Dog training: Heeling off-leash

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It is important for the family to agree to heel the pup on one side. It is bad news for the pup to cross over from one side to the other. Eventually, you will tread on it causing injury, or you will trip over the pup and injure yourself. Changing sides is also dangerous on-leash. If the pup circles its owner, the leash might wrap around the owner's legs, and the owner hits the dirt like a hog-tied heifer. Most trainers teach people to heel dogs on the left, because this is required in most obedience competitions. However, if for some reason you want to heel the dog on the right, that's fine, just reverse the following instructions.

For a single heeling-sequence: 1) Get your pup to sit facing forwards by your left side by saying "Rover, Heel-Sit" and using a food-lure handsignal with the right hand to accurately position the pup. It's helpful at least to start with both owner and dog facing forwards. Hold food treats in both hands. One piece in the right hand for the next sit signal and the rest in the left hand to heel the pup. 2) Bait your puppy and peak its interest by waggling the left hand in front of its nose, say "Rover, Heel" and move your left hand from left to right in front of the pup's nose (heel signal) and quickly take three huge steps forwards. 3) After saying "Rover Sit," slow down, motion sit with the right hand and then stand still and offer a food treat once your pup has sat by your left side. When stopping, try to remain facing forwards and give the sit signal in front of the pup's nose with your right arm crossing in front of your body. Thus, the pup will come to sit by the owner's left side, facing forwards and all ready for the next heeling sequence.

After saying "Rover, Heel," move off briskly. If you want some snappy heeling, your pup has to learn that the word "Heel" means action. Don't dilly dally around. Keep your pup on its toes. Let's be disciples of digitigrade; no time for plantigrade plodders here! Should your puppy attempt to improvise on the heeling pattern, as with "Following" do the opposite and do it quickly. Accentuate your pup's mistakes, and make the puppy hustle to correct itself.

Sometimes, work with food as a lure only, but do not give it as a reward. Praise or pet your dog instead. At other times, keep the food in your shirt pocket as occasional rewards for especially good heeling sequences, and use lure/hand movements with empty hands (hand signals) or maybe use other lures, such as a tennis ball,  [Continued]

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