When a dog is trained to "heel," it means that the dog will learn to walk at the same speed as you and alongside you, either on your left or right side, without veering off or falling behind. If your dog is able to do this, taking him for a walk won't be a challenging task, and when he comes in from the outdoors, he won't startle or wander off out of curiosity but will instead stick to what you do.
- Standard "heel" instructions
Before you start the training, you can play with the dog to help him get used to the surroundings. Once the dog has finished going potty, you can begin the formal training by saying the word "heel."
Gestures: Naturally Drop your left hand and pat your left leg
- Four "heel" steps
1: Training at close range
First, with your left hand holding the leash (20–30 cm from the collar), call his name to get his attention. Then, while moving your left leg forward, say "HEEL," and pull the leash forward at a quick pace or in the shape of a wide circle to get the dog to follow you. There should be no fewer than 10 to 50 meters between each trip.
- Keep the dog's trajectory in constant alignment.
Pull the leash straight back if the dog veers off course or gets too close to the master. This will force the dog to return to his proper place. Say "good" or "pat" as a reward after the correction.
- Enable the dog to develop conditioned reflexes.
You should keep doing this until the dog learns to "heel." Additionally, you can teach your dog to acquire the same reflex for gestures. The technique is to make the dog sit on the left side while using the right hand to hold the leash and the left hand free.
- Don't match the dog's pace.
When you stop the training, tell him to "sit," and when he is seated to the left, end it. Make sure not to adjust to his speed during this training. Say "heel" and quickly pull on the leash to make him go faster if he falls behind while continuing to move forward at the original pace.
- Be mindful
1, food induction, and appropriate encouragement.
Pay close attention to how food, objects, etc. are used during training to motivate him to advance alongside you. Reward him whenever he keeps the right position while following your instructions. Repeat this training; you can also develop the conditioned reflex by using hand signals and the command "heel."
- Watch out not to accidentally step on the dog.
Be careful not to step on the dog at first when you and the dog's movements are not coordinated because this could instill fear in the dog.
- Use the leash sensibly—not too loose or tight.
To prevent discomfort for the dog, the leash should only be tightened briefly to correct the dog's posture. As soon as the dog is back in the proper position, the leash should be immediately loosened. Use the turning technique if pulling the retractable leash cannot correct the dog's overrunning or deviation.
