It's true - training the dog first and having him under the trainer's total control is the essential key. The body follows the brain when training a dog for sure but just because a dog learned he can't run off when he reaches the end of the lead through jerking himself down or told "uh oh" or petted on the head or whatever, it sure doesn't mean he's going to reliably stop every time when off lead unless he's been trained to stop off lead and under all different circumstances. But as far as I've observed, anyone with patience and persistence and the dog's respect can humanely train a dog to reliably stop in place and stay there until he's approached and picked up or released. Heck, even I have done it over and over and I haven't a single credential in training, protection or otherwise!
