What is the best tools to use when training a dog to heel?

[springchowie11]

Hello Everyone

What would the best tools be to help you train a dog to heel?

Thanks

springchowie11

[twicelovedmutts]

PATIENCE! lol

Treats and touch training work great most of the time. Get a target stick clicker if your dog is so low he cannot touch your hand with his nose while walking. Remember to use high-value treats!

I personally have never had much luck with the "don't go forward if they are pulling" or "reverse directions if they pull" training. My guys are just happy to be outside, so reversing does not bother them, they do not have a set location they really want to get to and will just turn around and pull in the opposite direction. I would get dizzy long before they would get the idea. And if I simply held my ground if they pulled, it would take an hour to go 10 feet! lol

But there are always a few difficult dogs out there!
For our little Gunner (a pappy/pom cross) we finally had to get "tough". He was honestly going to injure himself by walking on his hind legs and choking himself to death. He was not much better on a halter. Even "no-pull" halters did not thwart him. We finally went to a Gentle Leader headstall. It takes some work to get the dog used to it and also for humans to use it correctly (you need to keep the lead loose but not let it get out of place - like on the other side of the head or under the legs). It is also important to fit it correctly. Once you get all that down though... it is AMAZING! We used it as a training aid, not a bandaid. So once Gunner started to do well on it, we left it on but had a separate lead on his regular collar (this is a bit tricky, but doable). Then we left it on but had a lead just on his collar. Next we did it without the GL headstall on at all half the time... then not at all. He now does a beautiful heel off-lead!

[Nettle]

Read our pinned thread on loose-lead walking, which will tell you all you need to know.

[doggiedad]

my dog was taught to heel usuing a flat collar and leash.
my dog was always walked on my left side while being
held in hell position. i did this before before the heel command
was taught. i was so easy to teach the command heel because
he was always in a heel position. once my dog learned heel
i taught him "other side". no matter which side my dog is on
if i say "other side" he switches sides and it does it
on or off leash. the best tool to use when training anything is consistency.
devices/tools don't train dogs. you train everyday and several times a day.
i find training in sessions works best. my sessions last 5 to 10 minutes.
the sessions can last longer as the dog gets older and starts to learn
but not to long. i always end each session on a positive note. i also make time
to train and socialize a lot. i normally have to be up at 5:30 am. when the pup
came home i was up at 4:00am or 4:30 am so i could train and socialize before work.
my GF got up early so she could train and socialize before work.
when my sitter came in she trained our pup. my pup had training session
a lot during the course of a day. i think he had 9 to 12 short sessions between
4:00 am and 11:pm.

[jacksdad]

my dog was taught to heel usuing a flat collar and leash. my dog was always walked on my left side while being held in hell position.

sorry couldn't resist

[dontpugme]

my dog was taught to heel usuing a flat collar and leash. my dog was always walked on my left side while being held in hell position.

sorry couldn't resist

you beat me to it!

Sorry, doggiedad! We don't mean that in a rude way. We ALL have typing fumbles.

[springchowie11]

um, please get back to wat i have asked thankyou

[chay]

Read our pinned thread on loose-lead walking, which will tell you all you need to know.

springchowie, nettle has pointed you to a great article which tells you all you need to know!

this is the particular article here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=858

and there's lots other great info in that section of the forum too!

[doggiedad]

i forgot what forum i'm on. the "hell position", well, i'll
send you the video. ROTFL.

my dog was taught to heel usuing a flat collar and leash. my dog was always walked on my left side while being held in hell position.

sorry couldn't resist

[doggiedad]

nothing to be sorry about. i laugh at others
and i can laugh at myself.

my dog was taught to heel usuing a flat collar and leash. my dog was always walked on my left side while being held in hell position.

sorry couldn't resist

you beat me to it!

Sorry, doggiedad! We don't mean that in a rude way. We ALL have typing fumbles.

[doggiedad]

springchowie11: again the best tool is you
going out to train and socialize daily (several times a day).
there's two things i did use as a tool in teaching heel, my hallway
wall, my car and our neighbors cars.

when i was training inside my pup was on my left
next to the hallway wall. when my up was next to the wall
he couldn't swing away from me when we were walking.

when training in the driveway my neighbors would
line up their cars with mine. with the puppy on my left
we walked around the cars. the cars prevented the pup
from swinging away from me.

i taught my dog to heel or either side with
or without a leash. i also taught him "other
side". no matter which side he's walking/heeling
on if i say "other side" he switches sides whether
he's leashed or not.

get out there and train, train, train and you can
teach your dog a lot of things.

[springchowie11]

the hallway thing won't work with my dog, he is too big and strong.

[doggiedad]

my hallway is 38&1/2" wall to wall. my dog
is 24&1/2" tall and he weighs 88 lbs. i taught
him to back up when he was the size stated usuing
the hallway wall. if you and your dog
can stand side by side in the hallway
the hallway wall will work. you can use any wall
indoors or outside. there's many things you
can use as a wall. as far as your dog
being strong you have to train him so
you're in controll.

the hallway thing won't work with my dog, he is too big and strong.