My Favorite Defensive Handling Techniques – Words I Never Thought I Would Say
Leash Lock, Control Position, Back-Tie, Leash Quick Control – these are four defensive leash handling techniques that I had to use on an early morning walk with one of my fearful dogs. When you have to employ these techniques, it is typically because you have run into a potentially dangerous situation for you and your dog. That morning, we ran into an off-leash dog who is fearful too. Being able to successfully execute the defensive handling techniques that I learned at an Aggression in Dogs: Defensive Handling and Training with Michael Shikashio and Trish McMillan workshop allowed us to keep our distance and stay safe.
Let’s set the stage, it is early morning, and Elke, the fearful GSD and I are returning home from a walk. Elke is on-leash and is finishing up her business in the woods near a neighbor’s house. I hear the noise of a trash can being wheeled out to the street by this neighbor and have an “uh oh” moment because there is a good chance that there is an unleashed fearful dog coming out to the street too. Sure enough, I see the dog trot across the road to the grass. Of course, Elke finished up her business at this exact time, and I needed to react quickly. Got control of the leash to get her in closer, found a tree that we could use for a back tie, did the back tie, put on a leash lock, and got into control position. Bada Bing, Bada Boom, it all was done in seconds and my first thought was, “Holy S*@*, this stuff really does work!”
If you have not taken an Aggression in Dogs: Defensive Handling and Training with Michael Shikashio and Trish McMillan workshop, you are probably wondering what Leash Lock, Control Position, Back-Tie, and Quick Release mean. They are leash techniques that help handlers (and this pet parent) stay safe when working with fearful or aggressive dogs.
I am lucky enough to have been the organizer for these workshops and heard the spiel from Mike and Trish at least a dozen times. They took a trainer (me) who at the time only dealt with fluffy puppies and is a Separation Anxiety Trainer and turned her into someone who is pretty darn proficient with the leash and now even helped instruct the breakout sessions at the workshops. It did not happen overnight, and I was resistant to everything for a long while. I scoffed a bit and thought to myself, “I don’t take aggression cases and I am never going to use this stuff.” Plus, I am super uncoordinated, and learning the techniques was hard for me. Thankfully, Trish was incredibly patient with my fumbling and went over things as many times as was needed for me to finally get it right.
Defensive handling skills are essential for anyone working with dogs—whether you’re a trainer, daycare worker, veterinarian, shelter staff, animal control officer, or the owner of a “complicated” dog. These skills are especially critical if you work with, or plan to work with, fearful or aggressive dogs.
My ability to assess a dog situation is much keener, and I feel much more confident in my leash handling skills. As a result, even though I do not take on aggression cases, I am much more comfortable walking my own reactive dogs.
The fact that I could safely navigate the unexpected situation with an off-leash dog is a testament to the effectiveness of this workshop. I now use the Leash Lock and Control Position on a daily basis and have the other techniques in my toolbox at the ready. To say that I am a convert would be putting it mildly. If you want to be a convert too, check out learning opportunities from Trish McMillan and Michael Shikashio.
