If your dog is feeling neglected and does not know when he can expect his treats, it may be time to introduce dog training techniques to teach him to heel. This is done with your hands, and your dog must follow your lead. There are some important dog training techniques to teach him to heel. Your dog must know that when you tell him to heel, he needs to stay in your line of sight whenever you command. You can try teaching him to heel using a leash and positive reinforcement, as in the previous dog training techniques to teach him to heel. To begin, hold your dog by his leash and turn him toward your left.
o First, ask your dog if he has already learned to heel. Do this by standing next to him and having him look directly at you while asking him to do the heeling behavior. If he moves away from you, do not push him away. Reward your dog with love and lots of treats for his good behavior.
o If your dog stops heel position, then begin tapping on his nose. If you use a hand to tap, begin tapping in a loud, strong voice. When he stops heel position, reward him with a treat and lots of praise. Be sure to take him directly to his designated place for dinner, and don’t let him get free for this one step.
o If your dog shows no signs of heeling, but still is having trouble walking forward on his leash, try giving him a dog e-collar. It is better for you to consult an expert if you don’t know how to use it. E-collars are made from electric shocks that can be applied to dogs. Just make sure you don’t give him more than one shock.
o The second step is to train him for obedience training. Begin the training by using the heel command. This is easy to teach because you are only teaching your dog a simple command. He will be able to learn it in just a few days with your constant practice. When you are out with him, reward him with his favorite treat and some loving praise.
o During leash training, you should not always use the heel command. You can use other commands instead, especially when a dog is very stubborn. However, most trainers recommend using the heel. Your dog will be confused if he learns a new command and no longer knows how to behave in response to his owner’s commands. So remember to always use the heel command as much as you can for better results.
o The final step in the technique to teach your dog to heel is to begin changing directions. When you think the dog is ready, you should begin tugging on the leash. You should keep on changing directions until your dog gets used to changing directions. Make sure you start in a controlled area and gradually work your way out. When you think your dog is getting really comfortable with changing directions, you can begin to give him treats to encourage this.
o Finish the technique to teach your dog to heel with some simple walking forward. Just move forward as easily as you can without forcing your dog. If your dog pulls ahead, just turn around and walk back. Remember that you are trying to get your dog used to moving forward in a slow, relaxed manner.
o Now for the last step in this technique to stop heeling: When you are ready to give your dog a treat for standing still, make him turn his body towards you. Then you should give him a treat and turn back as you give your dog his treat. Your dog will now understand that when you tell him to stop that he must turn towards you in order to receive a treat. This is an important concept because when you are walking with your dog it is very easy to forget that he is supposed to move forward. This technique takes awhile for your dog to understand but it will happen. You will also find that by moving his body toward you more, your dog will learn to stop pulling.
One of the keys to effectively training your dog for heeling is to use an e-collar while walking with him. Most dogs will easily learn to heel when they see you wear an e-collar. There are many different types of dog collars and it is recommended that you find one that works best for you and your dog. If you choose one that clips onto the collar itself then it is important that you keep it off of your dog’s neck during the entire walk. You also want to make sure that you take your dog on walks when it is wearing a collar; you can give him a treat after each leg of the walk.
Once you begin using the e-neck collar and leash correction method of heeling, you will find that your dog will stop pulling. You can continue to practice the heel zone technique to teach your dog to heel when you walk outside, but be sure that you always have treats with you when you practice. Remember, the key to successfully training your dog for heel is consistency and taking your dog on walks when he is wearing his e-collar and leash correction collar.