Welcome to

Cooperative Walking

A virtual group training experience designed to optimize the walking experience for you and your dog.

More freedom for your dog, less frustration for you both.

Leash walking doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor. We don’t have to insist on a perfect heel the whole time. We also don’t have to be dragged around at our dog’s mercy the whole time. There is another option: cooperative walking. 

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A black mid-sized dog walks down a city street on a leash. Around him are row homes and twinkling overhead lights.

What is Cooperative Walking?

Cooperative Walking is my term for walking a dog on leash in a way that minimizes force and frustration by working together. It combines food rewards (and sometimes toys), pattern games, proactive strategies, active management, loose leash walking drills, various treat delivery methods, and a strong understanding of your dog’s needs in different moments.

This 6-week virtual group class will combine both live and asynchronous learning to get you and your dog walking cooperatively.

Skills & discussions included in class:

Understanding arousal

Learn why your dog gets amped up, how to see it starting, and how you can help them through.

Solid communication

Lock in a clear marker word, practice various treat delivery methods, and learn how to read your dog better.

Discussions of gear & welfare

I’ll make gear recommendations for each dog, and we’ll also discuss welfare implications of the different ways we walk.

Problem solving

Learn how to prevent your dog from dragging you down the street, and learn the basics of addressing (and preventing) reactivity.

Drills & Skills

You’ll learn the skills you need, the skills your dog needs, and the drills you can use both to practice and to troubleshoot in real life moments.

Dog and human skills

Going through the learning process together strengthens your bond. You can also apply what you’ve learned to any other dog in your life.

This class is for any dog guardian who wants to optimize the walk for both human and dog.

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Details & benefits of a virtual group format

  • This class includes multiple “touch points” (interactions with class material and your trainer) per week.

    Most of these are asynchronous, meaning you can do it on your own time. Lots of communication with me with minimal impact to your schedule!

  • This class utilizes what’s called the flipped classroom model, which means instead of using our live time together to introduce new material, we use our time together to practice.

    Here’s what the weekly schedule looks like:

    Each week’s lessons will be available at the beginning of the week for you to review and implement.

    Mid-week we’ll have a LIVE group class to practice together. Practice is live so that I can give you real-time coaching and feedback!

    Later in the week you’ll submit a video of your at-home practice, and I’ll respond with more personalized coaching and feedback to make sure you’re moving in the right direction.

  • This group training class is led by dog trainer Nikki West who is very comfortable with a virtual training format. She will be giving each participant personalized feedback, coaching and suggestions for adapting the course material to your dog’s unique needs, your situation and your environment.

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The way you walk matters

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The way you walk matters •

Join the next class!

Cooperative Walking is taught in a group class format with start dates 2-3 times per year. The next start date is April 14th and spots are limited to 6 dog-guardian teams.

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  • Class begins Monday, April 14th. The last day of class is Friday, May 23rd.

    • 6 weeks of virtual group training with multiple touch points each week.

    • Slack is the platform we use for our daily work.

    • Flipped classroom model.

    • Weekly group calls will be on Wednesday evenings (7pm eastern).

  • The cost for the 6-week cooperative walking class is $225.

    Note: Please do not let cost be a barrier to enrolling in this class! I have two sliding scale spots and one scholarship spot available. Please reach out to inquire about those options.

  • Dog eligibility:

    • Age: 5 months & up

    • Generally good health, aka able to go for regular walks

    • No severely restrictive food allergies (ask if you’re unsure)

    • Willingness to take food from you by hand. A little pickiness is okay, but if your dog regularly refuses food you offer by hand, then that’s something to work through before beginning this class!

    Human eligibility:

    • Willing to participate fully! You won’t get much from this class otherwise.

    • Willing to train with food rewards

    • Willing to think about walking your dog in a different way

  • If you have a super reactive dog, a super fearful dog, or a dog who experiences high arousal outside, this program will help you build the foundation you need to continue working on that. While you will make significant progress in your ability to work together with your dog which will apply to any work you do together going forward, this class can only provide a foundation for those bigger issues.

 FAQs

  • This is not a reactivity training program; however, it is about leash walking. There’s a lot of overlap between the way I teach reactivity and the skills and knowledge I share in this class.

    So, yes, you’ll definitely learn some things you can apply, but don’t expect this class to be designed for reactivity!

  • Come on, now. I have no control over how you apply the skills and knowledge you learn in this course, so I’d be telling a bold-faced lie if I said I guaranteed any particular results.

    My advice: don’t enroll in this course unless you’re ready, willing and able to work with your dog throughout the week; you have an open mind ready to learn; and you’re looking to work together with your dog (versus have your dog obey you).

  • Cooperative Walking is adaptable to all environments, and I will be giving you personalized feedback to help you apply it in your situation.

    PS - I live in a city!

  • Specific recommendations will be given in class, but I generally recommend a properly fit Y-front harness for most dogs. Other types of harnesses are generally okay, too. This class will not utilize tools that are designed to be aversive, such as prong collars and e-collars.

    You will also need a 6-10’ leash. Nothing shorter than 6’.

  • The class is designed to help you implement a regular training practice, and to support you as you learn.

    You will get what you put into it, but you won’t be penalized if life happens and you aren’t able to submit all your assignments or attend all live sessions.