Behaviour Breakdowns: Staying With Me Around People
Lucy loves people — she’d happily greet everyone in town if I let her. But part of real-life training is helping social dogs understand when it’s time to say hi and when it’s time to stay with their person.
In this session, we’re walking through Coldwater and practising engagement while people pass by. You’ll see how I support her choices, manage the leash in real time, and reinforce the little moments that help her stay with me instead of drifting toward every distraction.
What You’ll Notice
How quickly Lucy picks up on patterns in the environment
The subtle engagement behaviours I reinforce (head turns, check-ins, feet staying planted)
How I use leash handling to support decisions rather than restrict them
Ways I help her reorient to me without pressure
Why This Matters
Social dogs often struggle with ignoring people — not because they’re “being bad,” but because they’re excited, curious, or hopeful. Teaching them when to engage and when to stay with you builds better communication, reduces pulling, and helps walks feel more predictable for both ends of the leash.
Real-life sessions like this show how engagement skills transfer from quiet environments to places where actual people, movement, and distractions exist.
📍 Location: Waubaushene, Ontario
🌍 Environment: Busy / Crowded / Familiar
🎯 Focus: Engagement & Calm Observation
