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Module 5: The Sidewalk Stage
First real-world walks. Expect them to be 50% slower than 'normal' walks for the first month. That's how it works.
6 min read Intermediate
Course progress0%
Quiet street, off-peak
Pick the lowest-distraction sidewalk near you. Mid-morning, no other dogs in sight.
Decoupled walks
First 2 weeks: training walks ≠ exercise walks. Training = 10 min, slow, treats. Exercise = long line + sniffing in a field, no loose-leash expectation.
The Premack reward
Loose leash → permission to sniff the lamp post. Sniffing is the paycheck, not a distraction.
Key takeaways
- ★Lowest distraction, off-peak
- ★Separate training from exercise
- ★Sniffing is the reward
Lesson checklist
Action items to put this module into practice.
- Map a quiet 10-min route
- Schedule sniff-walks separately
- Add Premack sniff rewards