I would recommend taking them out on short walks while you’re leash-training, so that you don’t get too stressed out. And maybe take only one dog per person until they get the hang of it, then you can focus on making sure they know what you expect and they pay attention to you instead of each other. Having them behave on a walk is well worth it for you!!! Then it will be a relaxing experience and you’ll want to do it.

It is the getting out and about and the joy on their faces – not to mention that after a good 45 min to 2 hour walk, they’re ready for a nap and we get some quiet time – that make it all worthwhile.

Besides, we’ve noticed that our dogs are less likely than many other dogs we met or see to get startled or scared when cars zip by, bikes rush past, runners go by, a car backfires, children scream, helicopters fly overhead, etc. Getting our dogs outside almost daily means that they are exposed to a whole host of new sights and sounds and pretty much nothing fazes them.

The best advice I have for motivation is setting aside three days a week to walk – make the walk part of that day’s needs. The more you walk, the more the dogs will expect it, and the more they will bug you enough to get you out and walking. An annoying dog is the best kind of motivation.

The payoff for me comes when I watch Chesney happily snuffling along, investigating every blade of grass and tree he passes, greeting other dogs and people and getting love in return, and his tired but happy little body crawling up in the chair with me when we get home. Poor baby spends so much time in his crate during the day….I kinda feel I owe it to him to let him stretch his legs and enjoy the wider world around him as often as I can.