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Yikes! From Kate’s video, I got that she was primarily addressing how handlers may exert leash pressure unconsciously, and even though we try to prevent that, it’s going to happen so let’s use that as a positive training opportunity – but I wasn’t completely sure about the source of the leash pressure, i.e. was it coming from the dog or the handler. Following that, when the dog accepts it or acknowledges the handler, should that action by the dog be rewarded? I’m hoping you can understand this question better than I am writing it.

I would really like to hear about effective manual leash handling techniques in general.

This is something I focus on a lot. I cadged a phrase from a colleague, “let’s not use the leash as a tool,” and I think that tries to address maintaining the dog’s agency while still having leash control. The leash is good for maintaining contact and distance but it’s not a device for correction, punishment, etc.

I’d also love to hear about other trainers’ takes on common leash handling issues that they see with clients and how they address those issues. Most of my clients start off with the handle around their wrist and then use the length of their arms to limit the dog’s movement. The arms get raised higher and higher while the leash handle slides down to the elbow, and the dog is still moving away. I explain that at some point they will run out of arm and the dog will still be away from you, and the handle around the wrist is a great way to unintentionally get taken down a flight of stairs. My mother would tell you this is true.

In classes/lessons when we are almost constantly reinforcing/rewarding I use a thumb anchor similar to the one you demo’d in an earlier video, but it’s a one-handed hold, in the handler’s dominant hand where they can anchor the leash, control slack, and keep a clicker under their thumb while using the other hand as a treat dispenser.

I also like it for doing grid work attention exercises, and you can quickly add the second hand to the leash if needed, AND you can quickly drop the leash as you showed in the video.