Here’s the thing about loose leash walking with Cavaliers: starting your training outside is really difficult because you’re competing with everything—squirrels, dogs, sniffs, the whole environment. So even though you’ll still take daily walks outside, I like to teach the “what I want” part first in my living room, then transition to your yard or backyard. That way you and your Cavalier can get successful reps under your belt before you add all the outdoor distractions. In this lesson one, I’m focusing on rewarding the behaviors I like—especially in the beginning with puppies or new dogs—when they’re calm and paying attention. Loose leash walking isn’t about a perfect heel; it’s simply about not tugging on the leash. I rotate between a heel-ish position and being a little forward or to the side (left or right is fine)—as long as my dog isn’t pulling me along. I also sprinkle in “sniffies” as homework, and I mark and reward attention with a simple “yes” (I’m not super organized with a clicker), plus I’ll use cues like “find it” to help my dog understand there’s something they can have on the ground.