Background:
Dexter had become increasingly difficult for his owner to manage on the lead due to a lack of walking because of his owner's health issues. His strength, combined with a lack of leash manners, made everyday walks both physically challenging and stressful.

Assessment:
Dexter’s behaviour on lead was not due to aggression or fear, but simply a lack of understanding and clear communication. He hadn’t learned how to respond to leash pressure or how to walk in a calm, controlled manner.

Training Approach:
Our training began with the basics:

- 1. Leash Pressure Work:
We introduced the concept of leash pressure, teaching Dexter how to "turn off" that pressure by walking calmly and in sync with his handler. This gave him a clear way to understand expectations on walks.
- 2. Recall Training:
Once his leash manners improved, we began working on recall—allowing Dexter more freedom while reinforcing a reliable response when called, even with distractions present.

Progress & Outcome:
Dexter has made fantastic progress. He quickly picked up on the training, especially when motivated by his favourite reward - squeezy cheese! His eagerness to please and growing responsiveness have made walks far more enjoyable and manageable for his owner.

Conclusion:
By giving Dexter the tools and structure he needed, and with his owner’s commitment to the process, we transformed stressful walks into positive, cooperative experiences. Dexter is now well on his way to becoming a polite and responsive walking companion.