photo credit: mikebaird

I was taking my two dogs for a walk this morning; it is the perfect day here. And, as I was walking I was thinking. (Yes I do that sometimes )

Most reputable dog training courses, including Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, will train YOU, the walker, to walk in front of the dogs, and have the dogs follow you. This makes you the pack leader, and also puts you in total control of the walk.

I have to disagree with this…for dog safety reasons! Here where I live we have had numerous dogs poisoned, even in the dog parks. Some of this poison was meant for squirrels, for raccoons, or even for cats (which of course is as bad as poisoning a dog.)

If my dogs walk behind me, even on the sidewalk, I cannot tell what he is doing. Is he sniffing something I don’t want him to sniff, or worse, is he eating something I don’t want him to eat.

I mean we know, it takes a few seconds for a dog to pick up something and eat it. They don’t even lose their stride doing this. And, if they are behind you, you just can’t protect them.

I like to see my dogs at all times. So, I do what I call my “end of leash” training and “no pulling” training. My dogs know, that at the end of the leash, no matter what the distance, no pulling allowed.

For your dog’s safety and well being this summer, and all summers following this year. Train your dog!

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