Think Outside the Leash: A Change in Perspective

By Marvin Versteeg

Edited By Rebecca Hoch

“Think outside the leash!” Have you ever considered what this Got Sit tag line really means? On the surface, it’s about training dogs. How else do you get leash-free? However, there’s that word “outside.” It hints at something bigger. Something beyond simple behavior modification and crowd-pleasing tricks. It turns this seemingly innocuous phrase into a life-changing challenge: Think outside the norm.

The norm? Yes. The traditional, command-issuing, walk-in-a-circle, dog-training norm. Think bigger. Think about dog training as relationship building. Because whether you recognize it or not, you’re in a long-term relationship with your dog. How do you want that relationship to look? Do you want it to be stressful and frustrating? Or do you want a harmonious partnership? Adopting an outside-the-leash outlook not only enriches your Got Sit experience, it also ushers you towards a meaningful collaboration with your dog.

Consider these outside-the-leash elements you experience every time you attend a Got Sit session:

Investing time. No one – human or canine – develops a significant relationship in six weeks, which is the standard time period for traditional dog training classes. Got Sit gives you not only immediate results, but also six more months – at the minimum! We encourage longer. Why? Because establishing actual, lasting connections requires time. Time to build trust, time to develop respect, time to nurture understanding. This is the group class underpinning. It’s why Got Sit offers unlimited group classes. We want to give you time to truly bond with your dog.

Developing structure. No one likes ambiguity in relationships, including dogs. They’re pack animals. They subscribe to the pack framework even though they live with us. Got Sit’s emphasis on real-life situations embeds pack dynamics into your relationship while you work through training exercises. You lead, your dog follows. You initiate action, maintain accountability, give approval. Your dog accepts you as the alpha leader. Establishing this structure eliminates confusion, strengthens your connection, creates a trust-filled environment. All key elements in a strong relationship.

Effective communication. No partnership survives without it. To be outside-the-leash, a common language is needed. English isn’t it. Actions are. Every time a Got Sit trainer reminds you to use a hand gesture, add in body movement or animate yourself head-to-toe, they’re coaching you on your language skills. This is your relationship’s bedrock. Solid communication unlocks the outside-the-leash door. As with any new language, the more you use it, the easier and more enriching it becomes. Confidence grows with fluency.

You most likely joined Got Sit to “train” your dog. That’s a logical starting point. But don’t you want more? Don’t you want to be like Marvin and Tango, Anthony and Cowboy, AJ and Cleo? Because they haven’t just trained their dogs. They’ve built relationships with them. They’re outside the leash. You can be too. The first step is to think it.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or need advice, call us: 425-405-5748.