We just managed a whole 20 minute walk with a loose leash!!!!! With him showing a very clear difference to the instruction 'walk', with his head up, looking at me often, loose leash, actually pacing himself to my pace!!! - and 'go sniff' where he dashes off and sprays everywhere. So proud of him!
He may never do it again, I get that, but by George I think he's got it!
Bless the Mekuti harness, it made a huge difference from the first time I put it on him. I think he was so in the habit of hanging on the lead he had no idea how to just walk by himself. What's really helped too for him has been leaving the treats and clicker at home and just middle of the road bashing up and down the close several times a day, nowhere near grass or anything to sniff. When he could loose lead walk there, I started taking him nearer verges and alternating 'go sniff' as the reward with 'walk', and we've built up to today to walking down a pavement in the park still able to alternate go sniff with nice walking! With hindsight, that was what I should have done with him right from the beginning and established 'walk' before ever taking him near high distraction grass and trees and smells. Oh well. I shall know for my next dog. (Who obviously will need to learn in a completely different way, spaniels are like that....)