Question About Heeling

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by Bok on 15 January 2009 - 17:01

I'm in the process of learning about how to teach my puppy to heel. My question is, say you already taught your dog to heel, do you expect it to heel all the time you take it for a walk?

I know at some point, you should give a release command when the dog gets to sniff around and all that, but say you take your dog for a 30 minute walk, how much of that should be heeling?

Also, what do you think of this article in teaching how to heel: www.goodpooch.com/MyGoodPooch/heelin1day.htm

by 4pack on 15 January 2009 - 18:01

Don't ask your dog to do more than he can. If you do he will break on his own and become sloppy. I always start my walks with focus and a nice heel. By the time I leave my block, I free up my dog, which means for him, he can be anywhere within 10 feet of me without getting in trouble. I put him back in a formal heel if I see a cat, dog or person on the sidewalk, to cross the street and just occasionally for no reason but to make him pay attention. I give him plenty of free time on walks because I do my OB stuff at a different time. Walks are for fun.

by Langhaar on 15 January 2009 - 18:01

There is formal heelwork and walking nicely on a loose lead; one is for points, one is for comfort

by Kreiger on 15 January 2009 - 19:01

Things do not have to be so regimented.The dog needs his time to be a dog.Not every time the dog gets clipped to a leash does he need to behave like a robot that cannot think for himself.There is time for trainig(10-20min.max!!)and time to be a dog.Pick a time of the day when you see your dog excited and utilize this as your training time because it is when he is most enthused about doing whatever.As a pup I like to train when he/she shows me that they want to do it right then,and there.Later on he will do it because you said so.

by Two Moons on 15 January 2009 - 19:01

Bok,
I don't know how your training but once you give a command you must enforce it, that being said I agree with 4pack not to over do it with a young puppy. And I do have a release command that tells the dog he's free to do his own thing.

Separate play from work and don't be too hard on a puppy.

I use treats with a puppy until hes old enough to go on a long line. I'm sure we train differently.

I demand obedience to and from the play area, but release them once we arrive and let them have their fun.
I don't start serious training until the dog is six months old here, but teach them basics as a puppy.
Teach them to trust you first.   Build on that bond and never betray it.

Avoid distractions while working with your puppy, later you will use distractions but not until the pup has learned to concentrate on you. A long line is very useful for this.

I didnt read the article, sorry.     I base some of my training on methods taught by William Koehler, others I learned from a friend who trains k-9s for law enforcement, and from my mother years ago.   She had a way with animals as do I.   You can't teach it.   She told me then that animals know whats in your heart. They see right through us. They want to please us if we are worthy, thats better than obeying out of fear of a correction in my opinion.   Corrections are nessecary but use them wisely and better control the situation in advance.

You and your puppy get to know each other.    You have more in common than you know.

There is no set rule for me, you learn as you go right along with your dog, enjoy the experience.

Moons.

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