dogs too. The leash may have been all the way out giving the full 8- feet and the dog turns quickly and spins around. The next thing you know the leash is wrapped around your legs. This is where I teach people how to get the leash back into control and shorten up by using the other hand. So now that you know your dog is capable of spinning and you almost got pulled down. Now is the time to start learning better leash skills and how to possibly get your dog out of this situation.

You have successfully made it back home without no harm done to you or your dog, but you are frustrated. Your dog was very excited! You find yourself sitting down and gathering yourself together, trying to calm yourself down.

What can you do? Learn leash skills and use methods and techniques to help you and your dog. Afterall we all want our dogs to walk with us. There are ways to help improve walks.

In my leash skills class, which is a small group of four people. I like keeping my group classes small because people also need time and attention as they learn too. Equipment makes a difference too. In my classes we will use a harness and BAT leash skills, which helps in teaching your dog loose leash walking as you learn too. I like a harness with both front and back attachment. When shopping for a harness, you are looking for a front attachment like a (D) ring and one on the back. A leash that fits well into your hand. I do favor the round ones that are soft made with good material.

A treat bag with soft and small treats. My classes are held outdoors where the environment can be a little more distracting than working in your home in a low distraction area. When you are practicing in your home doing your homework, you can choose to use a low value treat. When moving outdoors you want to go up in the value of the treat. Outdoors you are asking a little more of your dog in training.

BAT leash skills will be used in my group classes and also in private sessions. You will learn how to slow stop, your dog. Instead of slamming on the brakes. You will get to practice keeping the leash loose.

My outdoor group classes start up each April and generally held on a selected Saturday with different time slots. You will have homework to do. I often will say, you have to apply what has been learned to teach your dog too.

If your dog is reactive, I recommend my Reactive Rover class to start.

If you struggle on walks, your dog is struggling too. No matter what size your dog is, you can benefit by learning leash skills.

As a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor- Knowledge Assessed (CBATI-KA) you have the opportunity to learn leash skills and how to help your dog in situations.

Happy Training!

Mecca Curtice, CDBC, CCDT, CBATI-KA, FDM

© 2026 Mecca Curtice, Mecca's All Breed Dog Training, LLC.

Mecca uses BAT leash skills as she walks the dog. Keeping the leash loose.