Heel

A race against the clock is enough to get this lazy bloodhound moving.

If you want to teach your dog to heel nicely, it’s best to start by luring your puppy to heel off leash.  Then you won’t be tempted to use your leash for physical control, and when you do introduce the leash, you won’t end up with a puller.

If you think your dog is going to break give them with an instructive reprimand that reminds them that they need to focus on you and what you’re doing.

Maintaining a dog’s attention while heeling is not easy.  It’s easiest to do in short sequences, but Leslie is very good at praising Bebe to keep her heeling by her side.

Heeling on-leash is no easy task.  If you teach off-leash following and heeling first, you won’t end up with a leash puller that is only “under your control” because of a physical restraint

If you want your dog to follow you have to walk away from it.  If your puppy slows down, you should speed up and get more energetic.  Puppies love to chase!

There are times your dog won’t want to train.  On these occasions you can reward good performance with an early end to the training session.  Also, Ian shows how to use two hands to alternately heel and sit your dog.

Lying down can be a sign of anxiety.  To get them moving again kneel down and lure them from their level, all while maintaining a loose leash.

Being able to alternate immediately between praise & reprimand according to a dog’s behavior is the most fundamental skill in dog training.

It’s good to make a distinction between walking and heeling.  A heeling dog should be actively paying attention to you, while a walking dog can sniff and roam a little.