Walk Like a Champ
Learning to walk on a loose leash is hard, but this course breaks it down into four easy to practice sections.
Get started todayA Harper membership is $8.33/month (billed annually)The search for the perfect walk
You’ve probably felt it—that blissful moment when you forget your dog is with you and you’re just enjoying the walk. Maybe it only lasted a few seconds, maybe it only happened because your dog slowed down so she could get a better look at the squirrel across the street, but that doesn’t make the feeling any less real.
That feeling is what we’re after. That is great loose-leash walking.
We all know that great walks with your dog don’t just happen. Dogs don’t show up knowing how to walk by our side on a leash.
The truth is it takes work and a lot of patience to get on the same page. You have to earn it together.
This course is going to give you the mindset, gear, techniques, support, and confidence to achieve great loose-leash walks with your dog.
What your pup will learn
- Give attention when they want something
- At your side is a good place to be
- How to move with you and stop with you
- A cue to come close to your side
- To ignore distractions
- How to walk like a champ
What you’ll learn
- Elements of great loose-leash walking
- How to always get your pup’s attention
- Ways to prevent leash pulling
- Helpful cues for managing your walks
- How to minimize reactions to distractions
- How to walk like a champ
Browse the lesson plan
Stage 1: Preparation
- Introduction to Walk Like a ChampArticle 1What’s this Walk Like a Champ course all about?
- What is Great Loose Leash Walking?Article 2Let’s set some realistic expectations for your dog and yourself.
- Why is Walking On a Leash So Hard?Article 3Find out what you’re up against.
- The Strategy for Training Great Loose-Leash WalksArticle 4See how the pieces of our four-step process all fit together.
- Collars vs Harnesses vs Head HaltersArticle 5Learn about these popular restraints and figure out which one is right for you.
- Supplies for Training to Walk Like a ChampArticle 6What do you need and what’s a nice-to-have?
- Walks are not ExerciseArticle 7Blowing up one of dog parenting’s biggest myths.
- Get the Energy OutArticle 8A spoonful of exercise helps the medicine go down.
- Training Walks are not like Regular WalksArticle 9Why and how to separate the two.
- Focus on the Section Not the GameArticle 10It’s about the forest, not the trees.
- Glossary of Cues for Training Loose-Leash WalkingArticle 11A handy reference guide of loose-leash walking cues you’ll use with your dog.
Stage 2: Attention
- Introduction to AttentionArticle 9What’s this Attention section all about?
- Don’t Be Boring on Your Dog WalksArticle 10How do you keep your pup’s attention?
Raining TreatsGame 1When you need to get your dog’s attention or give her some exercise, make it rain.- Every Game is Not for Every DogArticle 11Can a game that’s meant to help actually hurt your progress?
Face MeGame 2Build your pup’s instinct to check in with you.- Using Your Dog’s Name to Get AttentionArticle 12How Harper thinks about the name cue.
Distraction GhostingGame 3A fail-proof method for avoiding life’s toughest distractions.- Using Leash Tension for Good Not EvilArticle 13Turn leash pulling into something useful.
Leash Pressure CueGame 4Teach your pup that a tight leash means ”come back towards me.”- Moving On from AttentionArticle 14How do you know you’re done with Attention and ready for Position?
Stage 3: Position
- Introduction to PositionArticle 15What’s this Position section all about?
- Should I Walk My Dog On the Right Side or the Left Side?Article 16We’ll look at the pros and cons of walking on either side.
Value For Profit PositionGame 5Show your pup that good things happen when he’s by your side.
Value For Profit Position OutsideGame 6Test your pup’s value for profit position in the real-world.- Putting the Profit in Profit PositionArticle 17Building value for being at your side.
Profit Position SpinsGame 7Reward your pup for finding profit position, even as you rotate.
Profit Position Black HoleGame 8Teach your pup to find profit position from any angle and any distance.- Moving On From PositionArticle 18How do you know you’re done with Position and ready for Moving?
Stage 4: Moving
- Introduction to MovingArticle 19What’s this Moving section all about?
Walk TogetherGame 9Build value for profit position while in motion.
Walk Together OutsideGame 10Practice your new informal heeling skill outside.- Take It OutsideArticle 20Practicing in the real-world is the only way to improve.
Profit Position on CueGame 11When you need your pup to come in close, use the profit position cue.
Nice & Easy StopsGame 12A system for telling your pup you’re about to stop.- Moving On From MovingArticle 21How do you know you’re done with Moving and ready for Distractions?
Stage 5: Distractions
- Introduction to DistractionsArticle 22What’s this Distractions section all about?
Leave ItGame 13Build your pup’s ability to ignore a distraction when asked.
Go SeeGame 14A communication tool for telling your pup it’s okay to explore a distraction.- Be Consistent With Your Dog’s PermissionsArticle 23Unlock your dog’s best self with permission rituals.
Polite ApproachesGame 15Eliminate overexcited pulling towards distractions.
Polite Walk-By’sGame 16Learn to calmly walk past distractions, even other dogs.- Avoid Dogs Greeting Dogs on WalksArticle 24An unfortunate lesson learned at Harper.
Speed BumpsGame 17Multiple techniques for slowing down a speedy leash puller.- Moving On from DistractionsArticle 25How do you know you’re done with Distractions?
- What’s Next After Walk Like a Champ?Article 26The course may be over but your work isn’t. What should you do next?
What’s in every Harper subscription
- All 30+ curated courses
- All 100+ training games and guides
- Step-by-step video instruction
- Always-on dog trainer chat
- Reminders to develop a training habit
- Training journal to track progress
- Support from a dog parent community
Frequently asked questions
General
Harper helps dog parents and their pups train, bond, and explore the world together. The app offers a library of over 30 guided training courses and almost 100 stimulating games, plus dog parenting resources, liver trainer chat, and community with other dog parents.
A Harper membership grants unlimited access to the entire library of 30+ courses, designed to help anyone achieve the relationship with their dog they dreamed of. Courses are made up of fun training games and short articles, expertly created and sequenced to help you master skills and conquer behavior issues at your own pace, from the comfort and safety of home.
That all depends on your dog and your goals! Harper offers substantial multi-phase programs like Puppy Camp or The Every Dog Series. There are also courses targeted for specific skills you and your dog want to master. Check out the Discover tab to see all the available courses.
You can also always ask us! We’re happy to get on the phone to learn about you and recommend a plan.
Harper is an app for iOS. You can download and use it on any modern iPhone or iPad.
Payment
A Harper membership costs $8.33 per month, billed annually as $99.99.
We want you and your pup to have the best time using Harper, so we offer free trials for all subscriptions to make sure it’s the right fit for you.
If you need to no longer continue your membership, you can cancel your subscription through Apple on the Subscriptions page of the Settings app.
This page has instructions to follow. Once you cancel, you’ll have access to Harper for the remainder of that billing period, then your subscription will not renew.