One of the trickiest and most important skills we must teach our dogs is how to heel in position. This blog is part one of a three part series on the subject. Let's dive in!
Assume the Position In the dog training community we typically call this position the "basic" position. It involves the dog sitting or standing willingly at your side, her shoulder in line with your thigh, with her attention positively focused on you, the handler. We'll use feeding times to teach this to our older dogs for ease of execution and integration in our daily lives. 1. Take your dog's bowl of food and stand in front of a mirror or window so that you can see your reflection. Put the bowl on a table or bench next to you (on the opposite side of your dog and ideally, elevated), and take some kibble in your hand. 2. Bring your dog into the basic position by taking some kibbles in your left hand and moving the dog by luring her into the position. When she sits, give the cue "Heel". 3. Give your dog the kibble in your hand straightaway. Then release your dog by saying "Free!" or "Let's go!" and move away from the area. This is your release word, and it's a critical part of teaching 'heel' well. 4. After a few seconds, repeat the exercise. Cue "Heel" and wait to see if your dog will assume the correct position (remember: shoulder in line with your thigh, sitting on your right side, attention on you). If the dog does not yet know the cue and its associated behavior, use the kibble as incentive once again and repeat steps 2-4 above. 5. After a few repetitions, when the dog takes the correct position of her own accord, put the bowl back and let your dog finish her meal undisturbed. Repeat this exercise as many times as is necessary unti your dog truly understands what is expected. It is key to remember that consistency and repetition are key to ensuring your dog learn anything quickly and robustly. Never reward a crooked position, and always use the same cue word before delivering the reward. You can repeat this exercise every time you feed your dog.
2 Comments
11/6/2022 01:24:33 am
Watch factor race. Close interest loss reason seat nature structure Mrs.
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6/23/2023 02:01:03 am
Wow, teaching an adult dog to heel can be quite a challenging yet rewarding experience! I remember when I first tried this technique with my own dog, Max. It took some patience and practice, but eventually, he started assuming the correct position on his own, and I could see the pride in his eyes. Consistency was definitely the key, and now whenever I use the cue word "Heel," Max immediately knows what's expected of him. It's incredible how these simple training exercises can strengthen the bond between a dog and its owner.
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AuthorCamille Salter is the founder of All Dogs Toronto and a certified, knowledge-assessed dog trainer (CPDT-KA). She is the author of two books on dog behavior: Pandemic Puppy, Decoding the Dog Park, and the Big Book of Dog Training. Archives
July 2022
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