Program fit
On-Leash Foundations for a strong dog
A strong dog does not need to be badly behaved to be dangerous on a leash. One squirrel, one patch of ice, and a dog's full weight going forward decide where you both end up. On-Leash Foundations is the two-week program built for the walk. Here is why the loose-leash work matters most when the dog outweighs your patience, what the tools are for, and when the bigger program is worth asking about.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Weight and ice
A loose leash is a safety item when the dog can out-pull you.
A small dog that pulls is annoying. A big dog that pulls decides where the walk goes, and on winter sidewalks that freeze, thaw and freeze again, one lunge can put a handler on the ground. That is why the loose-leash walking and heel work in On-Leash Foundations matter more for a strong dog than any other item on the list. Two weeks of daily work go into teaching that a slack leash is the normal state and forward pressure earns nothing.
The slip lead and training collar that come home are communication tools, not brakes. A slip lead sits high and gives a light, instant cue the moment the dog drifts ahead, which is often the moment a big dog is easiest to redirect. The training collar is matched to the individual dog and introduced properly, then taught to you at the handover lesson. Skills are taught with markers and rewards first; the tools make the picture clear, they do not replace the teaching.
- Loose-leash walking and heel first
- Two weeks of daily one-on-one work
- Tools matched to the dog, then taught
- Sit, down, stay and place too
The bigger program
Advanced Off-Leash is built for the big dog that has to behave in public.
Some strong dogs need more than a walk. If yours is going to stand beside you on a patio, lie down at distance while you load the truck, or heel through a crowd without a leash, that is what Advanced Off-Leash is built for: four weeks at $3,940 + GST, working on off-leash heel, sit, stay and down at distance, public manners and advanced distraction training. A remote collar, owner education and two free follow-up sessions are included.
Which one fits is decided at the consultation, not on this page. We look at the dog in front of us, what you actually need from it, and where you walk, then recommend one program. When the daily problem is the walk and off-leash freedom was never the goal, the smaller two-week program is often the honest recommendation. When the goal is a dog that goes everywhere with you, the four-week program is the one built for that, and we will talk it through plainly.
The programs
Programs and prices
NE · 2-week board & train
On-Leash Foundations
If every walk is a wrestling match, pulling, barking, zig-zagging, this two-week program rebuilds the walk from the ground up with foundational on-leash obedience..
Includes handover lesson, follow-up session, lifetime support, slip lead + collar
SE · 4-week board & train
Advanced Off-Leash
The full four-week build: from functional foundations to advanced reliability in public environments and around higher-level distractions.
Includes handover lesson, 2 follow-ups, Educator remote collar
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Is a 2 week board and train enough for a big dog that pulls?
On-Leash Foundations spends two weeks of daily one-on-one work on loose-leash walking, heel, sit, stay, down and place, then hands the handling to you. Whether it is the right program for your dog is a consultation question, answered after we have met the dog and heard what you need from the walk.
What collar do you use for strong dogs that pull?
A slip lead and a training collar come home with every On-Leash Foundations dog. The collar is matched to the individual dog rather than to its size, introduced properly during the two weeks, and taught to you at the handover lesson.
How do you walk a big dog on ice without being pulled over?
The lasting answer is a dog that does not pull, since grip only helps so much when a heavy dog lunges. Until that is solid, choose routes with cleared pavement, keep the lead in an adult's hands only, and treat each winter walk as leash practice rather than exercise.
Do strong dogs need an off-leash program?
Not automatically. Advanced Off-Leash is built for the owner who wants their dog with them everywhere, heeling off leash and holding a down at distance in public. If the real goal is a walk you can hold with one hand, On-Leash Foundations is built for that, and the consultation will say whether it is enough.
Keep reading
Match the program to the dog
Book a consultation. We will meet the dog, hear what the walk needs to become, and recommend the program that fits.
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