Teaching the Heel - Page 1

So now I know that our little mutant shorkie isn't a complete dunce (he learned the nose trick in less than a week), I think I'd like to finally work on his leash manners.

We got him when he was 9 y/o and were supposed to "just watch him for a few months"... well he is 11 now and dad adores him so it looks like hes here to stay. I've only recently started to really work with him, because he is my dads dog.

Anyway, my problem is that I've only ever taught my old GSD to heel, and that was 7+ YEARS ago. So I'd like to know how you guys would go about training this dog. He is not toy driven at all... but he loves food.

Suggestions?

Food !

Use what the dog gives you! If he's a chow hound, then use it :) If he forges out ahead of you, make quick right about turns so he is still going the direction
he was and you are now going a new direction. The force of him hitting the end of the lead with you going the opposite direction should get him paying more attention
to you. Once he is in the correct position, reward him with food in the beginning, weaning off the treats as he understands what you are asking of him. Do not
cut out rewards all together... use yourself, praise as his reward also. In addition, if he already knows sit you can tell him to sit every time you stop.

I like to keep my dogs on their toes making very fast unpredictable left and right turns, especially when I know they are not paying attention but in heel position.

Melissa

I don't recommend letting a toy dog, particularly one so old, hit the end of a leash. 

Do you want a precision heel or a loose-leash walk, OP? 

Melba - thank you for the advice! I will be sure to try it out.

DogisGood - he is not exactly a 'toy' dog... he has the breeds, however he is roughly forty pounds and while he could loose a couple, he is very long and tall for either breed... hence 'mutant' shorkie. At any rate, I'd like for him to do more of a precision heel, but even a loose-leash walk would be a step up.

By "hitting the end of the leash" I don't mean fling the little dog around. You don't want to hurt it, of course but you do want there to be enough
of a correction for the dog to pay attention. Honestly, you make no movement of your hands and the correction comes from him going one way and
you now traveling in a different direction. You want to estinguish a behavior in as few corrections as possible while being as kind and gentle
as possible. You know your dog and what type personality it has, whether that be hard and dominant or soft and submissive... let his personality
dictate the severity of the correction.

I'd start with this and add precision after you have taught him that he will not go anywhere he wants unless the leash is loose and
he is looking towards you for direction.

You can teach focus before even starting to move. Place dog in front of you in a sit. You may have to lure his eyes up to yours at
first with the food and when he looks at you, reward. Once he does this on his own with no lure, place him on your left side in heel
position and repeat. Now you will ask for length of time that he is looking at you. Instead of rewarding right away, wait a second then reward.
This is lengthened a few seconds at a time. Now for movement. When he is looking intently in your face, take one step. If his eyes remain
on you, then reward. If not, then you either need more practice on focus OR you can try using a food lure to keep his eyes on you. Once you
can take one step with out losing focus, add another and then another until you are moving without losing focus.

Melissa