TEACHING THE DOG TO HEEL ON A LEASH

When teaching a dog to heel at your side on a leash you need to understand that the word HEEL is a place command. Just like KENNEL is a place command ( go to your kennel or travel crate for example). When I teach a dog to come to heel ,I am teaching him to come to my side either left or right, usually not both sides . So when the dog hears the word heel, to him it means to recall to me and come to my side. If I want to have him walk at my side I say HEEL as I walk. If I want him to sit next to me I say HEEL, SIT. Many people get confused that heel means the dog should come to me. that is not the case Heel means to come to my side and to stay at my side untill commanded to leave my side. Just as sit means sit down and not lay down. Lay down means lay down.

When Teaching a young dog to heel on a leash you need a properly fitted choke chain and a rope leash. The chain needs to be fitted around the dogs neck correctly so that the chain tightens when the dog pulls, and loosens immediatly when the dog stops pulling. The Idea of teaching with a leash and choke chain is to teach the dog how to surrender to the leash and to walk quietly next to you. Just as a horse is taught to walk quietly next to the handler with a lead rope. WHEN A DOG IS TAUGHT TO WALK ON A LEASH HE IS TAUGHT TO WALK AT YOUR HEEL NEXT TO YOU ...NOT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.. If you want your dog out in front of you and all your obediance training is complete. you can unleash your dog to run free untill you command him back to the heel position to walk at your side either on or off leash.

Knowing how to balance the correct ammount of obediance versus how much drive your dog has will help you during leash training. to much obediance placed on a laid back dog keeps him from becoming effective in the bird field and not enough obediance in a high energy dog makes him hard to control.

If your having obediance issues seek out a trainer in your area that can help you through this important step.

Roger Hess