I’m a dog trainer – the best owners know my top tip but so many people don’t… it’ll make your dog impossible to handle
A DOG trainer has revealed the number one tip to a stress-free walk with your furry friend.
Will Atherton, known as @iamwillatherton on TikTok, says that to make your pet manageable, owners have to be assertive.
He said: “This tip is something that the best dog trainers and handlers in the world know but so many new owners don’t understand and make this mistake on every single walk they go on.
“If you want your walk to be as beautiful as this, you have to stop letting your dog make decisions when you’re out on a walk.
“Yes, that does mean they can’t stop and sniff whenever they want.
“Yes, that means that they can’t react and bark and lunge towards people, vehicles and traffic when they want.”
Will tells his viewers that if you can hurdle those obstacles when your dog is on a leash, then “you will have a dream dog” – opening up the opportunity for your pooch to prance about off-lead later on.
He concludes by doubling down on the tip that relatively few new dog owners are aware of.
Will continues: “When you get to where you’re going, maybe to a private field, somewhere safe, we can let them off the lead or switch them out to a long-line.
“Then they can run, be a dog and have all the fun in the world.
“But if you want a walk that looks like this, stop letting your dog make their own decisions.”
Some users praised Will’s expert advice.
One said: “This is so true.”
Another agreed: “Well said. I never let my dogs sniff while on the lead.”
However, many were critical of the “hardcore” advice on offer.
“My idea of a dream dog is a dog that behaves naturally. If you want your dog like this then get a stuffed one”, one fumed.
Another chimed in: Just big NO. Yes, dogs need leadership but this is hardcore.
“I have not had any problems on walks and never have to stop my dogs.”