How To Train Your Dog to Heel?

Why Is It Necessary to Teach Your Dog to Heel?

Heeling is when a Dog walks in a controlled stride right next to its handler without pulling on the leash.

Traditionally, heeling meant that a Dog exactly mimics its handler's pace and motions, but today the term "heel" is sometimes used interchangeably with "loose leash walking" a less rigorous skill in which the Dog is merely required to not lag or tug on its leash while walking.

The heel position varies based on the dog's role.

A service Dog or working gun dog, for instance, should be looking ahead rather than up at his owner.

As a result, you will not see the obedience type position in these dogs.

The dog is usually quite near to the handler's leg in most heel positions.

It's even brushing up against it.

There will be more space between them in a working gun dog.

You don't want to be 'jostled' by a dog while holding a rifle.

You also don't want a drenched retriever pressing up against your leg.

Heeling is a useful technique for anyone who wants more control over their dog's actions.

When you teach your dog to heel, he will not drag you along or lag far behind on walks.

Heeling also promotes a safer dog-walking experience; Dogs who know how to heel are less likely to chase other animals, rush into traffic, or consume toxic chemicals that are dangerous to dogs.

Heeling also helps you and your dog form a stronger bond, allowing your dog to focus on you while increasing your general communication abilities.

How Do You Teach Your Dog to Heel?

There are several methods for teaching a Dog to heel, but one of the most efficient involves combining the "lure and reward" strategy with clicker training.

You'll only need a leash, a Dog collar or harness, a clicker, and a few Dog treats.

Even the liveliest Dog can learn to heel, and teaching this command is not difficult if you are patient and consistent.

Here is what you need to do:

Get Ready for Training

You'll need a lot of tasty goodies on hand.

Choose goodies that your Dog can't resist for training (particularly when introducing a new or challenging command).

Small portions are excellent since you'll be rewarding good behavior with a lot of treats at first, and you don't want to ruin your dog's diet.

Use a long-handled spoon coated in peanut butter, cream cheese, or wet Dog food for recalcitrant Dogs or little Dogs who make it difficult to bend down and offer treats while in the heel position.

With or without a leash, you can teach a Dog to heel.

Ensure you're working with your Dog off-leash in a secure environment, such as a fenced-in yard.

Keep your first attempts in a quiet, distraction-free environment, such as your backyard.

Treats may not be enough to keep your dog's attention if there are too many other intriguing things going on.

Sit, Heel, and Treat Consistently

Begin by keeping your Dog on your left side.

Bring a handful of goodies or a wooden spoon up to your dog's nose and command it to "heel." Begin walking.

For the initial few trials, take only a few steps and continually feed your Dog rewards.

When your Dog sits next to you, praise it with a click and a goody.

Before proceeding to the following phase, ensure that your dog's attention is focused on you and calm.

Be sure your Dog has mastered the sit command first because heeling is one of the more challenging dog-training abilities.

If your dog wanders away or loses attention, stop walking, call your dog's name until it returns to you, and then repeat the sit command.

Now that your dog is in the proper position using the heel command to restart the process.

Treat Less Frequently

It's time to start reducing the number of goodies you offer your Dog once you've been able to walk with it at a heel for a few yards.

Begin by commanding your Dog to "heel" while seated on your left side.

After rewarding the dog, take a step back before offering it another.

Before your dog's attention wanders, give him a treat.

Keep the distance you walk with your Dog at a heel short, and gradually increase the distance you travel between treats to a yard or two.

Increase the Distance

When you can walk several yards with your Dog in a heel using only a few rewards, it's time to start increasing the length of your walk.

You can offer your Dog treats but gradually reduce their intake.

You may be moving too quickly if your Dog is constantly breaking out of a heel at any time.

Return to the location where you were most effective in maintaining your Dog at a heel and repeat the distance and number of goodies.

Introduce Distraction

It's time to add some diversion once you've been able to walk a reasonable distance with fewer treats.

You can practice this training in a park or on leash walks around your neighborhood.

You may need to go back to treating your Dog on a regular basis at first and keep the walks short until it understands what's expected.

Gradually increase the distance and decrease the number of rewards.

Master The Heel Command

After another week or two of good training, it's time to expose your Dog to more difficult situations.

Extend your walks and take your Dog to a more distracting environment, such as a Dog park.

As your dog's heeling skills improve, use treats as a reward sparingly and instead focus on vocal encouragement and praise.

You may even teach your Dog to heel off-leash, but ensure you're in a safe, contained place.

Walking to heel isn't only about movement; it's also about leash manners and your dog's attention being drawn to you rather than to something else.

If you change directions or stop to chat with someone, your dog should remain in the heel position.

When you're stationary, keeping your heel in place is a crucial technique that you should hone.

Many people teach their Dogs to sit whenever they stop moving forward, which is perfectly OK.

If you practice walking ten paces and stopping, then asking your dog to sit and treating him in the sit position, you'll soon be able to eliminate the sit cue, and your dog will sit instinctively whenever you stop.

How to Successfully Include Distractions?

There are numerous ways for Dogs learning to walk to heel to become side-tracked.

First, changes in the surrounding environment must be implemented.

Moving from the hall to the kitchen or vise versa, as well as from inside to outside.

Keep in mind how thrilling doors and gates may be.

Dogs require practice to walk to heel through a doorway, especially if what's on the other side is pleasurable.

"I'll just open this door," you reason.

Your dog, on the other hand, is thinking, "OMG, OMG, we're going for a WALK!!!" And before you realize it, you've been carried down the path once more.

Use high-value treats (roast chicken is a great choice) and generously treat the Dog every step or two to maintain his attention on you the first few times you heel him past your garden gate into the roadway outside.

Putting some distance between your Dog and the distraction is one method to accomplish this.

Another option is to try to reduce the intensity of the distraction.

Your dog, for instance, may not be able to walk to heel as your children throw a football around, but he may be able to walk to heel past a single child holding a football.

If he is capable, treat him and put this into practice.

Then have the children place the ball on the ground, then softly roll it around with his foot, and so on.

Succeeding With Distractions

Anyone can prove their heelwork or teach a Dog to heel through distractions.

And you'll have an easier time if your Dog understands what's expected of him and you don't let him practice making mistakes.

Once you've started this training, it's a good idea to avoid walking your Dog on a leash in instances where you don't have control over how far you go or what sorts of distractions you'll encounter.

You don't want to allow him to revert to his old bad behaviors.

It's a habit to pull, and walking to heel is the polar opposite.

It can be very confusing for a Dog if you allow him to pull on some times but expect him to heel on others.

If you find yourself in a position where you need to walk your dog through distractions before he can do so 'at heel,' use a harness that is specifically designed for that purpose.

As an example, consider a 'tracking' harness.

When you know you won't be able to train successfully, avoid utilizing the collar and leash he wears during heelwork training.

Tips to Keep in Mind

It's easy to overlook some of these little but crucial steps if this is your first time teaching your puppy to "Heel." Take note of them to make "Heel" training simple and to keep your dog's attention occupied!

Which is better, right or left?

Choose one walking direction and stick with it! Teach your Dog to walk on your left or right side to avoid misunderstanding, dodging, and other trip dangers.

Treat to the nose!

The nose knows! Keep a treat on your leash and stroll side-by-side with your dog.

Your dog's nose will be pulled to the goody, making it much easier to educate them to walk with you!

For Controlled Walks, Control the Environment!

Choose a peaceful environment where you can best regulate distractions, such as your living room or garage, when first introducing your Dog to "Heel." Then, once your Dog gets the hang of "Heel," move your practice to different locations such as your backyard, driveway, the sidewalk outside your house, and finally along your street.

This can take weeks to accomplish, so don't rush it!

Summary

One of the most crucial tasks for any large Dog owner is to teach their Dog to walk to heel.

But, once you get started and have a plan in place, it isn't as difficult as you might imagine.

Remember that your Dog will learn faster if he understands what is expected of him and if you start with a lot of high-value goodies.

Master each training step before moving on to the next, and reward yourself and your Dog for your successes!