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I’m not sure if I addressed all your initial questions. I think that it doesn’t really matter who caused the initial leash pressure; we have to teach both handler and dog to overcome it and to create a “dance” that is LLW – where both are aware of their partner and responsive to the interests, goals and purpose of the walk.
And the leash pressure I’m talking about is a finger-strength tension, not a jerk, not a pull, not a tow-rope contest. It is tiny, tiny pressure. The goal is that both partners have communication like fine dancers, where the lead moves his hand *just so* and the follower knows exactly what the next step should be. There’s no force implied or appreciated in R+ LLW training.