Obedience Training - HEELING

Training your dog to walk in the heel position is different from having your dog walk on a loose lead. When he is walking in the heel position you are requiring that his full attention is directed towards you. If you stop he stops; if you turn he turns; he should be watching your every move. While walking on a loose lead just requires that he is calmly walking at a comfortable pace (yours), is paying attention to you, and is not pulling your arm off. On a walk you may command a HEEL when crossing the street, passing people or dogs, or any situation that you feel you would like more control of his actions.

Training Your Dog To HEEL

HEEL position is when the dog's head is directly next to your left leg but not touching. His head should only be a few inches in front of your leg or behind your leg but in a position that you can always make solid eye connection with him and still see where you are headed.

Heeling can be a difficult command to master because it requires him to concentrate on only you. If you have a high energy dog that just wants to go check out everything this command will require you to have a lot of patience so like all commands it is best to start out with simple sessions that make it easy for him to succeed.

Steps

1. Start off with your dog sitting or standing next to you; both facing the same direction and adjust him so that your leg and his head are next to each other.

2. Adjust the lead or leash so that you are holding most of it in your outermost hand from him, leaving only a slack amount of lead from the center of your body to his collar. Hold the lead up near your waist. Also, hold the food reward with the same hand that you are holding the lead. You can use the hand closest to him to pat your leg to get his attention or for slight lead corrections.

3. Now say "Bailey" (your dog’s name) to get his attention and gain eye contact. Then immediately say "HEEL" and take a few steps forward starting with the leg closest to him.

• If he stays with you in heel position for a few steps praise and treat with enthusiasm.
• If he is not paying attention when you start moving you can "pat" your leg and again call "Bailey HEEL". Then when he keeps up with you for a few steps, praise and treat with enthusiasm.
• If he is still not paying attention, give a quick lead correction towards you, and repeat the HEEL command. Repeat until he is paying attention then praise and treat with enthusiasm AS SOON AS his attention is with you and not his surroundings.
• If he is with you but his attention is not 100% with you offer encouragement to keep his attention like "good boy" or say his name or say anything in an upbeat voice to gain his attention.
• ONLY praise and treat when he is in heel position so you are building that connection between his position to you and the command you are asking for.

4. Once you are getting his attention continue practicing by varying your steps from 2 steps to 5 steps before praising and add steps as you feel comfortable. It is important here that you are only treat rewarding the action of staying with you or heeling and not using the treat to lure or bribe him into the action of heeling.

Once you and your dog have reached a comfortable heel it will be time to add to the heeling difficulty by:

· Adjusting your walking pace; slowing down and speeding up
· Add right and left turns (90° turns)
· Add about turns (180° turns); left about and right about
· Practice in different locations with other people and animals around

Only introduce one variable at a time making it as easy as possible for him to succeed before you combine different elements. Always keep a positive outlook on the training or practice session and set a reasonable goal to be achieved in each session. Keep the session short and continue to encourage him and reward good action with enthusiasm. For the best results always have some play time right after a training session.