Damn I had a rough post in draft and I lost it.
So on FB all these people were talking about like a “circle method to loose lead walking” for pulling and it was driving me nuts because the technical discussions and videos were very interesting but I wanted the foundational context of what on earth they were referencing. Which I finally got! The quick and short of it:
When your dog pulls, lunge them around in a circle like a horse
When the dog does anything you don’t really like basically just lunge em around in a big or little circle
Then continue on your way
It gives your dogs an alternative direction to move in, reminds them you exist and burns energy.
and special mention for these tips I personally found interesting:
The circling puts them ever so slightly off center so they give in to your gentle guidance without experiencing oppositional type frustration
Use the circles to both move towards things that they can investigate and away from things they cannot
Keep slight tension on the lead so you and the dog can “feel” each other and prevent “yo-yo”ing
Some people will do a square and this is easier for doing it with two dogs too
The goal is less frustration for you both and more peaceful walks
It’s training but without training
and I am personally super enjoying the:
Burning extra energy lunging them in a circle hell yeah work them muscles
The focus on keeping all aspects of walk enjoyable for us BOTH
The slight lead tension thing??? I like??? being able to feel my dogs??? and not wondering if Thistle has bit the lead in half and wandered off??? (True story)
It’s just surprisingly effective way to redirect energy into more enjoyable walking
Anyway I finally found the timegated webinar! Which is currently available as a pre-existing recording for an unknown amount of time so I’m quickly posting about it for anyone who might be interested in grabbing it before it disappears again. It’s towards the bottom of the page:
It has an amusing bit of advertisement:
Is your dog is a chronic leash puller? If leash walking is a misery then this webinar is for you! The Fenzi “cutting corners” method can work even for dogs where other approaches have failed. It requires no food, no highly controlled environments, and allows for reasonably inexperienced handlers. This method is equally suited to a young puppy on dog directed socialization outings as it is for strong adult dogs with years of practice pulling on walks. And the best part? It works fast and without compulsive techniques by reducing frustration in both the puller and the pullee!
The webinar itself was very good for a small “online training session”, and I definitely am enjoying this kind of lead handling with Thyme. Thistle is a little less efficient but she has more years of different training methods producing internal conflict in her understanding why I’m suddenly circling all over the place lol
I especially enjoyed the case studies with verbal overlay of things being done right/different potential approaches of how to use the method on different types/sizes/attitudes of dogs and how to change things up to suit your individual situation. You can get a transcript on request if you can’t hear it all easily.
It has two follow up webinars on reactivity and overarousal, of which one of them I am definitely considering because I want more insight.
Some happy gifs of Thyme who WOW really loves this whole circling concept when I purposely put him in situations I know he will get over excited to try it out
(ducks. it’s ducks. the boy is obsessed with ducks. give him the ducks).
*edit* damn forgot to put their “trailer” in of it:
