We have the beginnings of our loose-leash walking captured on video below. While I have had collars on the boys I tend to leave them off most of the time as I’m cautious of a jaw getting hooked under a brother’s collar and choking someone when they play. I’m using a 4’ slip lead to teach loose leash walking. The idea with the slip lead is that it is used without a collar however if there is resistance by the puppy, there is cinching pressure on the neck.
ACDs are built to go into pressure. They were bred to go into the bramble bush and make autonomous decisions in order to bring out that 2,000lb bull by any means necessary because their owners did not want to go in there. If they got kicked in the head, they wouldn’t stop… they would just get more tenacious. Please re-read those three sentences if you need to. In a practical day-to-day application, if you strong-arm an ACD too often you will have quite the battle on your hands. Physical corrections do happen in my house however not that often which is why they have impact when they do.
In teaching these puppies about collars, leashes and pressure, I am trying to help them understand that life can be a whole lot more fun if they choose to come with me. There are lots of reasons that influence their willingness: collars/leashes are weird, puppy vs people agenda, fear of what’s at the end of the driveway, traffic/neighbourhood noises, etc. I really don’t want them to resist the process and learn that the leash can become tight. This desire is driven by wanting to avoid a future propensity for leash pressure with their owners because of their paternal influences.
Lucky is very pressure sensitive and that is a good thing. He is quite willing to partner with me and generally it takes very little “ask” to get cooperation. When we work sheep I must mind the position of my stock stick and not wave it around like Harry Potter. A small flick in the right direction communicates what to do and where to go. I think we would all agree that when less is more, it’s a good thing.
These puppies are very much their father’s sons. My leash is a tool that is present, but there is no need to be overzealous (be Harry Potter in my previous example). I want to maintain that sensitivity they’ve been born with. These puppies want to be with me. If they resist, it’s my job to figure out why. In the video you’ll notice that Peter is a little resistant and needs some support — this is a combination of him being in a little fear period and there are some mechanical neighbourhood noises going on in the background that he’s a little worried about. I encouraged and supported him through it in the moment but because of his headspace, we cut our training short. There’s no sense forcing the issue to create future drama around leashes when there are legitimate reasons why he’s having a hard time.
And if you ever needed proof of how Australian Cattle Dogs respond to pressure, take a peek at this pack walk where the boys are a little too close together.