Same dog. Same training. Different outcomes. Why do some dog owners fix pulling, barking and lunging fast, while others stay stuck for years?

The difference is not the lead, the treats, or the dog’s behaviour. It's the human operating system under pressure.

In this episode, I break down the exact mindset pattern that keeps some dog owners stuck in reactive dog training loops, versus the pattern that creates progress fast.

If your dog pulls, barks, lunges, fixates, ignores recall, or loses their head around distractions, this will reset how you approach training.

📈Dog Walking Diagnostic - Discover Your Dog’s Walking Style!

Do you know the REAL reason your dog pulls, barks, lunges or ignores you? It’s often not what you think!

Discover why your dog struggles on walks - and more importantly, what you can do about it. The Dog Walking Diagnostic Quiz is completely free, takes just 5 mins, and could be your first step toward calmer, stress-free walks with a well-behaved dog you’re proud of.

https://stressfreedogwalks.com/diagnostic

🐕 Calm Canine Blueprint

Leave a rating/review, and head over to https://stressfreedogwalks.com/review to upload your screenshot. Then I’ll send you my Calm Canine Blueprint completely free as a gift.

🍿 Watch the YouTube Show

https://www.youtube.com/@StressFreeDogWalks

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Crazy idea, but what if you *didn’t* need to drill loose lead walking or recall?

Sounds mad, but it’s exactly what happened for Em and her high-energy spaniel Sweep.

1. She didn’t train loose lead walking.
2. She didn’t drill recall over and over.
3. She didn’t follow 8-week programmes for either.

And yet:

1. Loose lead walking improved ‘naturally’.
2. Sweep recalled from deer
3. He started checking in and staying close without being asked.

The training industry will have you believe you need an 8 week loose lead walking programme, THEN a 6 week recall class - when all you actually need is a calm brain and strong relationship.

When the brain calms, the behaviour follows. Without tedious heelwork or endless recall reps.

Press play to hear the full breakdown of how Em and Sweep did it.

⭐️ And if you REALLY want to stop the pulling, barking and lunging FOR GOOD, we’re about to open the doors to our once-a-year Roadmap to Stress Free Walks programme!

‘The Roadmap’ is the complete system that walks you step-by-step to stress free walks… and that’s with all the live training, community, tools, systems and Behaviourist support to make sure you get this thing DONE - regardless of where you might be starting from today.

Join the Priority List to be invited to join BEFORE everyone else - and secure an unmissable early access bonus!

https://stressfreewalks.dog/priority-list ⭐️

⭐️ Register for the FREE Online Stress Free Dog Walks Training! https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free ⭐️

You’ll master my simple 3-part anti-pulling, lunging and reactivity method to handle distractions (like dogs, people, wildlife) without panic, so that you can LOVE walking your dog again! Get your free ticket here: https://stressfreewalks.dog/join-free

🎙️ In this episode: Here’s a scene you might recognise: Your dog fixates, weight shifts forward. You try your training cue, do what you’ve practiced. He explodes anyway. A bark that turns heads, a lunge that yanks your arm. The jogger makes a face. Someone mutters “train your dog” 🙄

That’s when the shame rush hits. Heat in your cheeks, lead in your stomach. Your body wants to fold in on itself, to disappear.

Your brain starts the story:

“They think I’m incompetent.”

“Everyone is judging us.”

“My dog is beyond fixing.”

Slowly, without intending to, you build a life around minimising shame instead of building confidence. Walks get shorter, less enjoyable for both of you, and you start to feel guilty that your dog is unfulfilled.

Shame does not STAY on the dog walk. It’s what makes you hesitate to try new things. It’s why you replay conversations, worrying you said too much or not enough. It’s why you apologise when you haven’t done anything wrong 😢

Hit play to understand what shame is doing to your confidence, and how to stop it running your walks, your freedom, and your relationship with your dog.