August 28 - Loose leash walking

Concentrated on trying to clearly distinguish my walking criteria tonight.  We practiced Heel (traditional meaning, walk on left with close attention and trying to keep in the appropriate location), Let's Go (loose leash walking, I determine speed and direction, but Rigger is free to explore so long as the leash remains loose), and Go Sniff (dog sets speed and direction, and I need to match it so that the leash remains loose).  His heeling has gotten much better (although we only do it for very short distances), and he does seem to be perfectly happy to have me take control in the Let's Go parts.  It needs work, but it's starting to really look like he's had some training and that we know what we're doing!  And at the end of the walk, we played tug in the front yard!  He's still not keen on playing out on walks, but this is a good start.  He is giving me Focus when asked out on the walk about 70% of the time, depending on what may be distracting him at the time.  If there is something interesting, or, especially, something worrying, he won't focus.  The rest of the time he will.  So we are making progress!