How to teach a dog to heel, courtesy of Evolution Dog Shampoo
How to teach a dog to Heel
The heel command is a formal obedience exercise for the dog which is one of the first commands taught by the owner to his dog. This command teaches a dog to walk precisely by the owner’s knee in the same direction. It will ensure the safety of the owner as well as the dog while out in public. The dog following this command is considered to be obedient and well-mannered. This command is quite simple and it can be learnt by the dog within 30 minutes or so but, should be practiced regularly.
Let’s see how the heel command works. This command instructs the dog to walk besides the owner, not before or after him. This command is practiced for the safety of the dog from the vehicles or other animals. The dog will not run here and there in public places if it is perfectly taught this heel command.
There are two methods of teaching the heel command to the dog. The first method involves positive strengthening and the second one is a mixture of positive and negative strategies.
In the first method which uses positive reinforcement, place the dog on a small leash and obtain different dog’s favorite food treats, some pieces of dry kibble which is more suitable as the dog’s food. Now decide which side to place the dog for walking and try to train the dog on that side right from the beginning. Placing the dog by your side facing in the same direction, hold a treat in your hand next to your hip. Then speak out the heel command and walk forward. Reward the dog with some of its favorite treat when the dog responds correctly by stepping with you. The owner should keep patience and this method will work well for most of the dogs. You will find the dog walking close to the owner in a systematic way.
If the dogs cannot get trained by the first method, then approach the other method which includes both positive as well as negative tactics. In this method, use a longer leash approximately seven to ten feet. Let the dog move around the leash. Then position the dog next to you as before in the same direction and gently say the heel command and walk forward. The dog might not walk with you at this time. But, in order to correct its behavior, the owner should turn around in the opposite direction of the dog and take few steps moving towards the dog. Slowly raise the leash to the shoulder’s height. The result of this action will be the dog quickly reaching the end of the leash. When the dog starts obeying this command, kindly reward it with good treats.
You can teach the heel command to your dog with any of these methods and be sure to take your dog anywhere in the public place. Always train your dog with love, patience and treats and your dog will in turn reward you with loyalty and long-lasting companionship.
Teach a dog to rollover | teach a dog to lay down | teach a dog to jump | teach a dog to heel teach dog to fetch | teach dog to speak | teach a dog to sit | teaching a dog to play dead | how to teach a dog to shake
