Welcome to Starting Zone:
Loose Leash Walking
If this is your first Starting Zone course, you’ll start right here on this page with the Orientation videos. These videos capture discussion points and behaviors that pertain to any manners training, and are offered alongside each Starting Zone coursework. You’ll watch through:
Starting Zone: The Orientation where you meet your trainer, recurring guest starts of the videos, and we discuss a little background information about dog training in general that will inform the behaviors in the course and beyond.
Starting Zone: Orientation Behaviors which will introduce the simple behaviors: sit, name response, and down.
Starting Zone: Orientation Skills introducing skills that, unlike the orientation behaviors, aren’t always found in an introductory manners class but nevertheless are foundational habits and offered behaviors every dog can benefit from.
From there, you can review the course map and jump into your first module: Setting It Up for Success!
Starting Zone: Orientation Skills Here
1) Work at you and your dog's pace. There is no rush to work through the material in this class. Some dogs will realize that the decisions you want them to make get them what they want (treats! toys! you!) and it'll be a breeze. Other dogs will struggle to disengage with the triggers that have been a stressor for them for so long. Most dogs will be somewhere along a spectrum in the middle. While I encourage you to deep dive into every module, feel free to jump around, find the skills that work best for you, and invest the time into making sure your dog is with you every step of the way.
2) Take baby steps. That means working easy to hard environments and locations, but also always starting a session two-three steps easier than you finished the last one, and building behaviors bit by bit, especially when you get to distracting locations. Bring the very best treats your dog loves and if they aren't enthusiastic about them - ask why?
3) Join the community! Whether you are on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or none of the above, there are ways for you to be supported throughout this class and throughout your dog's reactivity journey. As uncomfortable as it may be, please video yourself and your exercises - post them in the Facebook group, make a youtube account and send them by email, or (one of my personal favorites) find me on the app Marco Polo and send live videos for quick feedback! Share your questions, your challenges - and most of all, your brags! We might be working virtually, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve tailored, individual support.
I want to encourage you to send videos but also ask for your patience and understanding with the speed of my replies. Try to send quick clips that highlight what you want feedback on or have a question about so I can give you the best information I can!
Regardless of your training goals, there's a couple resources I nearly always find myself recommending! First, I highly recommend checking out my Party Loot Page on my site for all sorts of product and reading recommendations. Also on my main site, you can find my Free Resources page with quick hit tips for specific behavior and situations.
I also have a couple of blog posts I recommend looking over as you plan out your training sessions and settle in to work with me: