After the program
Refresher drills after On-Leash Foundations
On-Leash Foundations ends with a dog who walks nicely in the places it trained. Keeping that is mostly about small, frequent reps rather than long marches. Below are five-minute drills, one for each skill the program works on, plus where and how often to run them, and how to use the lifetime phone and email support that comes with the program.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Five-minute drills
One short drill for each skill on the curriculum.
Loose leash: walk a short stretch of sidewalk, and the moment the leash tightens, stop or turn, then mark the dog as it catches up on a slack leash. Heel: practise tight turns and pace changes in the driveway, rewarding the dog for staying at your leg. Sit, down and stay: ask for a stay, take one step away, return, reward, and build distance slowly.
Place: send the dog to its bed or mat while you open the fridge or pick up your keys, then release it with your usual word. Distractions: stand well back from a tree full of squirrels or the edge of a busy park, and reward every glance at you. If the dog cannot take food or keeps pulling, you are too close, so add distance before trying again.
- Stop when the leash tightens
- Heel turns in the driveway
- Stay with one step away
- Place while you grab keys
Rhythm and support
How often, where, and who to ask.
Short and frequent beats long and rare. A five-minute drill folded into most walks keeps these skills alive better than an occasional hour of practice. Rotate locations: the hallway, the front step, your block, then busier sidewalks. Each new spot is easier if the dog succeeded in the last one. Keep the slip lead and training collar fitted and used exactly as you were shown at handover.
On-Leash Foundations includes lifetime phone and email support, so you never have to guess when something slips. Describe what changed: a new route, a new season, a new dog on the block. The program also includes one free follow-up session. If pulling turns into lunging or barging at dogs or people, that is a reactivity question rather than a leash-skills one, and a professional assessment is the sensible next step.
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The questions people ask us.
How long should a refresher training session be?
Around five minutes per drill is plenty for these skills. Stopping while the dog is still succeeding keeps practice something it looks forward to.
My dog started pulling again after training, what do I do?
Go back to the quietest spot where the dog walked well and rebuild from there, stopping the moment the leash goes tight. If it keeps slipping, use the lifetime phone and email support included with On-Leash Foundations.
Do I need to keep using the training collar?
Use the tools the way they were taught at handover, fitted as shown. If you want to change or phase out a tool, ask through your phone and email support first so the dog is not confused.
Can I practise heel in a busy area?
Start somewhere quiet and add distraction step by step. Busy areas are the last stage, not the first, and distance is your friend whenever the dog struggles.
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Questions after On-Leash Foundations
Graduates have lifetime phone and email support. Not enrolled yet? Book a consultation to see whether On-Leash Foundations fits your dog.
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