The most important exercise to teach your dog is to heel properly and reliably. If your dog will never leave your side it will listen when called and come directly to you because it wants to be with you. How do we acomplish this? How do we teach our dog to understand never to leave our side when walking no matter what the distraction is? When we turn our dog turns with us. When we stop walking our dog sits,stands, or lays down depending on our command. If we walk fast or slow we want our dog to change pace or walk at normal pace.
Dogs learn at different rates. Puppies under 6-7 months will take longer. Although beginning the process with a puppy is better than starting an older dog because older dogs develop bad habits. But it's never too late to begin training.
It's very important initially to train your dog where there are no or limited distractions. Eye contact and attention skills must be developed.
Steps to begin to teach proper heeling:
1. Dog in seated position on your left side.
A. Dogs are always trained on the left side of the trainer.
B. Place your left hand knuckles forward on lead and be sure the clip is facing the ground and there is a U in the lead. When walking there should always be a U in the lead unless the dog is pulling,lagging, or sniffing. In those instances the lead will tighten. When in formal training mode there is no pulling, lagging or sniffing. These faults must be corrected with a slight pull on the lead to teach the dog proper position and immediately place the lead in neutral position with the U. If your dog is faulting more than two or three times in a row than sit your dog and get your dog to pay attention.
C. When teaching your dog proper position after a fault, verbal corrections are, Ah! Ah!, Let's go, hurry hurry, with me followed by Good boy or girl in an uplifting voice tone.
2. When ready say your dogs name, then once the dog is up and moving command Heel then praise. Step out with your left leg and if your dog does not respond teach it by pulling forward on the lead and back to neutral. We have to have a great response when saying your dogs name. We want the dog to move!
A. With puppies, begin walking in a straight line then halt. Maybe 10-30 feet. As you come to a stop we need to teach your dog to sit.
B. Don't pull up on the collar with puppies. Simply when ready, place right hand under muzzle and left hand cupping the tail set and command sit. Lift up on the muzzle and gently place the rear into a sit. Hold position and praise.
C. Then begin again. Train heeling at least 15 minutes each day.
Dogs learn at different rates. Puppies under 6-7 months will take longer. Although beginning the process with a puppy is better than starting an older dog because older dogs develop bad habits. But it's never too late to begin training.
It's very important initially to train your dog where there are no or limited distractions. Eye contact and attention skills must be developed.
Steps to begin to teach proper heeling:
1. Dog in seated position on your left side.
A. Dogs are always trained on the left side of the trainer.
B. Place your left hand knuckles forward on lead and be sure the clip is facing the ground and there is a U in the lead. When walking there should always be a U in the lead unless the dog is pulling,lagging, or sniffing. In those instances the lead will tighten. When in formal training mode there is no pulling, lagging or sniffing. These faults must be corrected with a slight pull on the lead to teach the dog proper position and immediately place the lead in neutral position with the U. If your dog is faulting more than two or three times in a row than sit your dog and get your dog to pay attention.
C. When teaching your dog proper position after a fault, verbal corrections are, Ah! Ah!, Let's go, hurry hurry, with me followed by Good boy or girl in an uplifting voice tone.
2. When ready say your dogs name, then once the dog is up and moving command Heel then praise. Step out with your left leg and if your dog does not respond teach it by pulling forward on the lead and back to neutral. We have to have a great response when saying your dogs name. We want the dog to move!
A. With puppies, begin walking in a straight line then halt. Maybe 10-30 feet. As you come to a stop we need to teach your dog to sit.
B. Don't pull up on the collar with puppies. Simply when ready, place right hand under muzzle and left hand cupping the tail set and command sit. Lift up on the muzzle and gently place the rear into a sit. Hold position and praise.
C. Then begin again. Train heeling at least 15 minutes each day.