I am with Megora, if it is just a walk for fun, I could care less. Beamer is usually in front anyway. Of course, with training it is almost always a must for the left side (unless we are working on agility).

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I walk with the dogs on my left ,most of the time,but we do not have sidewalks.

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WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE BECOMES A MEMORY,THE MEMORIES BECOME TREASURES,OF THE HEART.

Sadie does the majority of our walking on my left. If for some reason I want her on the right I tell her to do a switch behind me and come around right. We don't have sidewalks in our neighborhood though, so we do our walking in the street. Now I think its just more comfortable for both of us.

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Loving My Girl Sadie

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
- Gilda Radner

Summer generally walks on my left. I tried saying heel when training and all she would pull on the leash.

One day I got rather frustrated and out of exasperation, I said "Oh, for crying out loud, will you walk nice?" Summer stopped pulling and went to my left side and walked just like she was supposed to.

Ever since, when I tell her to walk nice and she does. Even off leash.

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"All I need on my journey is a wooded path, a dog by my side to guide me home and a bench to sit upon when I get tired"

http://www.waynesdoghouse.com

At the reservoir where we walk, Maddie is mostly off leash. We train her to walk on the left side (with the heel command) and to walk on the right side (with the side command). We have her switch back and forth. Leave her on a stay and walk away then use either left hand or right (for heel or side [or the verbal commands heel or side]) to get her to return to walking next to us.

It has been useful when we see an aggressive looking dog or timid elderly looking person who might not want our dog too close. We just have her switch sides.

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Gwen
belongs to Amber (LiquidAmber II) June 1995-August 2010
Maddie (Essex Mountain Madrone) CGC Born April 17th, 2012

My trainer would say whatever works - just be consistent.

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- Kat (Sydney's Mom)

Mick was ambidextrous. He behaved on both sides.

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I like dog on left side. This is how we trained. But, this is a free country and I feel strongly you should do what you want. I like the left because that is how it supposed to be in Obedience competition and I believe it is what is recommended for the CGC test. I am a big advocate of the CGC test. That said, I have a friend that does training for foster dogs he says his foster dog organization has them train for both sides.

For me it has always been the left since we were doing so much agility. Boy do I wish I had worked the other side as well - what a pain in the butt it is for agility when he is constantly crossing to be on my left. Silly man!

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-Valerie

I dont have mine yet, we get her next week. We will be training her on both sides. For me it depends on where we are walking and what I am doing with my other hand on what side I want the dog on. We will not be doing any compititions or anything, she will just be a family pet and walking will be for fun and exercise. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with, not what others tell them they need to do.