The Heel Command
Start with your dog in heel position, which means that the dog should be on your left side, with its ear in line with the seam of your pants, and its body parallel to yours.
Make sure your collar is up nice and high on the dog's neck and fitting snugly. Give the heel command and at the same time as you give the command, step out on your left foot and begin walking at a brisk pace. It is crucial that you start off on the left foot. If you start with your right foot, the dog can't see you begin because it can't see past your left leg, so by the time it realizes you've begun walking, it has already fallen behind. If your dog does not automatically begin walking when you do, give it a gentle tug with the leash in the forward direction. You want it to move forward with you, so you pop the leash in the direction of correction. You may repeat your command when you correct the dog. If the dog gets ahead of you and is no longer in the heel position, pop the leash backwards to tell the dog to slow down. Do not allow the dog to walk ahead of your left leg or behind it. You must teach the dog that the word “heel” means “glued to my master's left leg.”
Make sure you are deciding the path you take. Do not follow the dog around in order to avoid correcting it. Correcting the dog correctly will not hurt the dog. It is a quick pop and release of the leash, unless of course the dog is trying to drag you, in which case, you will need to apply more steady pressure. Don't ever allow the dog to drag you anywhere. (I know this is often easier said than done. If you find it difficult to pull on the leash with enough strength or force, try wearing gloves. You will be able to get more traction on the leash. For difficult dogs, I recommend using a leather leash and leather gloves.)
You want the dog to automatically sit every time you cease walking. When you are beginning, give it the sit command every time you stop walking and then make your dog sit.
For example, get the dog sitting in heel position. Give the heel command and step out with your left foot. If the dog does not follow, correct it, repeat the command and keep walking. If the dog gets out of heel position as you are walking, correct it again in the direction of correction, repeat the command and keep walking. Then come to a stop by bringing both feet together. Tell your dog to sit, and then make it sit. Only say the sit command once. Once you get it seated, you can begin heeling again by giving the heel command and starting out with your left foot. Eventually, your dog will sit when you stop walking. In competition, it is required that the dog sits without you giving the command, so eventually, you will want to practice that way.
Heeling is not the same thing as walking your dog. Do not attempt to exercise your dog by heeling. Take it for its normal walk first. Then practice your heeling.
Remember to praise your dog as much as possible. While heeling, be sure to praise it between corrections. You need to praise your dog ten times for every correction you give. Reach down and pat your dog with your left hand while you are heeling so that it doesn't learn to interpret any movement of your hands as a leash correction.
Remember to only practice for ten-fifteen minutes per day and to practice every day. And remember to praise your dog often.
Make sure your collar is up nice and high on the dog's neck and fitting snugly. Give the heel command and at the same time as you give the command, step out on your left foot and begin walking at a brisk pace. It is crucial that you start off on the left foot. If you start with your right foot, the dog can't see you begin because it can't see past your left leg, so by the time it realizes you've begun walking, it has already fallen behind. If your dog does not automatically begin walking when you do, give it a gentle tug with the leash in the forward direction. You want it to move forward with you, so you pop the leash in the direction of correction. You may repeat your command when you correct the dog. If the dog gets ahead of you and is no longer in the heel position, pop the leash backwards to tell the dog to slow down. Do not allow the dog to walk ahead of your left leg or behind it. You must teach the dog that the word “heel” means “glued to my master's left leg.”
Make sure you are deciding the path you take. Do not follow the dog around in order to avoid correcting it. Correcting the dog correctly will not hurt the dog. It is a quick pop and release of the leash, unless of course the dog is trying to drag you, in which case, you will need to apply more steady pressure. Don't ever allow the dog to drag you anywhere. (I know this is often easier said than done. If you find it difficult to pull on the leash with enough strength or force, try wearing gloves. You will be able to get more traction on the leash. For difficult dogs, I recommend using a leather leash and leather gloves.)
You want the dog to automatically sit every time you cease walking. When you are beginning, give it the sit command every time you stop walking and then make your dog sit.
For example, get the dog sitting in heel position. Give the heel command and step out with your left foot. If the dog does not follow, correct it, repeat the command and keep walking. If the dog gets out of heel position as you are walking, correct it again in the direction of correction, repeat the command and keep walking. Then come to a stop by bringing both feet together. Tell your dog to sit, and then make it sit. Only say the sit command once. Once you get it seated, you can begin heeling again by giving the heel command and starting out with your left foot. Eventually, your dog will sit when you stop walking. In competition, it is required that the dog sits without you giving the command, so eventually, you will want to practice that way.
Heeling is not the same thing as walking your dog. Do not attempt to exercise your dog by heeling. Take it for its normal walk first. Then practice your heeling.
Remember to praise your dog as much as possible. While heeling, be sure to praise it between corrections. You need to praise your dog ten times for every correction you give. Reach down and pat your dog with your left hand while you are heeling so that it doesn't learn to interpret any movement of your hands as a leash correction.
Remember to only practice for ten-fifteen minutes per day and to practice every day. And remember to praise your dog often.