Unless you plan on competing with your dog in obedience training, you do NOT need a formal HEEL.
HEEL -A position in obedience training where the dog holds his/her position at the left leg on the handler with the dogs nose roughly at the same plane as the handlers outside pant seam. This position is maintained by the dog regardless of if or how the handler moves (forward, backward, turning, stopping).
I am amazed by the number of clients who seem to feel that they MUST forcefully hold their dog on a tight, short leash while walking. This is NOT needed.
If fact, it tends to cause problems for the handler and the dog. A tight leash can actually cause a dog to behave aggressively.
It is always better to walk a dog on a loose leash. Training the dog to keep the leash loose is the first and most important step towards enjoying a walk with your dog.
TEACHING LOOSE-LEASH WALKING -kindergarden level
1. Choose a collar or harness that does not pull on a dog's neck or back.
Most flat-collars are good for keeping tags on your dog, but they are not good for walking dogs on leash.
Pinch and Prong-collars are designed to hurt the dog for making mistakes (pulling), but hurting the dog can have serious side-effects such as increased aggression. There are many reasons that these collars should never be used, but the best reason is that you can accomplish the same goal faster and more effectively without them.
Back-clipping harnesses are a great way to reduce pressure on a dogs neck and throat, but they help a dog pull and are useless for teaching a dog to walk nicely on leash.
****There are two great options for helping your dog walk nicely (no pulling on leash). Front-clipping harnesses are becoming very popular and dogs tend to adjust to them quickly. These are fantastic walking harnesses and they do not hurt the dog. Another option is to use a head-collar.
For more on these devices, CLICK HERE.
2. Set time aside for training.
Hold your dog's leash in your right hand. If your dog is on your left this will mean that the leash crosses in front of your body -this is OK.
Hold some tasty treats in your left hand near your dogs nose.
Keep your dog interested in the treats, but do not let your dog eat them.
If your dog jumps for the treats or tries to nibble your hand. Pull your hand away and put it behind your back.
If your dog has all 4 paws on the ground and is walking nicely next to you, PRAISE your dog THEN give them one of the treats from your hand.
Lately there seems to be an excessive number of people "totally freaked out" that they have/will lose all control of their dog's behavior because they can't seem to get the dog to walk behind them and/or the dog is "not allowing them" through doors first.
1) Dogs do not have a covert agenda! The are just faster than us, and unless they have a good reason to slow down (training) they are going to pull and push.
2) First is not always best! If you were testing a new type of parachute --would you really want to be the first one out the plane???
3) Like all things you want your dog to do, you must take time to teach them, you can't simply expect a new behavior.
What I care about when walking my dogs.
1) No one pulls my arm out. As long as the leash is loose, with some slack and my hands and arms are comfortable, I don't care if the dog is in front, next to, or behind me. >>>READ HERE FOR MORE ON PULLING<<<
2) If I call a dog's name, they stop and look at me. This is hugely helpful in a variety of situations, but takes practice to get in distracting environments (another dog barking).
3) If I say, "Leave-it" my dog lifts his or her head off what they are sniffing or turns their face away from what they are staring at and we move on down the path.
That said, if you want to teach your dog to walk in a certain position, next to you; or, if you would prefer, for the safety of your dog, to go through doors first, you can TEACH THESE BEHAVIORS. This means you will need to consider:
1) How will you show your dog what you want?
2) What you will give your dog if they are getting it right, or close to right (especially in the beginning). Think: What does my dog want?
3) What will you take away, or not give your dog if they make a mistake. Think: How can you make your dog's brain say, "That didn't work."
