provided by:http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com courtesy of http://www.i-love-dogs.comHave you ever watched a dog and owner walk together in perfect unison without the use of a leash and wondered how that was accomplished? The training is not as difficult as it looks but it does require constant attention and very obedient and responsive dogs. It is also important to realize that some dogs are just naturally more adept at this behavior than other. Those dogs that have hunting or tracking in their blood will have much more difficulty heeling in most situations as their natural instincts are to chase and hunt when they come across scents on the ground or see a squirrel or cat.
Breeds that are more challenging to teach to heel include the terrier breeds, miniature and toy breeds, tracking dogs and dogs that have been historically used for hunting fowl or animals. Dogs that are very distracted or easily startled, timid or shy, or overly aggressive generally should not be walked off leash except in confined areas as the chances of these dogs running away if started or distracted are high. Aggressive dogs or dogs that are required by law to be muzzled or restrained should never be off-leash. Check local by-laws regarding walking your dog off leash no matter what the breed to avoid any possible issues or complications. Most city parks require all dogs to be on a leash unless in the fence off-leash area if available.
Teaching Your Dog To Heel
The first step to getting your dog to walk off leash with you is to have him or her walking with you on the leash. Many dogs walk well on the leash provided you are going where he or she wants to go, but will tug or pull or fight you if you try to go your way, not theirs. These dogs need to be taught to heel before off-leash work is started.
To teach your dog to heel use a good quality flat nylon mesh collar or a slip collar, not a choke chain or other type of collar unless absolutely necessary. These collars can actually seriously injure a dog if not used correctly. Attach a lead or leash to the collar with the dog in the sitting position. Then:
• Give the command to heel and walk away from the dog, they will naturally get up and go with you. If they don’t get up, jiggle the leash or give a very short, gently pressure on the lead lasting about one second and say heel. Never tug or pull on the dog.
• Once the dog is up and walking with you keep moving, don’t stop or this confuses the dog. Focus on moving forward with the leash loose, not pulling or tight on the dog. Hold only the end of the leash and don’t worry for right now if the dog is behind or beside you, that will come later.
• If the dog starts to walk ahead of you or changes direction, say “heel” and simply turn 180 degrees and keep walking. When the dog gets to the end of the leash say “heel” and they will have to return to the right place or they will have no where to move. Do not stop moving.
• Once the dog is in the heeling position praise them and keep walking, returning to the original course.
• Keep this constant until the dog realizes that by staying by your side the leash is always loose and they are getting praise.
Once the dog is comfortable heeling on the leash it is time to start working in distraction rich environments. Use the leash and continue the training until the dog constantly stays in the heel position even on busy sidewalks and other areas.
At this point you will be ready to start working off leash, using the exact same commands and changes in direction. Encourage your dog to sit when off leash whenever you stop. Usually off-leash behavior is much easier for more mature dogs and may simply be to challenging for excitable puppies.
Author: Kelly Marshall
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