This, and More!

Rather than one behavior, heeling requires luring, targeting, pivoting, recall, eye contact, and walking backwards.

Below are some resources for putting these behaviors together.

Here are a few rules to follow to ensure proper heeling:

• Be consistent and always make sure the dog comes to heel and continues heeling the same way. I prefer to teach pet and service dogs to heel with their nose behind the handler's left heel.
• No sniffing. Dogs will quickly lose focus and break position if allowed to sniff while heeling.
• No marking. Give your dog a chance to potty by relasing them from heel.
• No breaking position. Both of the dog's paws should be behind your left heel whenever you change speed or direction, and the dog should not break position left, right or forward.

Select a term such as Okay to tell your dog when to leave the heel position. Dogs learn to perfect the heel command through changes in motion, direction and speed.

Direction

• Right outside turns help bring a dog's position forward
• Left inside turns help bring a dog's position backward

Speed

• Stop / go and fast / slow or other changes in speed can help correct problems with forging and engagement.

Commands

• Stay / heel commands will help to absorb a dog's drive and give it more opportunities to learn coming to heel, and impulse control.
• Back command, meaning to take steps backwards, will help the dog to come into position behind the handler, where there is less risk of tripping.
• Calling the dog's name to prompt eye contact will direct the dog's attention away from the environment.