Puppy Training: The Truth About Loose Leash Walking!

[@StonnieDennis]

Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! Just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered? I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: kentuckycanine.com/onlinecoaching. Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure! ⁃Stonnie Dennis, Dog Trainer

[@Swishy3737]

Can you do a video about puppies who don’t want to walk? My puppy lays down and I have to pull him! It’s surprising because he is a border collie/heeler and I got him to have a walking buddy.

[@Danielangellinan]

Hey Stonnie. First of all I love the way you "Keep It Playful"..Oss. Now my question is what type of leash do you use?

[@donwatkins9769]

@@Swishy3737 My puppy lays down too!

[@PeterHartman1]

@@Danielangellinan He uses and English show lead. He has mentioned ordering from jeffers but I do not know what the actual brand is.

[@jewelvercoerainbow8225]

@@Swishy3737 Suggest you encourage your pup to walk by walking alongside him, rather than dragging him. Make it fun!

[@paulat5921]

"Sometimes you just have to walk the dog." Agreed. If I waited for my puppy to be perfect, neither of us would ever get any exercise.

[@analarson2920]

So true, mix it with a toy and they eventually get it, some a lot longer than others.

[@whiskeyc]

My previous dog when she was like 8 or 9 years old people would walk up to me and be like "she walks so well on the leash how did you teach her to do that." the real answer was just almost a decade of walking her on a leash and even then there would be times when distractions would get her. This is an excellent thing to tell people.

[@deblawson1575]

THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST!!!!!!! I have heard so many "experts" say things that just are not true!!!!! Dogs and kids they are trained the same in so many ways, Most important, Love and Patients. I'm a 54 yr old woman have had dogs all my life starting from age 9, and I also have 7 children and 5 grand children. None are perfect all are well behaved.

[@StonnieDennis]

You are welcome!

[@laramonroe3363]

"Nonemn are perfect, all are good." I love that.

[@learning2no]

Recognizing what the puppies need isn’t cheating, it’s actually helping them to learn better. You recognize what the puppy needs are and you give them what they need. I see that as wonderful not cheating. Thank you Stonnie for being there for us that need you.

[@wayneblanchard4347]

Oh my goodness. Talk about simplification. "Get your dogs out and put them in high distraction environments until the novelty wears out." Can you get more basic? It's nice not to have to try and solve some complex animal behavior mystery or master a certain technique. Very grateful for this video.

[@StonnieDennis]

Simple is almost always better!

[@edross109]

Thank you for this. Our 17 week old lab, while better than he was on his first walk, still pulls the leash considerably. A typical 20-30 minute walk would barely make it a few blocks as I diligently corrected every pulling event in the name of consistency. Step, stop.. 2 steps stop.. We were not covering much ground and the pup certainly was not getting tired out. I found this video while browsing your channel yesterday and this morning with confidence I told my wife "Stonnie says I can just walk him." This morning's walk was much different. He still pulled, I let him know with praise when he was doing it right, and addressed only the most egregious pulls. He still pulled a lot along the way, but we covered a lot more ground and burned off some energy in a way that had not been happening on walks.

[@sonicmonkey2000]

Did your dog eventually stop pulling or is it still an issue now?

[@ashleykuczmanski6943]

Stonnie...you are the most relatable person. You make me feel normal when it comes to communication with dogs. Thank you

[@StonnieDennis]

That’s my goal!

[@ashleyzuras8006]

Ashley Kuczmanski , I agree with you.

[@deniseoverbeck6266]

You've not heard of others?

[@StonnieDennis]

denise overbeck You sure are a busy poster for someone with no content. Why don’t you take a break from commenting and start putting up some content. There’s no reason to limit your expert opinion to the comments section of other people’s videos.

[@CoooolAsACucumber]

@@StonnieDennis just seeing you comment on the comment above made me a subscriber😉👍

[@amigustafson1949]

Stonnie, THANK YOU! After listening to you in this video I feel I can breathe a little easier. I need to change my attitude and not expect perfection 100% of the time, it’s been so stressful! Out of me and my dog, I think it’s me and my attitude that needs changing.

[@dailycharmaddict]

Ami Gustafson me too 🙂

[@simonjeakings5433]

Thankyou Stonnie for your honesty and telling it like it is. It's a shame, there are some really good trainers on YT but even they don't really tell people the whole truth about dog training and I find that really disapointing. Your a small guy but you have the biggest balls. Dog training is hard work and takes along time..there are no shortcuts.

[@StonnieDennis]

I appreciate this comment. Thank you! As far as KZbin personalities go, very few actually spend enough time with dogs to know the truth much less tell the truth. Most of the people who actually own a kennel and spend everyday with dogs get run off of social media very quickly by fake experts, copy cats, and trolls. Comments like yours go a long way towards keeping content providers like myself motivated to do a good job. Again, thank you for noticing that I try to do my job with integrity.

[@ashleyzuras8006]

My first dogs were Alaskan Malamutes and we were told by different “trainers” the wrong information. I caused a lot of the problems that pissed me off when I would go out with them. It was so frustrating being taught all the wrong stuff. I am SOOOO thankful I found your channel. I have now successfully “trained” an Akita/Dane adult good doggy manners and scent work. She was a foster that is now with her forever family. I was so happy taking her out and using what I learned from your videos. Thank you so much Uncle Stonnie! You have given me the will to want to train dogs again. I was in a bad motorcycle crash, someone hit me. I had to relearn to walk and I have a Traumatic Brain Injury. I had no will to do anything but now I have hope thanks to therapy, meds and your videos! This summer I’m getting a black lab puppy and I will be using everything I’ve learned from your channel. Also thank you Camera Man!!! Much Love from California but soon to be Tennessee( we cant wait to move) lol

[@nicoleinman5563]

I'm in the same boat right now! I have had horrible advice/training practices given to me by "trainers" that now leaves me with a 90 lb, 11 month old doberman that pulls terribly. I now have to undo all the bad training he got from early on. I got him for SAR, he's working European lines with very high energy. Thank you for the hope that the damage can be undone!

[@ashleyzuras8006]

Nicole Inman, there is hope just stay positive and keep up the good work!

[@ashleyzuras8006]

Me I had a hard time walking my female Alaskan malamute around town. She would pull all the time but I finally figured it out. She was bred to pull and be a lead dog and her mom was a champion lead dog. So I figured it was in her blood. So I would reward her for walking nicely by my side with some “lead time” I’d allow her to lead the way as the reward but I also used food/treats. It was a challenge training her, on the other hand my male Malamute never left my side while walking down the sidewalk. He was to interested in peeing on ALL the plants a long the sidewalk. I used prong collars off and on but I also used them just to touch up some training and I’d never jerk the leash. I used slight pressure and food reward with praise and the combination I guess worked. I didn’t know much about those dogs or what to do. I was just a kid but I tried and tried and I made it work for us. After what felt like a long time, I could put the prong collar on my female and I never had to correct her cuz she knew what to do. I love sharing my dog experiences with people. So much didn’t work and only some things worked. I love working with dogs and I’m always trying to learn more and use my knowledge to help others.

[@jacobeason6638]

How is the lab pup coming along now???

[@rodskinner3609]

As much as I wish I had sent my dog to Brandon for training before bringing him home kzbin.infoUgkx1_veP7CApJK_GWy_TczaMciuG64PqJeU I am so grateful for this down-to-earth, practical guide. His training techniques and tips really work. Thank you as well for dedicating your life's work to rescue dogs, and to rescuing those of us who want the very best for our 4-legged family members.

[@ekelindner7991]

I laughed so hard when you started about the standing still when the puppy pulls the leash and not getting into dog training class. This IS actually an often advised approach and well, you told it in such a recognizable and funny way Stonnie! And then I laughed just as hard to see that pup sliding down that slope. It was sweet, thanks.

[@marykm85]

Yes! It takes at least 45 minutes when I get home of playing with/exercising my puppy before I can try to do any training.

[@0003Zeb]

Uncle Stonnie, you’re the greatest! Truth in every word spoken

[@StonnieDennis]

You are too kind!

[@christophercarson643]

This is exactly what I needed. We sent our sweet pup Sadie to you roughly 18 months ago and she mostly walks great, but occasionally she gets excited about the environment and I get frustrated. Despite watching near every video you produced prior to sending Sadie to you, this video is what I needed. Thank you!

[@car2nerr]

I love the voice of reason and honesty here. I learned pretty quickly that my pup just needed to go for a walk more than he needed to heel. And I loved watching that pup learn about walking in snow with you. awwww

[@Robin-qc4gn]

WELL THANK YOU, STONNIE!! Geez, I was beating myself up for my 11 week old puppy's slow progress on not pulling. Clearly, my expectations were not in line with what my puppy is mentally capable of at this age. I thank you, and Ryker will thank you the next time we walk and he pulls some.

[@arogers8739]

So refreshing to hear the most accurate talk about the expectation of what a puppy is about. Training a pup is not a quick non stop effort. Most people are not as good with dogs as they think they are. One of the hardest points that frustrate some owners is that even if a dog looks like an adult it by age is still a pup.

[@neiltnt]

Everyone seems to have an opinion on how you should bring up a puppy. This can leave new owners feeling “less than”. So it was humbling to hear your none judgemental opinion on progress not perfection. Love the content and the GSP nipping around in the background. 👍

[@jenniferellis7594]

This may be my most loved video of yours! We just got a 2 year old yellow lab from a shelter and I’m being reminded of the challenges of dog training daily lol. Your training and your thought process toward working with dogs just makes damn good sense. There are so many so called quick fixes to be found online. There are no quick fixes in dog training. Interact with your dog, reward your dog, exercise your dog and mold their behavior. Your realness is refreshing!

[@jamiem5364]

Your one of my favorite channels as u don't sugar coat and lie about the reality of actually raising a dog! Unfortunately real life is tough at times and it certainly isnt all rainbows and unicorns as some people try and portray.

[@tomysons9768]

Thank you so much! We have a wonderful 8 month female Dalmatian and she struggles with the loose leash 50% of the time. This was encouraging.

[@henny9131]

How do you like her? I was really thinking about a Dalmatian but I’m concerned with their energy levels. I have a big enough backyard and hike trails around where I live but I keep thinking about how if in 3-5 years that’s gonna wear me out.

[@GySgt_USMC_Ret.]

6:05 life is good. I've retired 3 times and haven't worked in almost 14 years. Brought home a black American Lab puppy today. My third lab. Both passed at 10. Going to focus on helping this new best friend to hit at least 12. Thanks for the videos, Stonnie. I'm learning a lot. Fair winds and following seas to all. Ooorah!

[@chrisjabr8638]

Thank you for this. My 18 mo old mixed GS is a strong puller but I still enjoy walking her. She heels when we practice together but totally unrealistic to expect a heel on her 40 min daily walks. I noticed a change in her over the past few weeks (more pulling) & I was getting frustrated when I decided to search your videos on leash walking & came across this one. I’m refreshed & have replenished my patience meter. Love my dog & love teaching her manners which under NO distractions always works perfectly ☺️

[@TXRattler1]

It’s been a while since I’ve had a dog to train and work with but I love watching these videos. I’ll be getting a Chocolate Lab puppy sometime around July and I’m soaking up everything your saying. The main thing that I’m picking up from your videos is a reminder to be “Patient” and it will all work out in the end.

[@StonnieDennis]

Yep!

[@Dash277]

This was very helpful. I think it's all about realistic expectations!

[@StonnieDennis]

100%

[@zaynab2085]

Thank you for the intro, I have a puppy that loves the snow and had really made me feel helpless. I needed that talk. I found that tying the 15-25’ leash to my waist and walking him at the park is helpful. He runs safely at a city park while allowing me to enjoy my walk as well.

[@samples3030]

Thank you so much for this video and taking the time to post it! I have a Doberman and chose to use your training videos and knowledge on this dog (she's vastly different and more energy than my last Doberman). Starting with building my own small challenges course and repetition. But the leash walking has yet to come. And I have felt like a failure and listening to this video has really made me see I'm not and keep doing what I'm doing and she'll get there, there is no perfection with timing. Sometimes we just need those reassuring words even you don't have perfect dog days :) Thank you again for ALL the time you put into helping us and our dogs.

[@principalhumancapital5373]

Stonnie, this advice worked on my 12 week old black lab puppy. He was unhappy the first few times we tried it, but the exercise, indirect reward and structured positive re-enforcement made things works! thank you.

[@ElizabethHall0]

You absolute beaut Stonnie ! That’s the most honest and considered advice anyone could give ! Expectations , timelines and reality. I’m laughing . You’ve saved half my day saved in stop start leash work !

[@StonnieDennis]

There’s a million other nonsense things in the dog world...one of these days I may start addressing them all...

[@ElizabethHall0]

Stonnie Dennis You’ve changed my little world . My five month old pup now has daily ‘Stonnie pup adventures’. Basically anything I can throw at her to stimulate the dog inside ! She’s loving it and so am I . No hemp fields and quad bikes yet though !

[@ElizabethHall0]

Stonnie Dennis and the opposite of you is Zak George ... He has a pup that’s NEVER allowed to explore or socialise freely . I’ve learned a lot from comparing your two styles . Please do a few myth dispelling videos .

[@KimBTown]

I like Zac George. He’s got lots of good stuff. Very positive. Upbeat, and snimated. He’s just not as good as Stonnie and he’s kind of over marketing product on his content. He’s definitely a positive reinforcement believer. He’s kind of missing out on the calm Zen side of things. That comes naturally to Stonnie, he chats his way through until the dog chills. Zac even in his stillness, evokes a hyper energy that the dog can’t completely relax to. I like what he’s doing now with a start to finish content on his own dog. He includes mistakes. And discusses them later. It’s pretty transparent. You can learn different things from different trainers. They don’t confuse the dog as long as you’re consistent and patient. I primarily go with Stonnie on almost everything. Except when he calls lazy dogs ‘Bernie’ because they don’t want to work.

[@KimBTown]

Tee Hee

[@laramonroe3363]

Stonnie. You are my favourite dog person ever. Thank you so much for your realistic approach, your kindness, your intelligence and your love of dogs. You make my world sane and sometimes I just wish I could hug you. Sorry for the effusion, but it is what it is.

[@cinthialiu4345]

Thank you so much for the open mind and insightfulness. I went on vacation all the way in Whistler, Canada and ran into a service dog. His owner said he completely trained him off your videos. You are making dramatic, real changes to many of us. I appreciate your perspective so much!

[@KimBTown]

May I quote you please? This is a very nice comment that dispelled a rather stupid myth. ThX

[@TogetherAsOne1111]

Stonnie, I’m one of those people fortunate enough to not to have to work or have a social life for the first 8 months of my pups life, hence why I got one. My fiancé and I now work in a manufacturing factory for lighting and thanks to your training style, my heeler/Aussie mix (high energy) is so well behaved for a puppy that she stays in the office all day (with 3 short breaks) and everyone comments on how great she is (for a puppy). A huge thanks to you!!!💖💝💖

[@user-uk9ph3me5b]

“Sometimes in life things have to get done” yea I’m gonna take that and hold onto that for a long time. Thank you. Hope you’re doing well.

[@BigPowerAL]

My wife Esther and I appreciate your honest look at leash training. Our 6 month old Fox Red Lab, Murphy getting better but still pulls us down the street on his walks. The training continues though....

[@garretsabourin5842]

Im really happy i found this channel. Been using these techniques with my 14 year old deaf shihtzu and he's changed so fast its amazing

[@lyndaluscombe1475]

Wow! thanks for your advice. I feel like a complete failure when my dog fails on walks. No longer after watching this video. Great down to earth advice.

[@moonblink]

Never feel like a failure! If you are taking your dog out AT ALL, then you've succeeded as a dog owner. The rest is just style :)

[@kanako5449]

THANK YOU! The most frustrating thing was not knowing what is a reasonable expectation for a puppy. I was trying the stop and wait and treat method but it only worked rarely and it just didn’t feel right. But I felt the pressure of needing to train the puppy “right” in this small window of development. More of these “practical expectation” videos would be great (along with general age range of puppy). ❤️from CA

[@deltanovember2296]

I’m currently trying to train a rescue dog that has evidently been given no boundaries whatsoever in his previous life. He has the potential to be a great dog but has some truly awful habits. I’m sure that I’ve seen most of your videos before at least once but I came back to this one in particular after a really frustrating session this morning. Thanks Stonnie, I’m going to go back out, get some miles in, manage my expectations, and try to enjoy it this time!

[@kawaiid]

Thank you SO much for making this video. I can't tell you how much better we feel about ourselves and our pup after your honesty. Thank you thank you thank you!

[@AndreHeinemann]

Thanks for this entertaining and informative video, love the the downhill slide at 12:07 - hilarious!

[@ashleykuczmanski6943]

You're NOT cheating. You are an excellent trainer Stonnie!! Get the off leash energy out first. I am ALL about it.

[@sophiamichelle6692]

I have a 6mth old GSP x Heading Dog. I just found your videos and THANK GOD! This video is so refreshing and honest!

[@MrFauxCough]

There needs to be a "super like" button for this video. Excellent stuff, as usual.

[@idotechno]

I needed this video today! I have been watching your videos since we got our lab pup a few weeks ago. I use as many of your training techniques as I can and they work so well. Exercising her outside has been tricky because of less day light and some crappy weather. Inside I get creative with tossing her food rations/treats on the floor and watching her run to them and come back, sit, and wait for the next. I try to avoid tug of war because she will end up biting us. We have this noise maker ball that she goes crazy for and flings around the house for about 5 mins and then she lays herself down to rest. I give it to her about twice a day and she loves it! She is about 13 weeks now, and doesn't really understand going on walks yet. Weve tried a few times to walk down the driveway to the road but she gets distracted and wants to jump in the ditch. We walk around in the yard though and she likes that. Id really like to get at least a 5 or 10 minute walk in the neighborhood out of her but for right now we just walk and play in the yard. Thanks again from Va!

[@Terrierized]

Lucky you, standing there with snow all around. Have fun and thanks for always inspiring us and setting a good example

[@StonnieDennis]

Thank you for watching!

[@mikeygallag]

Love this. Makes so much sense...'until the novelty wears off' Best advice ever.

[@honourwest6074]

Thankyou. This was hugely reassuring as a first time dog owner

[@RatdogDRB]

Common Sense is such a wonderful tool ! The dog learns to follow its master. The reward matches the amount of effort shown.

[@sue2022]

My 17 week old fox red labrador is getting on real well but I came back to this video and boy how reassuring it is. I have worked hard together with my puppy on loose leash walking and she is getting the hang of it. The truth is that any distractions and away she goes pulling to get to it. She will get it eventually but this video reminded me that she is still very young and full of fun and I am enjoying that so I am going to be patient with the loose leash work in a distraction environment. Her recall work is pretty solid so far and she is responding in a distraction environment if I choose my moment. Thanks for this lovely video!

[@jasonschwanke916]

Great stuff. This perspective is spot on in my experience. I have an 8 year old Doodle and a currently 4 month old Ridgeback. With the Doodle we did no training classes, minimal work at home, etc. We just taught the basic commands (sit, lay down, stay, come) and other than that just lived life, took walks, tried to teach her in our own way what not to do and what is ok, and just didn't take things too seriously. With our new Ridgeback we are taking things more seriously doing classes and following some of the training techniques out there more religiously. But end of the day she is still a puppy and acts like one when she wants to. That is just life! Meanwhile our older Doodle is a great dog despite us being so relaxed with her as a pup and not following any strict training regimens. She is great on leash, off leash, everything. Goes to show that end of the day it mainly just takes time and patience. Eventually, if you're a responsible and caring dog owner, your pup will mature and be a well behaved adult dog. It is best to not get too stressed out over the steps it takes to get there.

[@whomeverwherever]

So far, one of my favorite videos of yours! I cannot stand when people expect puppies or even dogs to just walk right beside them anytime they’re out. Especially with high energy working dogs. They need to explore, they need exercise, etc. once you get around people/dogs/ dangerous areas, etc, then that is where the work needs to be focused for their safety and the safety/comfort of others. But I have a high energy mal that needs extensive exercise and for anyone to assume she needs to just be right beside me when we are out exercising and doing activities is just ridiculous. Or to not have the anxiety kick in in stressful situations. You can condition and train all you want, but if you have a naturally anxious + energetic dog and they know it’s an unpleasant place or experience ahead, you know the reaction you will get. Don’t be hard on them and make it worse! Or force those things on them. And let puppies explore and experience new things (safely) without forcing them to just forego that pleasure and need by gluing them beside you. When the environmental novelty has worn off, then yes, you may work on getting them more focused on you and training. I use Non-stop Dogwear belts and bungee leashes to walk my now 5 year old mal in areas where I know there are not tons of people and dogs and yet it still gives me control of her if something were to pop out and cause an issue. And she listens to “stay left, go straight, stay over, go left, go right,” wait, sit,” etc. while on the bungee. She needs exercise. And usually, this is still used even after I run her out back for awhile. I always recommend anyone with a super active dog exercise them to expend some energy before going on a walk or to an appointment/event. So many don’t realize the energy levels of (high drive) mals….how that energy builds up after a long car ride, etc and they are going to need to run a bit before you can assume they should stay right next to you on a leash. In new areas, I use a belt and bungee leash for my mal puppy to explore and a long leash in broader, yet still public areas where there is no fence.

[@rdwakefield]

Stonnie many thanks for being truthful! My wife and love the bully breeds and we had two wonderful girls, lost one at 5 to a liver failure and the other we just lost in dec of 2022 at 10.5 to cancer..they were some of the best dogs, but it took time to get them there...Our Abby that we just lost to cancer was never on a leash unless we were going somewhere that required it. we live in the woods and she stayed by our side and would never venture to far off. We now have two American Bully male sibling pups and the wife and I had to reflect back on how we raised our girls... the problem with most people, they want instant results and that just ain't gonna happen with puppies, there will be set backs and some days it feels like 5 steps backwards and no steps forwards and other days its just the opposite...biggest thing we do is to show lots of love while working these two new boys and let them be puppies. they are coming along for the three weeks we have had them...over time they will grow and mature and become well focused boys..but again that is going to take time along with solid work. Praise the Lord for you and being up front with people and not sugar coating the process.

[@OneNvrKnoz]

I know that this is an old video, but it’s just what I needed to hear. Thank you Stonnie for keeping it real!

[@janesanchez213]

Your so smart Stonnie. You truly get dogs. That’s why children do so well with them. They don’t expect from them. They enjoy the experience of being with a dog. You know dogs need to play. Most likely your a wonderful Dad as well. Loved your video about the trolls. And so hoping your friends and family in western Kentucky are getting the care they need. You truly are. Genuine man.Take care

[@CarameliaM]

Thank you so much for this honest video. I tried ALL the methods you described and nothing works, so I was really thinking I'm a horrible owner to not be able to train my dog ... Thank you.

[@fleedum]

Great honesty! I see people practice stuff taught at the dog academy but they're so strict like they're forcing their pup to be a 3 year old, well trained dog. While you can clearly see the pup just wants to play a bit with other dogs. A well exercised dog, behaves better! Key information a lot of people don't seem to grasp / have time for. People seem to think the heel walking is enough exercise :/

[@vanaghar]

Mr Dennis, Our culture has so much emphasis on focusing on success, would be awesome to see a video of your team struggling with a dog learning to walk on a leash. Might not be sexy but will teach all us regular dog owners a lot more. Thanks for the video!

[@KimBTown]

Agree with you. But that is essentially what is going on here. The snow changed everything. Success should be baby steps that are hard to see. But always attainable. Success has to be in reach. One of my favorite movies is The Bird Man of Alcatraz. It’s a prisoner trains a wild bird that visits his window in prison using incremental behavior modification to shape behavior to what you would like by positive reinforcement. The ultimate beauty of the movie is that the prisoner is in prison to shape his behavior. Juxtaposing negative reinforcement by stark comparison.

[@KimBTown]

Oh BTW ... Some of Stonnie’s earlier videos do address problem solving and retraining. They use cut-away shots and time jumps to incorporate several trading stages into one video. One of the best was a pit bull bitter. Another was a car chaser. Imagine watching Stonnie have a picnic lunch in his car on a highway median sk the dog in training can have a chance to desensitize by close approximation. It was ‘all of the above’ in my book.

[@ronkays4637]

Stonnie, I love your honesty and practical advice. Thanks!

[@StonnieDennis]

I appreciate you watching!

[@mickdempsey5312]

Amazing video stonnie no dog or owner is perfect.......just patience and love.

[@kbronx64]

So glad I've found ur channel! I struggle with being an "imperfect" trainer for my 14wk old chocolate based on all the training videos I've watched and yes, the timelines are never discussed! I so appreciate finding that its ok to just let your puppy be a puppy and allow time to do its thing and just keep on keepin on doing the best you can. Thank you!

[@ElijahsAba]

Barbara Woodhouse! We used to watch her when I was a kid in South Africa. I’ve never met an American who’s ever heard of her! Walkies!

[@ElijahsAba]

Emily Triffault 😆

[@AlCatrraz]

How many Americans did YOU MEET?? I am sure there are at least TWO AMERICANS who do know of her.. lol BEST

[@michelebakalar]

@@AlCatrraz make that 3!

[@LLewis-vu9qf]

I even have one of her books. I'm on the East Coast USA.

[@robertsackmann4253]

Reminds me of the Queen Elizabeth movie where she is dominating her Corgies Funny stuff...

[@cristinaembisan8396]

Thank you for telling it like it is and being honest. Was about to spend so much money out of frustration realizing that loose leash walking training will take forever. What you said makes soooo much sense. Sometimes the old way of just tugging and desensitizing over time is so true. I was getting frustrated how you tubers make it seem so easy to teach puppies to walk loosely on leash. I’m so glad I saw this video. Thank you.

[@bettymcconnell1011]

Thank goodness for your chat my 18 month GSD drives me mad just now she wants to be every where quick no problem morning walk all off lead in lovely big field training and play for 1 hour then the dreaded night walk about the roads for leash work no more stress I am just letting her take me for a walk her recall is fab will use that when I need her at my side thank you

[@jdpratt33]

Great advice and thanks for all your free content Stoney.

[@StonnieDennis]

Thanks for watching!

[@johntripp2028]

That puppy did a great job. He was a trooper.

[@samithprinklez1093]

Thank you for confirming my suspicions about this topic. New viewer here, and oh my gosh I feel so validated! Loved seeing the dopey puppy in the background too. So cute!

[@Adamas11]

Awesome video. Great insight on leash pulling! My 7 month old GSP pulls, but he’s gotten much, much better. At least he’s not pulling insanely like he was before 👍

[@peterjanbo657]

Same here with my soon a year and a half gs. So easy to see if she gets to little exercise.

[@Adamas11]

Peter Janbo Oh yes, no doubt. I notice this especially on really rainy days. He likes the rain, but not when it pouring buckets.

[@michellemealey2569]

I’ve just come across your page. You really are one of the most down to earth & genuine trainers I’ve seen. Had dogs most of my life. We’ve just got a Belgian Malinois last year. He’s 5 months now and having 1 to 1 training. He’s coming on great. I’ve also a 9 year Bichon cross Poodle. He is highly strung food aggressive & stubborn. My fault as he was never properly trained and has so many bad habits again my fault. Your videos are so informative and excellent. You have a gift. Thanks for sharing & hope you & your family are safe during these unsettling times. I’d recommend your page to friends & family back here in Liverpool UK & in the USA

[@StonnieDennis]

I’m glad you like our content. I really appreciate the positive feedback!

[@shannonrodden3989]

Puppy training is a process...and if they are tired out enough to be calm and listen, that’s a good way to start!

[@BelindaTN]

Love the idea of working with the dog on leash after he is tired from excersise. reminds me of my dad talking about how they broke their horses and mules to ride on the farm he grew up on. they were first hooked to the plow to work all day. at the end of the day, they worked with them training them to ride. He said they had very little problems out of them. The horses and mules, were just too tired to kick up a fuss and balk them.

[@robertthigpen7648]

YOU ARE SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SO ENTERTAINING. 🏆 Best Dog training advice I’ve ever heard!

[@innerworkingsinspiration2561]

“Girls and squirrels get your dog every time!” Stonnie speaks, we listen. 🙏🙏🙏🐶🐶🐶

[@joem1634]

Stonie telling us how it is, being truthful and honest. Exercise em tire em out it’s that simple.

[@marydowney1444]

I've watched this more than once and it's helpful every time! I hope that eventually, my 6 month old lab will grow tired of chewing cones from trees when we walk. I've relaxed about it quite a bit because at least they seem to pass through him without harm but sometimes it just drives me nuts! I think he must like the crunchiness. He also likes any form of wood. He's actually very good on the leash which is helpful.

[@Shakashack2022]

Kudos to whoever shoveled off that snow from the concrete pad! 👍🏼 Thank you for your permission to keep our expectations in check, less stress for sure. For me, I just don’t want my dog to harm itself or another dog or human, and be well-behaved for my family, house guests, and sitter. So I keep in mind Stonnie’s laugh/chuckle with the happy dogs, for the purposeful play with mine.

[@Rafael-fm5mq]

Stonnie's lessons are invaluable and the honesty is unparalleled. I have a 1 year old German Wirehaired Pointer (Drahthaar) named Boone out here in West Texas. We run ~3-4 miles 4 times a week and only after those runs can we start loose leash training but even with that sometimes it's still a challenge especially when other dogs are around but we get after it each day and try to improve keeping in mind that this type of breed requires more management than others.We still are far from perfect but I hope this motivates other owners to keep at it with their high energy dogs!

[@stefaniecolapinto]

Straight to the point, realistic, no nonsense approach...love it.

[@theresaw1117]

Love your philosophy on dogs and life.You have helped me so much with my 4 litter mates 6 months old now. I work with them every day with exercise first then leash work. Game changer especially for my males.I would love a video on how to set up a small course for my dogs. Right now I have 2 gravel piles a low jump some large stepping blocks, they all love to work most days some days not so much and that's okay. It's the little victories that count as they lead to the big ones!Thank you sir!🐕🐶💖🙏

[@StonnieDennis]

Four litter mates? You are a trooper!

[@theresaw1117]

@@StonnieDennis Thank you!They are a lot of work but worth it! As they are family members!

[@lauradav2]

Years ago I rescued a dog out of a bad situation. I was living in a small house in the middle of the city. Very busy streets, small yard. I took him in so I wanted to be sure he wasn’t miserable. I read all the books, watched the shows. And I walked him over and over. All this time I could I never figure out his breed. I got him around 14-16 weeks old and he was a medium size dog. By 8 months he was 80 pound and at a year and half over 100. That dog pulled me like a sled dog for months. I started wearing the leash over my shoulder because my arm was wearing out so bad. Anyway, turns out he was an Anatolian Shepherd. All the stuff you’re showing in these videos is so validating for things we went through training that boy. Tibbs has been gone a year. He was my one in a million. But today, I’m going to pick up Hank off a little farm in North TN. It’s the breeders first Anatolian litter. Everything I learned from Tibbs and confirmed with your teaching makes this time around much more a joy than a worry. At 8 weeks old he’s 23 pounds. He’s gonna be a beast! It’s going to be so much fun exercising him. ❤️

[@RichardHemphill-c1r]

Hi Stonnie, I didnt listen to you and got a started dog anyway, and now I have a 2 year old puppy to socialize!! haha. Wanted to tell you that on her first night with me and my two other dogs you saved my life at 0300.... I remembered you just taking the dogs for a walk around your course . I walked around my whole fenced yard, round and round. up the little hill, down the hill and they all just followed.... for two hours. And then they were all pretty much fine together. It took all the tension out of them....thanks

[@StonnieDennis]

Keep your head up and keep plugging away. Consistency and persistence always lead to success!

[@moiragillott8060]

I love this! I take my GSP for at least an hour and a half in two locations. he doesn't even need a leash when we go to the car. If we have to go to Home depot, an hour of exercise is crucial. I have an ecollar but no guarantee that the dog will behave. Building trust is personal and takes time. This is why most people shouldn't own dogs.

[@suzyq6767]

I"m actually in tears right now. We have two beautiful Labs (hunting lines) professionally trained by the breeder and a Yorkie. I'm 99 lbs and 4' 11". When I walk them together, they compete to see who gets in front. So lately I've only walked the big boy, because he is not a happy camper without exercise. They are bigger and stronger than me which my black eye, broken rib, and rotator cuff injuries attest. However, I can finally stop feeling as if I ruined them somehow or that the breeder/trainer cheated me. They are dogs, not robots. They will likely never walk with complete perfection and that's ok. We'll just spend more time driving out to the country for adventures. After all this rambling, I want to give you a HUGE thank you. I'll relax and have more fun with them now.

[@SweetBayLane]

New subscriber here and I am so glad that I found your channel! Your honesty has given me the boost I needed in training my 5 month old lab puppy. She is extremely high energy like most lab puppies and I was starting to feel discouraged with my abilities to train her. :) Can't wait to watch the rest of your videos.

[@mathehack1]

My dog, a working breed, as a puppy had virtually limitless energy. You could take him out, run him and put him through his paces cognitively and this dude would still yank your arm off on the leash during a walk. Eventually we started using a prong collar and that made it so we could eventually consistently go for walks and enjoy them together. Now he's two years old, is a good citizen, and I can take him anywhere. So much of it is just finding what works for your dog and being consistent. He still has a ton of energy and is a general pain but it is fun to see how far we can go.

[@juliepuhr9806]

oh my gosh thank you for your honesty . I have two labs I have found that as a 100 pound woman, I was developing wrist pain from arguing with the puppy on the walk….we own property so to walk them I would walk our trails. I have a better dog who e Is easier to walk when he is tired. Good grief it’s exhausting. So all your assessments are spot on. Now I need more info

[@campingjack75]

You are just the best. I am having my family watch some of your videos so we are all on the same page with what I am trying to do with our 12 week old cattle dog. I fully buy into your brand of training (and many other things). you deserve every ounce of success coming your way. Greetings from Colorado.

[@jackreckitt5162]

Thanks, I needed that. The pulling can get frustrating.

[@ashleyzuras8006]

I tell everyone about Uncle Stonnie! Thank you for all your knowledge! Thank you Camera Man!

[@lisathewhitewolf]

Our doggy adventures will probably be mostly comprised of agility competitions and a few trips to the beach, but you never know

[@John-g1v8s]

Wow! Thanks so much for this honest advice, going to save me a hell of a lot of frustration, just because me and my dog can’t do it like the „professionals“. Done me and my dog a great service. And a big thanks from Sally my springer spaniel pup, she said at last somebody who understands what it’s like to be a dog.

[@sbg4ever120]

Thank you so much for this!! I’ve been watching so many training videos and thinking my puppy was not getting it! He’s actually doing really well. You’re awesome 👏

[@anthonycote4295]

Another great video. I've learned a lot from watching these. I really appreciate you taking the time to put together these in depth videos. My dogs have benefitted greatly.

[@emmamemma4162]

This was a very nice video, thanks a lot Stonnie! We're at the point where the puppy will sometimes walk like an angel and sometimes she does nothing but pull on the leash. Rabbits is what most often gets her pulling, so knowing the route and the time of day it's possible to predict what she'll be like. Here's a tip for all the folks that don't have a nice setup like Stonnie has, or even a small fenced in yard to tire out the dog in before walks. We purchased canicross equipment (a short harness, bungee leash and a hip belt) that we use when we think our dog will be pulling, and on long walks (to properly tire her out). She can pull all she wants when she is in her harness, but when the leash is clipped to her collar we make her walk nicely. It's also a lot more comfortable and fun to walk a dog that pulls when you use a bungee leash and a hip belt. You can steer and control the dog fairly well with the bungee leash, but it's even more fun if you teach them "stop","go","right","left", etc. Be warned that this works best in calmer surroundings, and your dog will start to think it's pulling time every time you put a harness on, so you'll need to use a collar for proper leash walking.

[@tanyadragon1404]

Thank you, i have been looking for this answer for a little while as i live in a city with a siberian husky puppy of 9 months. Off leash is not an option for me and i have been searching for validation or another option to walking my pup on leash for exercise even though he pulls. Perhaps it is common sense but your saying it for everyone to hear is just wonderful. Thank you!

[@jookeanyeong3199]

Tanya Dragon l

[@whizzkidd4243]

its stonies honesty that make him the best out there

[@Claire-gv7pi]

I am so glad i watched this video! I have a black lab puppy and i have been doing the stop start treat lead training. I am going to stop today!!

[@daedmonds]

One of your best videos. Very helpful and sets my expectations. A win for both my dog and I. Thank you.

[@Noahsark17]

Energy is one of the most important principles in all of creation. Abundance of Commands is a cheap way of managing energy. Mature emotional development and moving in technical support is nature's system. Uncle Stonnie understands this principle 🙏❤️💯