Jackson Goes to Boot Camp -Part XVII

Instead of taking Jackson someplace special today, I decided to have him heel around the "big block" near his home which is exactly 1/2 mile. He did well, even through all the usual city distractions. Then when we returned to Loco Lane, I had him sit-stay all the way from the kitchen to the office. I take 1 slice of bread and divide it into quarters. When I hold up a piece for him to see, he automatically sits. I tell and signal him to stay and then I walk away -about 10 feet. He sits like a trooper until I say and motion for him to come. Four of these and we are in the office.

The photo, above, is one I took just now just for this posting. I had him sit on the sidewalk (he knew I had a treat in my hand), stay, and then I went down the sidewalk steps and snapped his picture. He stayed without moving a muscle until I gave him the command to come.

Its Sunday morning and I’ve the time to write if you have the time to read. So, I just want to summarize and elaborate a little bit on some of the tricks to having your dog heel perfectly.

First of all, as you know, it all starts with long-line training. That’s when he learns to keep his eye on you and watch your every move. From the long-line you now move to the leash and training collar. Next, if he doesn’t already do it, he must learn to sit on command. And, he must stay on command. Now he’s ready to learn to heel. He will sit and stay on your left side, in line with your legs, and face forward with you. You step off with your left leg and at the same time say firmly, “dogname, heel!” That’s all there is to it! Well, almost all.

Most dogs –especially young, energetic puppies- will try to walk ahead of you. That’s fine if you are just going for a walk. But, heeling is not “going for a walk.” It is a discipline that will eventually allow you to walk with him safely in busy areas and not be distracted. So, there are a few tricks that you can use until he realizes his correct position beside you. The first trick is to be where you can walk in a circle to your left –in an open area someplace. By walking in a counter-clockwise circle, if he tends to get ahead of you he will constantly be experiencing being bumped by your left knee. Now when you do walk in a straight line –such as on a sidewalk, there are several techniques that will eventually sink in. One is to suddenly make a brief, sharp left turn followed immediately by a sharp right turn –staying on the sidewalk as you do this. Pretty soon he will back off a little so he can keep an eye on your leg movements. If he still tends to get out front a little, here’s one that gets his attention back and will usually straighten him out: With no warning and without speaking to him, make a sudden, right U-turn followed by another right U-turn. In a matter of seconds you are both walking in the same direction that you started, only now he will (usually) magically be back further with his nose and eyes next to your left knee.

And that’s what we did while heeling around the “big block” this morning. Jackson needed very little correction as described above, and he now automatically sits whenever we halt –whether it is at intersections or in the middle of the block.