Teaching your dog how to heel is an important dog training skill for several reasons. First, dogs that learn how to heel properly are less likely to accidentally run into things. Second, it’s a great way to teach them basic obedience and exercise coordination. And third, if they learn how to heal properly, you’ll be able to get them started on dog heeling training while still being able to take them on walks.
There are several ways to teach your dog how to heel without using any leash. First, you can practice this behavior with your dog on the floor in your own home. By walking on their hindquarters (most dogs do this naturally), you’ll begin to understand what causes the unwanted reactions from their bodies – the pulling of the leash, or pushing off with their front legs. This will give you an idea of the best techniques to use when teaching your dog this important behavior.
Teaching your dog how to heal using only your body weight is one of the easiest and fastest dog training methods. Simply place your forearm on the back of your dog’s leg and push down on the backside of the leg until you feel a stretch in the muscles of the back foot. Next, retract your arm and extend your hand forward with the same pressure. Slowly move the weight of your body from the back foot forward to the front foot, mimicking the steps of a stair climber.
If you don’t want to work with your dog on a free-standing leash, you can use a combination of physical and verbal praise with the heel command. Place your hand flat in front of your dog, about two feet in front of his tail, and begin to rub your fingers up and down his spine. Be careful not to rub too hard, or your dog might be scratched. It is also important to praise your dog with love and not with force. After you’ve worked with your dog for a while, you will be able to move on to using training treats.
I would encourage you to first work on simple heel training exercises before moving on to more complicated training methods. The key to successful heel training is to gradually introduce longer and heavier resistance. Longer and heavier training treats will help your dog learn to walk properly without pulling or straining. Be careful not to over praise your dog, as this will teach him to become excited when he receives a reward, instead of when he receives negative criticism. Your goal is to have your dog to walk calmly and smoothly with you as his best friend, so always remember to keep your training sessions positive.
To begin, hold the ten-step command in one hand. You should hold the other three fingers in either a loose grip or a firm grasp, with your palm facing forward. Approach your dog, in a controlled manner, and without raising your voice or pointing at him, say the command. When your dog approaches, use the heel command and guide him through the steps. Do not rush through the walking, but be patient and take your time.
Once your dog has gone a few steps, begin moving forward again, this time using the leash. If your dog tries to pull ahead, gently correct him and tell him to heel, while letting him keep his lead. Do not let him heel too much, because then he will become tense and over eager to run. Once he has been on the leash for a few strides, begin walking with him again, using the leash. As your dog begins to feel comfortable with the leash, you can then remove it and begin to walk without the dog walking at your side.
If your dog still pulls ahead, then begin tapping his collar. Be careful when beginning, however, because you do not want to shock your dog, which could possibly scare him. Begin tapping in the center of his back, near his bottom. Repeat this step until he becomes accustomed to the heel position and begins tapping less while in the heel position.