How To Train Your Dog To Heel
When your dog gets a little older and has mastered his collar and leash, it will be time to start teaching him more difficult tasks besides just "sit". You will need a larger area than you probably have in your home. Outdoors is for the most part, the best place for you and your dog to get a quiet place to focus.Make sure you have an adequate leash, usually 6ft in length and secure it to your dogs choke chain collar. Hopefully you have worked with your dog on a leash since puppy-hood so that he or she will not be upset by the leash. Have your dog on the left side of your body and give him the sit command. This is the first position for heeling. His head and shoulders should be even with your hip and he should be sitting straight and looking forward. Take the time to make adjustments to his position if need be.
Cue him by begining with your left foot in to a walk, which is the same side he is sitting on. Walk with a brisk pace and make sure he keeps up with you. Upon beginning give the name of your dog and "heel"! Make the walk fun and interesting. Pat your let and give encouraging words so that his full attention is on you alone. When you come to a stop, end on your left leg. This way he will not only learn the word "heel" but will also read your body language which will reinforce the training. During the walk, if he gets out of position, which should be right at your left leg, then give him a quick correction by giving a quick jerk on the leash. Otherwise, you should work with a loose leash. For best results you should use a choke chain collar for training. If you continuously pull on his neck you will only be nagging him and he won't understand what it is you want of him. The correction should be quick and precise, then let go and give your dog a chance to correct himself. Repeat as needed.
After you think your dog has the training down, then take him out for a walk in the neighborhood where you can reinforce the "heeling" technique with activity around him. Dog classes are another way to get this reinforcement. In class the dogs and owners go around in a training circle and all the dogs do everything at the same time. All heel and walk together, stop together and so on. They learn to heel with other dogs around. Look at your local pet store for information.
When training, always be attentive, excited and try to have a treat for every task completed. Also, make sure your dog is old enough to handle the presure of advanced training. Don't ruin your puppy by trying to put too much on him when he's too young to handle it.
posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 6:54 AM
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