Training the dog to obey the heel command
The heel command is one of the first basic obedience commands a pet dog should learn. A dog has to learn to obey the heel command as it ensures not only its own safety but the safety of the pet owner as well. Of course a dog owner would be proud to have a well trained pet that obeys the heel command. People keep dogs for protection as a big dog walking beside an elderly person would make wrongdoers think twice to carry out their evil intentions.
How would you make the dog respond to the heel command? Obedience training can be a daunting task to some pet parents but teaching the dog to heel is not really difficult. Positive reinforcement will make a dog learn to obey the heel command easily because these are intelligent animals. Dogs would easily adapt to training as apart from being intelligent, man's best friends have the innate eagerness to please. So instead of reprimands and harshly pulling on the leash, the dog will be enticed to respond to training by giving the pet a lot of praises and using the dog's favorite treat as positive reinforcement.
The objective of this particular obedience training is to teach the dog to stay by the master's side whether walking or running. Fasten a leash to the dog's collar. You can position the dog to your left or right side but this heel position must be consistently used so that the dog will not be confused. One hand has to hold the leash and the other has to have the treat.
Let the dog smell the treat in your hand to gain the pet's attention. Continue to hold the treat in front of the dog's nose and start moving forward. The dog may cross your body to get to the hand holding the treat. Give the leash a quick tug and say NO in an authoritative voice. Let the dog assume the heel position again and continue walking. Continue walking and then give the dog the heel command. Reward the dog with the treat if it continues to walk by your side. Short training sessions that are repeated several times every day will train the dog to heel beside you even without being lured by a treat.
Walking the dog can be a stressful task for owners of dogs that pull on the leash so that it would appear as if the owner is being walked by the pet. Dog owners can prevent this highly stressful situation from happening by training the dog to heel.
How would you make the dog respond to the heel command? Obedience training can be a daunting task to some pet parents but teaching the dog to heel is not really difficult. Positive reinforcement will make a dog learn to obey the heel command easily because these are intelligent animals. Dogs would easily adapt to training as apart from being intelligent, man's best friends have the innate eagerness to please. So instead of reprimands and harshly pulling on the leash, the dog will be enticed to respond to training by giving the pet a lot of praises and using the dog's favorite treat as positive reinforcement.
The objective of this particular obedience training is to teach the dog to stay by the master's side whether walking or running. Fasten a leash to the dog's collar. You can position the dog to your left or right side but this heel position must be consistently used so that the dog will not be confused. One hand has to hold the leash and the other has to have the treat.
Let the dog smell the treat in your hand to gain the pet's attention. Continue to hold the treat in front of the dog's nose and start moving forward. The dog may cross your body to get to the hand holding the treat. Give the leash a quick tug and say NO in an authoritative voice. Let the dog assume the heel position again and continue walking. Continue walking and then give the dog the heel command. Reward the dog with the treat if it continues to walk by your side. Short training sessions that are repeated several times every day will train the dog to heel beside you even without being lured by a treat.
Walking the dog can be a stressful task for owners of dogs that pull on the leash so that it would appear as if the owner is being walked by the pet. Dog owners can prevent this highly stressful situation from happening by training the dog to heel.
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Sarah's Dogs provides more information on how to train a dog to heel and dog first aid.
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