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Heel
The first and most important exercise to teach your dog is to walk close to your left side without pulling or lagging behind. Depending on the breed of dog, it could be expected to live to the age of 15 yrs at least. Spending the next 15 years of your life with your dog pulling your arm out of its socket or trailing behind like a wooden toy on a piece of string will not benefit you or your dog. If you teach your dog nothing else, teach it to walk properly and to come when called. Limit the heelwork training sessions to about 5 minutes at a time as this really taxes the dog.
The aim is to have the dog’s right shoulder close to your left knee and the dog should be alert and paying attention to the handler. A lead and check chain as described in the equipment section should be used for this exercise, but care should be taken when using the check chain not to be continuously pulling and jerking at the dog’s neck. Remember to put the check chain on the dog in the correct manner .
It cannot be emphasised enough that the main control is the VOICE. Soon you will be walking the dog off lead and then this will be the only control that you have, so remember to use it. Start the exercise with the dog at your left side and the lead held in your right hand at about waist height, say the dog’s NAME, step off with the left leg and give the COMMAND ‘HEEL’ and apply the COMPULSION – slight tug on the lead.
Keep your left hand free of the lead and use this hand to encourage the dog to stay close to your left leg, either by tapping your leg or carrying a small article such as a toy or treat. Never grab at the dog to pull it in close as this will tend to make the dog hand shy and the dog will pull away from you at the slightest movement of your hand. You will never teach your dog to do heelwork by walking in a straight line all the time. Frequent changes of direction will make the dog much more attentive. Make a series of right/right-about turns giving the COMMAND ‘HEEL’ on each turn; also left/left about turns giving the COMMAND ‘BACK’. When the dog is in the correct position the lead should be slack - don’t forget to give PRAISE at these moments. If the dog tends to pull away or lag it will be necessary to correct this by repeating the command ‘HEEL’ and then if the dog does not move up into position,giving the lead a tug. On no account should the lead be pulled or jerked across the front of your body to correct the dog. Resist the temptation to grab the lead with the left hand to correct him, as this will make the dog hand shy. Frequent changes of direction and about turns greatly assist in correcting this problem, for example. If the dog lags behind do not try to pull or drag him along on the lead, as it will cause him to pull against you. Do a ‘left about turn’ this causes the dog to close up on you, when he is close and in the correct position immediately slacken off the lead and give words of Praise, this is all that is needed. Likewise if he pulls do a ‘right about turn’. A dog that tends to pull or drag on heelwork should be encouraged as much as possible by voice and hand. It is emphasised that a lot of encouragement is needed and that jerking and pulling on the lead should be avoided. The lead must be slack and you should alter your pace frequently from normal to fast and slow, by doing this you will cause the dog to concentrate and become more alert. Give the dog lots of PRAISE when it is keeping close so that it quickly realises that it is pleasing you. A point to remember is that you are teaching the dog a new command, at first this command has no meaning for the dog, so do not correct it for failing to obey a word it dosn't understand.
When you're ready, then try it off lead, Heel free.
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It cannot be emphasised enough that the main control is the VOICE. Soon you will be walking the dog off lead and then this will be the only control that you have, so remember to use it. Start the exercise with the dog at your left side and the lead held in your right hand at about waist height, say the dog’s NAME, step off with the left leg and give the COMMAND ‘HEEL’ and apply the COMPULSION – slight tug on the lead.
Keep your left hand free of the lead and use this hand to encourage the dog to stay close to your left leg, either by tapping your leg or carrying a small article such as a toy or treat. Never grab at the dog to pull it in close as this will tend to make the dog hand shy and the dog will pull away from you at the slightest movement of your hand. You will never teach your dog to do heelwork by walking in a straight line all the time. Frequent changes of direction will make the dog much more attentive. Make a series of right/right-about turns giving the COMMAND ‘HEEL’ on each turn; also left/left about turns giving the COMMAND ‘BACK’. When the dog is in the correct position the lead should be slack - don’t forget to give PRAISE at these moments. If the dog tends to pull away or lag it will be necessary to correct this by repeating the command ‘HEEL’ and then if the dog does not move up into position,giving the lead a tug. On no account should the lead be pulled or jerked across the front of your body to correct the dog. Resist the temptation to grab the lead with the left hand to correct him, as this will make the dog hand shy. Frequent changes of direction and about turns greatly assist in correcting this problem, for example. If the dog lags behind do not try to pull or drag him along on the lead, as it will cause him to pull against you. Do a ‘left about turn’ this causes the dog to close up on you, when he is close and in the correct position immediately slacken off the lead and give words of Praise, this is all that is needed. Likewise if he pulls do a ‘right about turn’. A dog that tends to pull or drag on heelwork should be encouraged as much as possible by voice and hand. It is emphasised that a lot of encouragement is needed and that jerking and pulling on the lead should be avoided. The lead must be slack and you should alter your pace frequently from normal to fast and slow, by doing this you will cause the dog to concentrate and become more alert. Give the dog lots of PRAISE when it is keeping close so that it quickly realises that it is pleasing you. A point to remember is that you are teaching the dog a new command, at first this command has no meaning for the dog, so do not correct it for failing to obey a word it dosn't understand.
When you're ready, then try it off lead, Heel free.
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| DoggyGal | Great info! | 0 | Mar 7 2007, 12:04 PM EST by DoggyGal | ||
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Thread started: Mar 7 2007, 12:04 PM EST
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To the anonymous creator--thanks so much for adding this great page, complete with photos! This is wonderful! I'm so excited for these awesome contributions. You should register and create an account, to take credit for your fine work! Thanks!
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