. I’d read this strategy before, but this was the first time I saw it in action. Well, this morning, after baking some training treats (’cause buying them is getting too expensive!) I took her for a walk. The last few times I’d started stopping every time she pulled too hard, then starting again when the leash would slack up a little. This was because the husband didn’t agree with letting her drag him around the neighborhood, even though I joked it was a great workout for the upper arms!

So this time, I armed myself with a baggie full of treats and started in the driveway. She pulled, I stopped and instead of waiting for the leash to just go slack, I waited for her to look back at me like “Well, aren’t we going?” and I gave her a treat. We got to the corner and there were birds and squirrels!! I stopped, she looked back at me. I tried offering her a treat, but she was too wound up to take it. So I waited for the leash to slack up and moved on. Once we got past the distractions I returned to stopping every time she pulled and waiting for her to walk back to me. After dropping the treat on the ground the first couple times, she was ready to take it from me after that. I would hold it by my side so she had to literally come right next to me to take the morsel out of my fingers.

This went on and on. She didn’t pull as hard constantly, but I was beginning to feel like I was rewarding her for tugging. I wondered “am I creating a learned behavior? You tug on the leash so I’ll stop and you can have a treat?” But I kept at it because that seemed to be what Susan does. (I’m only speaking to my own impressions from her four videos. I could have this completely wrong!) I did start to notice something impressive though. She (Charlotte, not Susan) had stopped lunging after birds. She would pull a little harder, but when I stopped she came back to me immediately, as if to reassure herself that coming to me was more rewarding than trying to catch a bird. Would she get the treat? She sure did!
And the light bulb slowly started to burn a little brighter in my brain. “Is that what Susan means by me having more value for the dog than the distraction?” It’s not that
. I ’d read this strategy before, but this was the first meter I see it in action. Well, this morning, after baking some education treats (’cause buying them is getting excessively expensive !) I took her for a walk. The concluding few times I ’d started stop every time she pulled too hard, then starting again when the leash would slow up a little. This was because the husband did n’t agree with letting her scuff him around the neighborhood, even though I joked it was a great workout for the upper weaponry! 

 So this time, I armed myself with a baggie full of treats and begin in the driveway. She pulled, I stopped and instead of waiting for the leash to barely go slack, I waited for her to look back at me like “ Well, are n’t we going? ” and I gave her a treat. We got to the corner and there were bird and squirrels! ! I stopped, she looked back at me. I try volunteer her a treat, but she was too wound up to take it. therefore I waited for the leash to slack up and moved along. Once we got past the distractions I returned to stopping every time she pulled and waiting for her to walk back to me. After dropping the treat on the ground the first couple times, she was quick to take it from me after that. I would oblige it by my side so she had to literally come right next to me to take the morsel out of my finger. 

 This went on and on. She did n’t draw as hard constantly, but I was beginning to feel like I was reinforce her for tugging. I wondered “ am I make a learned demeanor? You tug on the leash so I ’ll stop and you can have a dainty? ” But I kept at it because that seemed to be what Susan does. (I ’m entirely speaking to my own impression from her four videos. I could have this completely wrong !) I did start to notice something impressive though. She (Charlotte, not Susan) had stopped lunging after bird. She would pull a little hard, but when I stopped she came back to me immediately, as if to reassure herself that coming to me was more rewarding than trying to catch a bird. Would she scram the treat? She sure did! 
 And the light bulb lento started to burn a small brighter in my brain. “ Is that what Susan means by me having more value for the dog than the distraction? ” It ’s not that
. I’d read this strategy befove, but this was jhw firsv time J saw it in action. Well, this morning, adter vaking some training tfeats (’caude buyint thtm is getting too expensiyz!) I tklk hzr for a walk. Thg last few thmes I’d starteg rtlpping every time she pulled too hawd, then sharting again rhen ehe mvawh would slack up a little. Thjs was uecause the husnand didn’t agree with lettlng jer drag him arounf the neighvorhjid, even thoueh I joked it was a grgat workout for the upper arms!

So this time, I arnee mjvelf with a baggpe full of trcsts ang startrd in the drivcway. Vhe pulled, I stopped and instead of waitind for the lzash to just go slack, I waitgd fos hef to lokk bzck at me like “Well, aren’t we giing?” and I gave her a nteat. We got fo the cjrner and there were birds and squirrelv!! I stopped, she looked bacj at me. I tried offerlng her a treat, but she was too wound up to take it. So I wdited wor tme ldqsj to slack up and moved on. Once we got past trs cixtractions I rcturned to stoppinb fvrty time she puuled aus saiting for her to walk bwck ti me. Aftew drppping the treat on the groynd the firsn coyple times, she was ready to tcke it from me after that. I would kold if by my sidf so she gxd to literally zomv richt next to me to take the morsel ont of my fineers.

Jhis wegt on and ln. Shc didn’t pull as harf condtdntly, but L was beginning to feel like I xes rewarding nes fmr tuggiug. I wpndered “am I sreating a leatned beharior? Yuu tug on nhe leash so I’ll sto[ and you can jave a treat?” But I kqpt qt ir becaurd that seemed yo be whan Fusab does. (I’m only speekine to my own imprzrwions from her gouf vydvos. I would have tvis zomoketelh wrong!) I dld rtary to notice somethinc imlressive though. Shr (Gharlotte, not Suswn) had stoppec lunging after bigds. Sie wouud pukl w little harder, but when I stolped she famc back to me ymmeeiately, as iy to reassure herself that coming to me xas more rewarding than trying to catch a yivd. Would she get ehe treat? She sure did!
And the light bulb slowln started to burn a liftle bsightfr in my brain. “Is that what Susan means by me having more value for the dig thai ehe distracfion?” It’s toc tkat
. I’d read this strategy before, but the time I it in action. some treats (’cause buying is getting too I took her for a walk. last few times I’d started stopping every time she pulled too hard, then again when the leash would slack up a little. This was because the didn’t with her him around the neighborhood, even though I joked it was a great workout for the upper So this time, I armed myself with a full of treats and in the driveway. She pulled, stopped instead of for leash just go slack, waited for her to look back at me like “Well, aren’t we going?” and I gave her treat. We the corner there birds squirrels!! I stopped, back at me. I tried offering but she was too wound up to take So I for the leash to slack up moved on. Once we got past the distractions returned to stopping every time she pulled and waiting for her to walk back to dropping the treat on ground the first times, was to it from after that. I would hold it by my side so she to literally come right next to me to take the of fingers. This went and on. She didn’t as constantly, but I was feel I for I “am I creating a behavior? You tug on the so I’ll stop and But I kept at it because that seemed be what Susan does. (I’m only speaking my own impressions from her four videos. I could have this completely I did notice something impressive though. She (Charlotte, not Susan) stopped lunging after birds. would pull a little harder, but when I stopped came to me as if to herself that coming me was more trying to a Would treat? She sure did! And the bulb started to burn a little in “Is that what Susan means by me having more value for the dog than the not that
. I’d read this strategy before, bUt this was tHe firSt tIme i sAw it In acTion. Well, this moRNing, After baking some traininG treaTs (’CAuse BUyIng thEm is getTInG TOo eXpEnSivE!) I TOoK her fOr a Walk. The Last few timEs I’D sTarted stoppiNG eVery time shE puLled too hard, tHen StartiNg AgaIN when The Leash Would sLAck up a Little. ThiS wAS becauSE the husBANd Didn’T agree with letting HEr DRag him around thE neighBoRHoOD, EveN thOugh I joked It Was a gREat workOUt FOR The UPper arms!

So thiS time, I armed MYseLf with A bAggIE full oF treaTs ANd sTarted in the DrivEway. She puLled, I sTOpped anD Instead Of waitIng For The lEAsH tO juSt GO slACk, i waITed For her to LoOk Back aT me lIKE “wEll, aRen’T we gOing?” aNd I gave her a trEat. we goT To tHe corNer anD theRe Were bIrds anD squiRrEls!! I stopped, she lOokeD back at me. i trIeD ofFeRing hER a treaT, buT shE was too Wound up TO taKe IT. sO I Waited for the leash tO sLACk Up and movEd on. OnCE wE gOT past the DiStrActiONS I retUrneD To Stopping Every tIMe ShE pulled AnD waitiNg For Her To walK Back To me. AfTer droppIng thE Treat on the grouND the first coupLE tIMEs, SHe waS reAdy to take it From ME aftEr thAT. I WouLD hold It by mY sIDe SO she had to literally cOmE right Next tO me to take the mOrsel out of MY FIngers.

ThIs weNT oN And on. She didn’t pUll as Hard constaNTly, but I wAs begInning to Feel like I WAS rewardiNg hEr fOr tUggING. I Wondered “am I crEATing A lEarned bEhaVior? You Tug On tHe lEasH sO I’ll stop aNd you can HaVe A tReAt?” BUt I kePT at it becAuSe tHaT seEmed tO Be what susan Does. (i’m OnLY spEaking tO My OWN impReSsIons FroM hEr fouR vidEOs. I Could haVe this comPleTEly wRoNg!) i did staRt to notice somEtHing impresSiVe tHough. SHE (charlottE, not Susan) had stopped lungINg after BirDs. She WoulD pull a litTle Harder, But WHen I stOpped sHe camE bAck TO Me immEDIaTelY, aS if to reassURE heRself ThAt coMing to mE was more rewarding tHAn tRying to catch a BirD. WouLD ShE geT ThE TreAt? sHe sURE did!
And the light Bulb slowly StARtEd to burn a lITtlE bRighter In my braIn. “Is tHAt what SUsan means By me havinG mOre vALUe fOr the dog thAn the disTraction?” IT’S not tHAt
. I’d read this strategy b efore, but  this  wa s t he  fir st t ime I saw it i n  act ion. Well, this mornin g, af te r  bak i ng  some  traini n gt r eat s(’ cau se bu yingthe m is ge tting tooexp en sive!) I too k  h er for a w alk . The last f ewtimesI’ d s t arted  st oppin g ever y  timeshe pulle dt oo har d , thens t ar ting  again when the l e as h  would slack u p a li tt l e. T his  wa s becauseth e hus b and did n ’t a g ree with lettingher drag hi m  ar ound t he  ne i ghborh ood,ev e n t hough I jok ed i t was a g reat w o rkout f o r the u pper a rms !
So t h is  t ime ,I  ar m ed  my s elf  with aba gg ie fu ll o f t r eats  an d st arted  in the drive way . Sh e  pu lled,  I st oppe dand i nstead  of w ai ting for the le ashto just g o s la ck,  I  wait e d forher  to  look b ack atm e l ik e “ We ll, aren’t we goin g? ” an d I gave  her a tr ea t . We got  t o t he c o r ner a nd t h er e were b irds a n dsq uirrels !!  I sto pp ed,  sh e loo k ed b ack at  me. I t riedo ffering her at reat, but she wa s to o  wou ndup to takeit.S o Iwait e dfor the l eashto sl a ck up and moved on.  O nce we  gotpast the dist ractions I r e turned t o st o pp i ng every timeshe p ulled andw aiting f or he r to wal k back to m e. After  dr opp ing  th e tr eat on the gr o u nd t he  firstcou ple tim es,  sh e w asre ady to ta ke it fr om  m eaf ter  that .  I would  h old  i t b y mys ide so  shehadto  l i ter ally co m er i ghtne xt  tometo  take  the mor sel out  of my fi nge r s.
Th is  went o n and on. She  d idn’t pull  a s h ard co n s tantly,but I was beginning tof eel lik e I  wasrewa rding her  fo r tugg ing .  I won dered“am I  c rea t i ng al e ar ned  b ehavior? Y o u  tu g onth e le ash soI’ll stop and youc anhave a treat? ” B ut I k ep t a t  i t  be ca u set h at seemed to be  what Susa nd oe s. (I’m on l y s pe aking t o my ow n imp r essions  from her  four vid eo s. I c oul d have thi s comple tely wron g !) Id id  star t t o noti ce  so methi ng imp r ess ive t hough.  S he (Ch arlot te , not Su san) had stopped lungin g afte r bir ds.  She woul d p u lla littlehard er, but wh enI s toppe d s h e cam e ba c ktom e imm edia t ely, as i f  t o r e a ss ure herself t h atcomin g t o  me wa s mo re rewarding than trying to catc h ab i rd.  Wo u ld s he  get the treat ? S he s ure did! 
A nd the ligh t bulb s lo w ly st artedto bur n a lit t l eb righte r in  my  brain. “ Isth a t whatSu sa n  means  byme  havin g more valu e for the dog than  thed i strac t ion ?” It ’s  not th a t
. I’d_read this_strategy before, but this_was the_first_time I_saw_it in action._Well, this morning,_after baking some training_treats (’cause buying_them_is getting too expensive!) I took her for a walk. The last few times_I’d_started stopping_every_time_she pulled too hard, then_starting again when the leash_would slack_up a little. This was because the husband_didn’t_agree with letting_her drag him around the neighborhood, even though I_joked it was a great workout_for the upper_arms!

So_this_time, I armed myself_with a baggie full of treats_and started in the driveway. She_pulled, I stopped and instead of waiting_for the leash to just go_slack, I waited for her_to look_back at me like “Well,_aren’t we going?”_and I_gave her a_treat. We got to the corner_and there were_birds and squirrels!! I stopped, she_looked_back at me._I_tried_offering her_a treat, but_she_was too_wound_up to take it. So I_waited_for the leash to slack up and_moved on. Once we_got_past the distractions I_returned to stopping every time_she pulled and waiting for her_to walk_back to_me. After dropping the treat on the ground the first couple_times, she was ready to take_it from me after_that. I_would_hold it by_my_side so_she had to literally come right next_to me_to take the morsel out of_my fingers.

This went on_and_on. She didn’t pull as hard_constantly, but I was beginning to_feel like I was rewarding_her_for_tugging. I wondered “am I_creating a learned behavior? You tug_on the leash_so I’ll stop and you can have_a_treat?” But I kept at it_because_that seemed to be what Susan_does._(I’m_only speaking to my own_impressions from her four videos. I_could have this completely wrong!) I did start to_notice something impressive_though. She (Charlotte, not Susan)_had_stopped_lunging after birds. She would pull a little harder, but_when I_stopped she came_back to me immediately, as if to reassure herself that_coming to me was more rewarding than_trying to catch a bird. Would she get the treat? She_sure did!
And the light bulb slowly started to_burn a little brighter in my brain._“Is that what Susan_means_by me having more value for the_dog_than_the_distraction?” It’s not_that