Loose Leash Walking Essentials
Stop the pulling. Start loving the walk.
Choose Your Session
(skips Christmas & New Year’s)
Loose Leash Walking Essentials
Stop the pulling. Start loving the walk.
Choose Your Session
(skips Christmas & New Year’s)
Build focus. Build connection. Repeat.
Ready, Pup, Go!’s loose leash walking classes in Lynnwood, WA will teach your dog to walk beside you without dragging you down the block in six weeks, with no corrections and no leash pops. If you’ve already tried a gadget or another training approach and it didn’t stick, this one is built differently. Open to dogs 6 months and older.
Why Loose Leash Walking Essentials?
Because a Tight Leash Ruins Every Walk You Take.
You Know the Walk You Wish You Had
The one where your arm isn’t sore by the second block. Where you’re not bracing for the next lunge toward a squirrel, a jogger, another dog. Where you actually look forward to it rather than find reasons to put it off. That walk is possible and it’s not about a stronger arm or a stricter leash. It’s about teaching your dog a skill they were never actually taught in the first place.
Most obedience classes treat loose-leash walking as a single skill buried in a longer curriculum for your dog, with a few minutes here and there, squeezed between everything else. Loose Leash Walking Essentials is different: six full weeks with no other objective, so the habit actually sticks.
This series is built on the same 100% force-free, positive-reinforcement approach that underpins every Ready, Pup, Go! class. No prong collars. No shock collars. No leash corrections. Just a clear, step-by-step system dogs can actually learn from.
Classes meet at The Friendly Bark in Lynnwood, serving dog guardians across Snohomish County in small, supportive groups designed for real progress.
Open to dogs 6 months and older. Just 6 seats per session, so once they’re gone, you’re waiting for the next one.
Six Weeks. One Skill At A Time.
The Loose Leash Walking Essentials Curriculum
Loose Leash Walking Essentials is a six-week progression that builds one skill on top of the last.
Week 1
Foundations & Position
Before any walking happens, your dog learns the two building blocks everything else depends on, and you learn the concept of the Reinforcement Zone.
- Learn the Hand Target, a reliable nose-to-palm follow.
- Build a fast response to the Name Game as an attention-getter.
- Identify your dog’s Reinforcement Zone, the position you’ll build toward all six weeks.
Week 2
Connection Before Movement
Still no real walking yet. This week is about teaching your dog to check in and offer attention before any forward movement happens.
- Practice Do Nothing Training, reinforcing voluntary attention while standing still.
- Play the leash-pressure game to teach your dog to move into pressure rather than brace against it.
- Master getting into heel position.
Week 3
First Steps
Real forward movement begins with a verbal cue, a chosen walking method, and your first directional turns.
- Start a structured walking method (Lure/Target or 1-2-3 Cookie), 1–2 steps at a time.
- Add the verbal cue “Let’s Go” before each walking sequence.
- Practice directional changes using the hand target and a “This Way” cue.
Week 4
Duration & Distraction
Now we stretch how far your dog can walk between rewards and start practicing in slightly busier environments.
- Build duration using the 300 Steps protocol.
- Progress through a distraction ladder, from quiet spaces to busier ones.
- Introduce a “Go Sniff” cue so structured walking and sniff breaks stay clearly separate.
Week 5
Real-World Walks
This week is all about troubleshooting how to handle a real walk that doesn’t go as planned.
- Apply Penalty Yards, pausing forward movement the moment the leash goes tight.
- Practice a cued U-turn for sudden distractions.
- Troubleshoot common relapses with hands-on coaching.
Week 6
Graduation Walk
Everything comes together on the Interurban trail walk, plus a plan to keep the progress going.
- Complete a graduation walk applying everything learned so far.
- Receive individual feedback during the walk.
- Take home a maintenance plan for continued success.
Class Details & Schedule
- Schedule: Fridays 6:00–7:00 PM
- Session Dates:
- Session 1: Sept 4 – Oct 9, 2026
- Session 2: Oct 16 – Nov 20, 2026
- Session 3: Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 22, 2027 (skips Dec 25 & Jan 1)
- Session Length: 6 weeks
- Class Duration: 60 minutes
- Location: The Friendly Bark, Lynnwood, WA
- Age Requirements: 6+ months, fully vaccinated
- Class Size: Maximum 6 dogs. Real attention, real progress
- Investment: $190 ($32/class)
Only 6 seats per session. Classes fill quickly so reserve your spot today.
Why Choose Ready, Pup, Go?
There are a lot of walking classes out there. Here’s what makes this one different.
Every method used in Loose Leash Walking Essentials is force-free, science-backed, and chosen to build a skill your dog actually keeps not just a leash correction they learn to avoid. This isn’t about a stronger arm or a stricter leash. It’s a real, trained behavior built on trust, clear communication, and positive reinforcement. Your dog learns faster, retains more, and actually wants to walk with you.
- You’ll leave every class knowing exactly what to practice and how: Michelle doesn’t just teach the skill, she sends you home with the next step, so the work you do between classes actually builds on what happened in the room.
- You’ll never wonder why you’re doing what you’re doing: Every method has a reason. Michelle explains it! Handlers who understand the why get better results faster.
- Small class. Real attention: 6 dogs max. Michelle knows your dog’s name, their sticking points, and what they need!
- Fear Free Certified. PPG member. IAABC member: Michelle is held to an ethical standard and chooses to be, because it matters to her.
- No force. Ever: Your dog learns here because they want to and that’s exactly why it works.
Check out what my Clients have to say…
Ready to Walk Without the Fight?
Six weeks. One skill.
A walk you’ll actually enjoy.
No corrections. No leash pops. Just a clear system that works.
Fridays 6–7pm · Starts September 4th · The Friendly Bark, Lynnwood, WA · $190 · 6 dogs max
Only 6 seats per session · Reserve yours before it fills
Before You Book
Got questions? If this FAQ doesn’t answer them, feel free to email or call!
Is there a minimum age for this class?
Yes. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and fully vaccinated to join. This class works alongside adult dogs during hands-on exercises, and younger puppies do better once they’re a bit more physically and emotionally settled.
Does it matter what breed or size my dog is?
Not at all. This class works for any breed and any size. The skills are the same whether your dog is 10 pounds or 100.
My dog reacts to other dogs or people; is this class still a fit?
This series is built for dogs who are comfortable in a group class setting. If your dog has significant reactivity, reach out to Michelle first; private coaching may be a better starting point before joining a group class.
Is this too basic for an older or already-trained dog?
Not if pulling is still an issue. Plenty of well-trained adult dogs never actually learned loose-leash walking as a separate skill; this class works for any age, as long as your dog is 6 months or older.
What do I need to bring?
A 4-6 foot leash (no retractable leashes, please), your dog’s regular collar or a front-clip harness, small high-value treats, and a treat pouch if you have one.
My dog pulls a lot; can this class actually help?
Yes. The series is built around a proven, force-free progression that starts with foundation skills before any real walking happens, so dogs with a strong pulling habit have time to build new patterns from the ground up.
What if we miss a week?
Reach out, and Michelle will help