Good behavior is not so much about responding to commands. As you have probably noticed, commands and cues don’t work well whenever a dog is scared, anxious, over-aroused or over-excited. That’s because emotions block thinking. This is when you need to change emotional responses in order to improve behavior— not work harder at obedience.

Occasionally I’m asked to teach a dog to heel. It could be a puppy or a dog that’s reactive or one who’s just pulling too much. As a way of walking together, the preferred alternative to heeling—for many years now—is loose-leash walking.