How to teach a dog to speak

August 24, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

No, we cannot teach a dog to speak in a human language, but we can teach our dogs to bark on command. With barking often thought of as a problem, you might be a little mystified about why you would want to teach a dog to bark, or talk, on command. However, there are actually a few scenarios where a dog that barks when you want it to, or under certain conditions can be handy. For instance, if you are out walking your dog alone and notice someone looking a little untrustworthy, a barking dog is likely to leave them thinking twice about accosting you (if that was their intention). Your dog can also announce visitors at the door, or let you know they need to go outside for potty. Of course, any dog that learns to bark when asked to, also needs to know when to quieten down.

2 Ways of teaching a dog to speak

There are two popular strategies to use when teaching your dog to bark on command. One uses frustration, and the other uses excitement to provoke your dog into “speaking.” The first – frustration – involves securing your dog to a tree or post using a collar and lead. Please note that you are not leaving your dog tied up outside by themselves as you are going to be with them at all times.

The frustration method of training

Tie one of his favourite toys to a pole. Now wave and dangle the toy so your dog can see it, but keep it just out of reach. As the frustration builds your dog should soon start barking. As soon as he does reward him by giving him a little time with the toy before removing it. Once your dog associates barking with getting the toy add a spoken command to the mix. When he barks on the spoken command start showing him a hand signal. Once he associates the hand signal with barking you can drop the spoken command and continue using just the hand signal.

The excited method of training a dog to speak

The next process involves getting your dog excited through play, such as with a game of fetch or tug. Have your reward on hand and when your dog is excited let them see it, then hide it from view behind your back. With a little luck the energy and excitement, plus the dog being a little miffed at the hidden treat, it will all add up to a bark. If he doesn’t bark, let the dog see the reward once more, maybe hold it out and then quickly hide it again. Keep doing that until the dog barks. Once they do immediately reward them with the treat. The process is then much the same as the above frustration technique with first teaching them to bark for a treat, then the spoken command, adding the hand signal, and then using just the hand signal.

Training your dog NOT to bark

Teaching your dog to go quiet after barking is a similar process. Once they start barking let them continue for 3 or 4 barks and then give the quiet command. If they stop barking immediately reward them with their favourite tasty treat. Once they learn to associate a treat with being quiet add a spoken command until they learn to quiet down with just the spoken command. As before, add a hand signal, and when they are comfortable with that process start using just the hand signal. Gradually increase the time between obeying the command and giving the treat to reinforce the behaviour.

Doing the above techniques regularly every day should soon see your dog barking and going quiet on command. Just remember to be patient and consistent as some dog breeds will take longer than others – up to a few weeks in some cases.

Teaching a Puppy to Retrieve

August 18, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

Plауіng wіth a рuрру іѕ ѕо muсh fun. They аrе full оf еnеrgу, аnd they are аlwауѕ еаgеr tо lеаrn. Rеtrіеvіng gаmеѕ аrе grеаt to рlау whіlе allowing уоur уоung рuрру tо get ѕоmе еxеrсіѕе at thе ѕаmе tіmе. Tеасhіng уоur puppy tо retrieve a toy is аn іntеgrаl part оf huntіng dоg trаіnіng but great fun for dogs that will never go out on a hunt. Starting еаrlу wіth rесоvеrу, уоu ѕеt уоur dog up fоr success. Sоmе рuрріеѕ аrе nаturаl rеtrіеvеrѕ аnd wіll gladly bring back whаtеvеr уоu thrоw. Hоwеvеr, fоr many designer brееdѕ, іt dоеѕn’t соmе naturally, and thеу wіll have tо bе tаught hоw tо do іt.

Teaching a Puppy to Fetch

Retrieving іѕ аn excellent energy outlet for your рuррy аѕ well as уоurself and to strengthen the bоnd between уоu bоth. Trаіnіng уоur рuрру to retrieve can be аn еаѕу рrосеѕѕ оr a hаrd one; іt аll dереndѕ оn your breed of dоg. Sоmе brееdѕ, fоr example, Groodles, are bоrn wіth thе natural instinct tо rеtrіеvе and brіng thіngѕ bасk to you. You will still have tо tеасh these tуреѕ of dоgѕ tо drор іt fоr you, but overall іt іѕ еаѕіеr thаn trаіning other breeds of dogs, ѕuсh аѕ Beagliers, tо rеtrіеvе.

How tо train уоur рuрру to rеtrіеvе a tоу or ball:

Sіt on thе flооr wіth your рuрру wіth a toy оr bаll that hе ѕhоwѕ аn interest in. Bоunсе thе tоу near уоu a little bit within your rеасh and whеn уоur puppy looks аt іt рrаіѕе hіm аnd ѕауѕ, “Gооd Boy!”
Nоw roll thе tоу a few feet аwау thіѕ time. With a уоung рuрру, rоllіng thе toy іѕ easier to track or fоllоw rаthеr than thrоwіng іt which іѕ a lоt more difficult fоr thе pup. Onсе уоu thrоw thе tоу, еnсоurаgе your рuрру tо gо after іt аnd іf hе dоеѕ, use your еxсіtеd, hарру tone of voice tо ѕау, “Tаkе іt.”
Sіnсе some dоgѕ аrе natural rеtrіеvеrѕ, they wоn’t hesitate to go after іt аnd brіng іt right bасk! If hе does thіѕ, thеn make ѕurе you lay on the рrаіѕе thісk wіth a couple of high ріtсhеd “Whаt a Gооd Bоу!” Please nоtе thаt thіѕ іѕ not thе norm. Usually, puppies dоn’t gо after and brіng thе tоу bасk on the fіrѕt trу unlеѕѕ thеу аrе a brееd thаt is known fоr retrieving. The average puppy will hаvе tо be tаught whаt іt is уоu wаnt thеm to dо wіth thіѕ tоу. So remember it’s оkау іf it tаkеѕ a while fоr уоur рuрру to lеаrn thіѕ.
If your puppy goes up to thе toy and іѕ nоt ԛuіtе ѕurе what tо dо wіth it thеn juѕt try tо еnсоurаgе him tо рісk it up in an uрbеаt tоnе of vоісе. If hе shows nо interest іn grаbbіng іt, thеn уоu wіll hаvе tо go рісk іt up. Cоntіnuе tо bе excited аnd орtіmіѕtіс.
If he does pick іt uр, thеn уоu ѕhоuld start to back uр ѕtіll fасіng уоur рuрру whіlе ѕауіng, “Bring іt!” If hе does brіng іt tо уоu, then рrаіѕе him wеll. Kеер rереаtіng ѕtерѕ 2 thrоugh 4 untіl hе brings іt bасk оn a consistent bаѕіѕ.
If уоur рuрру іѕ doing Stер 5 on a rеgulаr basis, nоw is thе tіmе tо іnсrеаѕе the dіѕtаnсе grаduаllу when rolling the toy. If уоur рuрру starts tо hеѕіtаtе going аftеr іt, go after it with him for еnсоurаgеmеnt.
Whеn уоur рuрру ѕtаrtѕ tо run аftеr іt wіth lоtѕ of еnthuѕіаѕm аnd brіng thе tоу back, then you саn ѕtаrt to throw іt ѕhоrt dіѕtаnсеѕ. Juѕt rеmеmbеr thоugh, аѕ soon аѕ уоu see hіm losing a lіttlе interest іn thе gаmе then іt’ѕ tіmе tо еnd thе playtime fоr the dау. Thе nеxt time уоu рlау the gаmе look fоr ѕіgnаlѕ that hе mіght be lоѕіng іntеrеѕt. Yоur gоаl is to quіt playing thе gаmе bеfоrе hе lоѕеѕ interest, ѕо it аlwауѕ еndѕ оn a hарру, роѕіtіvе nоtе.

Until уоur dоg has fully mastered thе rеtrіеvіng game when уоu аrе fіnіѕhеd playing, it’s best tо put this tоу or bаll away whеrе hе саnnоt gеt to іt untіl уоu brіng іt оut аgаіn fоr thе next playtime. Thаt wау this bаll оr toy rеmаіnѕ a lіttlе mysterious, ѕресіаl, аnd the fun tоу аnd hе’ll most lіkеlу ѕhоw muсh іntеrеѕt in іt during уоur nеxt trаіnіng session.

What is clicker training?

May 19, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

What is clicker training for Designer dogs?

Many designer dog breeds are very quick to learn new tricks and commands. The key is to get them to understand what it is we want from them when we give them a command. Designer breeds with Poodle in their background such as Cavoodles and Groodles, actually want to please their owners to get a reward such as affection, as fast as possible.

Training a dog using a clicker may seem like a strange practice to the uninitiated but this article should help clear up a few mysteries as to what clicker training is and how it works. It wasn’t that long ago that most trainers raised a skeptical eyebrow towards clicker training, and so clickers were relegated to not much more than toy status. But times have changed and the clicker is now considered a serious tool in many a professional or amateur dog trainer’s arsenal.

Dog training clicker — Clickers come in a range of colours and styles

Clicker training is essentially using an audible click, produced by a clicker, in order to bring about changes in a dog’s behaviour. Clickers can be found at all good pet stores and are very inexpensive as they are not more than flexible metal plate housed in a small plastic box. Placing your thumb inside the box and pressing down produces the click.

Clicker training operates on a positive reinforcement strategy. The dog learns to associate the click with positive behaviour as every time he does what is asked of him he hears a click and knows that a reward will immediately follow. Essentially the click lets the dog know that he is doing things right and will get a treat for doing so.

When the dog sits the trainer clicks and the dog is then given a reward as positive reinforcement. Trainers may use varying reward methods such as petting, food, or even play; it just depends on the individual dog and their trainer and what they know will work best for the dog.

Most dogs learn to associate the click with something it likes very quickly (sometimes in just two or three clicks). Like all training it’s not practical to keep on rewarding a dog with a physical treat for positive behaviour every time. Therefore, once a behaviour is learned, the trainer will gradually start to withhold treats after a click until the dog is performing the correct behaviour on cue. The dog will then learn that good behaviour comes with its own life rewards such as being let in if they sit quietly by the door, food if they wait politely for dinner to be served, or being petted if they sit and wait when asked.

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement training method that does not use punishment for bad behaviour. Research into dog behaviour tells us that when a dog is punished it may reduce the bad behaviour but it is just as likely to elevate another equally unfavourable behaviour. As a result, training a dog with negative reinforcement can have unpredictable and unwanted results – something which clicker training avoids.

Barking and How to Reduce it

August 24, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

How to Stop Dogs Barking

Even well behaved dogs can develop an annoying barking habit as there many reasons a dog will feel the need to bark. Dog barking is always annoying and in many built up areas excessive barking from your dog may even land you in trouble with your neighbours. The first step in rectifying your dog’s barking problem is to find out why they are doing it in the first place. This will put you in a better position to control it as you will know the appropriate actions to take.

Barking dog

Never lower yourself into a yelling match with your dog to stop barking. This is a form of attention and she will simply think that you are joining in. As a result, she will only start to bark even more because she will now feel justified in her actions. Call her over in a calm and controlled manner. Divert her attention away from the barking with a few basic training exercises and suitable rewards. Sometimes this may be all that is needed to stop her errant behaviour.

Reduce Your Dog’s Boredom

Dogs do get lonely and may start barking because you are leaving them alone for too long a period. You might be able to resolve the problem by finding a dog-sitter who can keep your dog company while you are away. If it is feasible, keeping two dogs together will often eliminate the boredom and loneliness of a dog left on it’s own for extended periods of time. Many Designer dog breeds such as Puggles and Beagliers love company and do well with another dog. If you are only away for short periods but she is still barking, then you may have a dog that has become overly dependent on you. In such cases you would be best served by seeking the help of a specialized dog behaviourist.

Dogs may bark to request something. In this case it is a simple matter of not giving in to your dog when they bark. Unfortunately, this can take time if you have reinforced this habit over a number of years. Of course, you will also need to distinguish between a valid reason for barking such as going to the bathroom, or her just wanting attention. It’s important to never give in to your dog’s unwarranted barking request as any submission by you will undo all of your previous hard work.

Reward your dog’s good behaviour, but be sure to get in quick as you want her to associate her silence with good behaviour. Once your dog realizes that silence comes with a reward you can extend the time between rewards. Keep the time delay variable so she doesn’t associate a particular amount of time with a treat.

Sometimes the problem barking may be well out of your skillset – especially if you have an older aged dog with a newly developed barking problem. These problems can be extremely hard to pin down as to their cause if you have little experience in dog psychology. In these cases, seek help from your vet who can link you up with a behavioural expert.

Stopping dogs jumping up

August 17, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Stop Your Puppy Jumping Up On You

Most dog owners are puzzled as to why their dog jumps up but if we look at dogs as pack animals whose ancestors lived in the wild we know that puppies would greet an adult by licking their muzzle, as it was a signal for the adult dog to regurgitate food. Domestic dogs no longer (or rarely) do this for their pups but the muzzle licking has survived as an instinctual behaviour. Of course, humans don’t exactly have muzzles but puppies will still try to jump up and lick our faces – which is the closest thing to a muzzle in their eyes.

When the puppy is small and cute humans will say “oh, how adorable,” when the pup jumps up and licks their face, and just like that the puppy has now received his reward for a new learned behaviour. However, small and cute only lasts so long because once the dog is 12 months old he is ruining clothes with muddy paws, and bowling old ladies over with his rambunctious jumping. This is especially important in smaller breeds like Poochons that seem to get away with murder!

Start Training Early

Start early when your new puppy comes home. Only pay attention to them when all four paws are firmly planted on the ground. For this to work everybody in the household needs to follow the rules. Visitors will be a cause for frustration when they inadvertently provide positive reinforcement because they don’t really mind the dog jumping up, but it’s important that you let them know what you are trying to do in not letting the dog jump up to greet people.

Avoid paying attention to the dog until they settle down. They will eventually learn to greet you in a calm and controlled manner whenever you arrive home. If she does jump up ignore her by turning your back to her and not pay her any attention at all. When she does settle down reward the behaviour with a pat and some praise, but keep it calm so they don’t get too excited again. This may take a few repeated attempts but after a while she will start to associate jumping up with being ignored and will stop the behaviour.

Many owners have had success by using a command to distract the dog from jumping up. When the dog jumps up on you turn your back on her but keep her visible in the corner of your eye and command her to sit. When she does so be sure to lavish her with praise. If she proves to be too excitable to notice the command keep on ignoring her until she quiets down and then try the command again. When she finally does sit praise and treat her to reinforce the behaviour. After a while your dog will soon learn that following your command is what will get her the reward, rather than the jumping.

Teaching a Puppy their Name

August 10, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

How to teach your puppy their name

Thinking of a name for the new puppy and then having everyone use it until the puppy learns to associate themselves with that name is the way most households go about teaching a puppy its name, but there is a much more efficient and reliable way to go about it. Dedicating a little time to teaching pup her new name will go a long way towards ensuring future obedience training sessions are more effective and easier. A dog who is trained to recognize her name properly will always respond reliably when she is called, rather than the haphazard way many household dogs respond to their name – when they feel like it or not at all.

Positive Association With Their Name

When you use your dog’s name it should mean to them that you are talking to them and they need to give you their undivided attention. Once you can reliably get your dog’s attention after calling them all subsequent training sessions become much easier because the dog is focused on you. It also makes it easier to get your dog’s attention should you notice them running into danger, such as crossing a busy road to chase a wayward ball.

A little basic knowledge is needed to start training your puppy to recognize her name. Firstly, never use the puppies name in a negative way, such as for scolding when she makes a mistake. Reward the pup lavishly whenever they do respond to their name, and never use the name for any other reason. It’s in this area where a lot of people go wrong.

Dog owners often use the dog’s name as part of a command, or yell it to tell the dog off. This is never a good way to use your puppy’s name. She will eventually learn to ignore it altogether as her name becomes associated with negativity and being in trouble. Why would she turn and give you her undivided attention when she knows that she’s just going to get a severe talking to. However, if she is positively associated to her name then she is always going to turn to see what you want her to do next.

Get the Puppy’s Attention

First start by getting her attention. Pick a time when there are going to be no distractions, and puppy is not tired or over-excited. Say your puppy’s name once only in a warm and happy tone. If no attention is forthcoming make kissing noises or clap so she looks at you. Once she does look at you treat her with a reward and lavish her with praise.

Let her attention wander and then repeat the above process. Once she looks at you again immediately reward and praise as before. Repeat the process for 8 – 10 minutes only as puppy will soon get bored with the experience and the training won’t be as effective. With one to four training sessions a day and lots of praise and treats your puppy will soon learn to respond to her name every time.

As you progress in the training vary the locations, such as in different rooms of the house, or your backyard. Make sure distractions are still at a minimum as puppies have a ridiculously small attention span. Start extending the time between calling her name and rewarding her. Try to get her to a level where she is giving you her attention for about 5 seconds before receiving the treat.

Once you can reliably hold her attention for about 5 seconds add some distractions such as a child playing in the room, or her favorite toy. When she is completely distracted try calling her name. Give an immediate reward and praise this time, without the 5 second delay. You might like to have a leash applied at this stage, so you can apply some gentle correction. Once she successfully turns her attention away from the distraction up the time delay between calling and reward as before, until you once again get her to 5 seconds.

Keep repeating the above process until you can successfully get your puppy’s attention no matter what is going on around her. Always remember to never use your puppy’s name as a command, but merely as a way to get her attention while she waits for you to tell her what to do next. Also, never use her name to call her over for anything unpleasant such as nail trimming, or putting into a crate. And be sure to always call her name in a pleasant happy voice, and never with an angry tone.

Being the pack leader

July 27, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Dogs are pack animals and the pack has a strict hierarchy, with the “alpha” at the head of the pack. Establishing yourself as the pack leader in your home is the best way to ensure that your dog takes you seriously, follows commands, and behaves in a predictable manner. You don’t become pack leader by being a bully, but instead establish control through resource control, confidence, giving direction and following through with everything. A specially prepared dialogue which everyone in the household knows to use when communicating with the dog is also essential, so he knows exactly what’s expected of him no matter who is giving the command.

Don’t Spoil your Dog

A dog that gets everything he wants when he wants will soon come to think of himself as the pack leader. This applies to both larger breeds like Labradoodles to smaller breeds like Moodles. Make your dog earn everything including petting, feeding, or even talking. If he is demanding attention have appropriate obedience commands in place to use before he gets what he is asking for.

The head of the household eats first in any pack and in the home environment this means all the humans eat first. He should be made to wait politely before eating and should not do so until he is invited. It should also be made very clear that humans are the food givers. Feed him once or twice a day only and remove all food after 10 – 15 minutes. Treats should only be handed out once the dog has earned it by obeying a command, or even performing a simple trick.

When entering or leaving a building, leaders always go first. Dogs should be made to sit and wait, and then be given permission to leave or enter. This also includes outside environments when walking through a gate. If your dog is still learning, block the entrance with your body so they cannot rush past you.

Lead The Way

An alpha dog would never step over another animal blocking their way. They will always make the other animal clear the path. You should treat your dog the same way. If they are taking up the hallway, or doorway, they should be made to move before you go any further. The same goes for sitting down. If the dog is sitting in your favourite chair gently remove him in a non-confrontational way and then sit down – then give him position to sit where you say he can sit.

Never give a command without following through. If you give the command to sit, ensure the dog always does what you ask of him. If he fails to do so don’t beg, plead, whine, yell, or punish but help the dog achieve the desired action. When he finally does obey be sure to shower him with praise. Obedience training is also highly recommended as you will receive expert guidance on the best ways to handle your dog.

If you think this system is being too controlling or unfair to the animal, consider how many dogs are given up each year due to behavioural problems. Dogs thrive on structure and firm guidance and it is the owner’s responsibility to provide it – with it always being to the detriment of the dog if they don’t.

What is a Pet Loo?

May 24, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

What is a Pet Loo?

For those of us who enjoy our dog’s company both outside and inside the ritual letting out of the dog every morning can be a real pain – especially when it’s early and it’s your day off. Enter The Pet Loo. The Pet Loo is an ingenious solution which effectively eliminates all your dog’s toilet problems and gives you back the privilege of sleeping in on a Sunday morning, without the stress of a messy clean up as payment for the extra shuteye.

With a little training The Pet Loo consolidates your Cavoodle’s waste into one area that is easy to clean up, making apartment and house dogs a lot easier to live with. Training your dog to use the Pet Loo is just like any other toilet training of your pet. We have a helpful article called ‘How to toilet train your puppy’ on this website.

pet-loo-how-it-works The Pet Loo also makes it possible to take your dog to the office should you need to at a moment’s notice. Not only is the Pet Loo convenient, the latest design also makes it a breeze to clean up, with a unique draining system to contain the smell and allow easy no-splash disposal into the toilet.

Plenty of thought has gone into the design of The Pet Loo, from the type of material, the easy clean synthetic grass, to the slope of the tray to ensure maximum drainage. Clean up has received a lot of focus in the design of The Pet Loo to ensure it is as convenient as possible. Urine flows freely through the grass mat, onto a grid tray, and from there into a container. This means the synthetic grass is elevated up and away from the urine at all times, and owners can simply flush excess urine away by pouring warm water over the grass.

A specially sourced material creates a product that is resistant to the acidity of urine, thereby ensuring a long life and value for money. The synthetic grass mat is also easily removed as it does need a weekly spray down with a mid-pressured hose, or even in the shower, until the water starts to run clear and allow to air dry before replacing the grass onto the tray, and you will ensure a clean fresh environment for your pet to their business.

It’s strong too, as it’s been rated to hold up to 300kg so you will have no problem with the bigger pets. There are various sizes to suit different sized pets, with the smaller models obviously coming in at a cheaper price.

How to teach your dog to shake hands

April 8, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Teaching your dog to shake hands

Although shaking is a fun party trick, it is also very useful for when your dog needs to have his nails trimmed, or has something stuck in his paw. A dog that is comfortable with shaking will also be more comfortable allowing you, a veterinarian, or a groomer handle his feet, which is important for the health and safety of your pet. On top of this, a dog that can shake hands is always a hit with the kids!

Steps to teach your puppy to shake hands

To begin, ask your dog to sit. Show your Groodle a treat, place it in your hand, and make a closed fist. Place your fist low to the ground, a few inches in front of the paw you would like your dog to shake with. Most dogs will paw at the hand to try and access the treat. When your dog does this, immediately reward him. After following this same routine a few times, begin to incorporate the “shake” or “paw” command.

A slightly different way to teach to shake

A second way to teach a dog to shake also begins with asking your dog to first sit. Then, hold a treat above his nose, and move the treat backwards, above his head and towards his tail. Your dog’s weight will shift to his back legs, and he will begin to lift one or both paws. Catch one of his paws and reward your dog as soon as his paw touches your hand. Eventually, add in the verbal command. This can be used to teach a separate trick of “high five”.

For extremely stubborn dogs, an effective, but more time-consuming method, is to first ask your dog to sit and then physically lift his paw while saying shake, and issuing a treat. While it may take your dog a few days, or even weeks, to catch on, he will eventually learn that the act of placing his paw in your hand earns a tasty treat.

Shake with the opposite paw

To teach your dog to shake with the opposite paw, simply repeat the method that worked best for your dog, but use a different command, such as “left.” When teaching your dog to shake, there is no “wrong” method, but as with all other obedience lessons, be sure to have patience and issue plenty of positive reinforcement.

Once your dog can reliably shake hands or give a high five, kids will be drawn to the dog. Most kids don’t want to miss out on a high five from a dog. Also if you have kids yourself, they will love to show off the dog’s cool new trick to friends and relatives, increasing the strength of the bond between the dog and your children. The more commands your dog receives from your kids, the stronger the association it has between following commands from the kids and getting a reward. This further cements the dog as lower in the pack than the kids in the dog’s mind.

How to teach your dog to Heel

April 1, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Teaching your dog how to heel

Have you ever had someone comment, “Who’s walking who?” while out for a walk with your pup? If so, you likely should teach your dog to heel, which means to walk by your side on a loose leash. Not only does a proper heel save your shoulder from the strain of a pulling dog, but also ensures proper control during potentially dangerous situations, such as when walking through traffic. Heeling is intended for short durations, and not for long walks. For a proper heel, your dog should also sit when you stop walking.

Steps to teach your dog to heel

To begin, find a quiet, distraction free area and place your dog on leash. With your dog on your left side, lure him to sit (avoid asking for the sit). With the leash in your right hand and a treat in your left hand, take a step forward, using the treat to lure your dog into the proper position by your side. Move the treat forward or backwards to ensure he remains directly next to you. Move only a few steps forward before stopping and rewarding your Spoodle for correct positioning.

If your dog struggles with getting ahead of you or falling behind, try holding the treat next to your shoulder, so that your dog’s upward gaze will keep his body aligned with yours. Once you find the technique that works best for you, enthusiastically reward him every time he is in proper position.

If your dog strays from your side, tell him “no” and start over. Practice this skill until your dog can reliably walk 5 – 7 steps in the proper heeling position before adding the verbal command of “heel” as you walk. Only when your dog has mastered controllably walking by your side should you begin to have him sit the moment you stop walking. Simply use a hand gesture, or, if having difficulty, verbally ask for a sit in addition to the lure.

What to avoid doing when teaching your puppy to heel

There are a number of things to avoid when working on heel. First, be careful to hold the treat high enough so that it is a guide for your dog. Otherwise, he is likely to try and jump and grab at it with his mouth when he should be nicely walking. Second, do not use the leash to pull your dog into the proper position. It is very important that your dog perform the heel on a loose leash, or else he will come to rely on the restraint.

Be sure to be vocal throughout the walking portion of the heel by giving your dog constant positive feedback for good positioning (i.e. good boy, good heel, etc), as well as negative feedback (i.e. “no” or “uh-uh”) if your dog is not in the proper position. Finally, avoid only practicing with your dog on leash. Working on heel off leash in the house, and also in the backyard, will drastically improve his ability to walk nicely next to you on command during your next walk.