How can I teach my dog to heel when she goes for walks?
Sunshine5399 asked:
My golden retriever is almost three years old. We have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She has done very well with training, except for heeling. We’ve done obedience school, a choke chain collar, turning around walking the other way when she pulls…nothing really works. The only thing that makes her stop pulling is when she’s walked for long enough that she gets tired out. Any ideas?
Rosanna
My golden retriever is almost three years old. We have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She has done very well with training, except for heeling. We’ve done obedience school, a choke chain collar, turning around walking the other way when she pulls…nothing really works. The only thing that makes her stop pulling is when she’s walked for long enough that she gets tired out. Any ideas?
Rosanna
FutureCanadian
30 Dec, 2009
Jamila
When we were teaching our dog we would carry treats and if she walked beside us we would give her treats every few minutes. If she pulled we would stop walking until she sat, then continued to walk. Its was a grueling cycle but it seemed to work with her.
barbara
1 Jan, 2010
Sybil
try to give him a treat every time when heel
Devious Movements [ex-Hughey]
4 Jan, 2010
Brenna
I would suggest the click-and-treat method. Dogs learn best via positive reinforcement. You can find a trainer in your area to help get you and your dog started, and then you can take it from there.
If you don’t want to do that, just carry treats with you and treat her intermittently when she walks beside you. If she gets too far ahead, call her over to you and treat her. Sooner or later, she won’t want to leave your side!
MaryKate
7 Jan, 2010
Kristian
I used the Easy Walk harness with my Dane while training her to heel. The clasp is in front of their chest so when they go to pull, it turns them around to face you. that with a lot of practice and a lot of walks. Also off leash walks around the dog park trails helped her want to stay by me.
Now I can take her for walks with just her buckle collar and the leash. She’ll walk by me or behind me.
Oh she’s such a doll.
It worked for me, may not work for you though.
Nadipyrate
9 Jan, 2010
Tai
Try using no pull halters on your dog instead of the choke chain collar. Choke chain collars are only successful when used properly, they need to be high on the neck right behind the ears, and to keep it there is almost impossible.
Before going on your walks try playing with your dog in the backyard or take to a park in the car and let him/her run around till she gets tired, then try going for a walk, a tired dog is a good dog.
After you wear him/her out this way and before you go on your walk try getting him really excited before you head out, by doing whatever gets your dog hyper, but you MUST stay calm during this routine.
When your dogs settles down, have him/her sit, put the leash on and praise. Start your walk, every time your dog pulls STOP. Wait till your dog heels on his/her own they will do this because you have stopped and they will come back to see what is keeping you from moving forward. Once they are by your side have him/her sit and praise, have it wait till you are ready to move.
After many MANY consistent tries, your dog will begin to heel, but you have to stick to routine and you have to always be in charge.
Practice makes perfect.
Jessica J
12 Jan, 2010
Ali
I have 2 very large pitbulls (over 100lbs each) and it is VERY important for me to be ‘alpha dog’. When I started trying to teach them heel I began by working in the house or the backyard (controlled environments). While they were off-leash, I would hold a treat between my index finger and thumb and hang my hand by side just above their nose…then I would say heel and take a few steps. They would immediately be trying to get the treat and would follow my hand.
There are two key elements to make this work: First, make sure that you hold the treat low enough so that your dog is not jumping to get the treat, but high enough so her head is up. Second, give your dog the treat while you are saying heel and she is walking by your side. Waiting to give the treat until you stop reinforces the wrong behavior.
It took about a month before they would do it without a treat, but everyone else is always amazed at how well behaved my dogs are…if they only knew!
?
12 Jan, 2010
Elayne
I also used choke collars with little success for healing. It worked on one of my large breeds but not the other. The harness worked best for the other and treats. Just remember to say “heal” consistently and when she does it, reward her. Also, going from a “sit” position to “heal” position is a good way to teach them to pace themselves. I would also calmly say “easy” a few times if they saw other dogs when walking or kids…they just want to have fun but don’t understand they look big and scary..haha..good luck!
kdoulos
15 Jan, 2010
Ira
I have a shepherd mix that pulls when he sees something that interest him. He usually does real well walking, but I’m a strict mommy, and want him to heel properly all the time. I tried everything too, but my uncle who has a trained K9 suggested a pinch collar.
I know what you’re thinking. Those pinch collars look like an instrument of torture, but I did a little research, and I tried an extra large on out on myself, and its not painful at all. Its basically the equivalent to a mother dog correcting her pup with a gentle pinch to the neck. I would never use anything on my dog that I thought would hurt him.
I bought one, and used it on him the next time I walked him, and I noticed a marked improvement on his responsiveness. It only took him two tugs to get the idea. Now he walks perfectly. I suggest trying it yourself.
Madz
17 Jan, 2010
Freeda
Get a piece of food that you don’t usually feed your dog (make sure it’s healthy) and hold it in front of your dog while she’s pulling. Chances are she’ll walk towards it you keep on moving it further whenever she reaches it. Make sure you always praise her for doing this and NEVER stop talking to your dog.
Bree
19 Jan, 2010
Aleisha
Hope these links can help: