Dogs do not know how to walk to heel

It is amazing how many owners don’t actually teach their dog to get into the heel position and how to walk in it, all the while wondering why their dog pulls. If we don’t teach a dog a behaviour how can we expect them to know it?

All dogs have to be taught behaviours, they do not understand that when the lead is attached they must stay next to our side, or that when we call them they must come, or that “SIT” means to park their butt on the floor.

So how do we go about teaching it?

At first we would teach a dog by luring them into the heel position, so using treats in your hand you can guide them around.

Depending on what side you’d like your dog to walk on put the treat into the hand of the same side, so if you want your dog to walk on your left side, you’d have the treats in your left hand.

Exercise: Treat in left/right hand, take a step back and do a semi-circle motion (slowly) with your hand, as the dog follows your hand around bring your hand to your side, step forward, say “yes” and then reward.

Watch the video below as I show you how to teach the heel position. Miku has been taught to heel on the left side but not the right, so I'll be showing you the complete stages.

When to add the verbal "heel"

Adding the verbal command “heel”, we must wait until the dog understands the physical cue (hand signal) reliably, every time first. 

In order for the dog to learn the command, you must say it ONCE and then show your dog the physical cue. 

DO NOT: Repeat the command over and over, or say something like “good heel” after the dog is already in the heel position, as this can send mixed signals to the dog.

Give it a go teaching your dog to get into the heel position, if you want to do even more you could teach your dog to heel to either side of you, so rather than saying "heel," you'd say "right" for the right side of you and "left" for the left side of you.

Next I'll be talking about the importance of 'engagement training', and that without engagement you've no hope of your dog heeling walking.