Heelwork

Part 1 of 2

What?

Progressively, through completion of the various weekly heelwork modules on this course, we will show you how to train your dog to walk nicely by your left side and not pull on the lead.

This is the first module of two this week.

Today, we use another exercise which trains your dog to make eye contact with you and builds value in them doing so. In this first training exercise, we build more focus from your dog whilst you both remain stationary. This underpins your dog being able to later focus on you whilst moving.

Why?

Having a dog who doesn't drag you down the road like they're a cart-horse makes going out together a pleasure. It also saves you needing muscles like a body-builder to be able to control them.

That said, training consistent heelwork is one of the most difficult dog training skills to master.

Dogs repeat what they learn gets them results. Dogs like to sniff interesting smells on the ground, lampposts, in the bushes, pretty much everywhere you will want to walk them. Typically, they also move quicker than most humans. In order to get to the next interesting smell, they pull on the lead. Normally, their owner puts up with this pulling and allows their dog to get to the interesting smell. Early-on in life, the reinforcement loop is complete and dogs learn the benefit of pulling. This is what gets them to the interesting place to sniff the quickest.

Now, chances are, if your dog has already learned this technique of getting to where they want to go, you're not going to eradicate it completely. What you can achieve by consistent training, however, is a dog who learns an alternative way to walk on the lead. A way which leads to the arrival of chicken from their owner. Ultimately, a way of walking which just allows them continued movement and they get their fix of sniffing when off the lead and working.

How?

This week, we cover the early stages of training heelwork.

In today's first heelwork training exercise, we build more focus from your dog whilst you both remain stationary. This is the foundation of your dog being able to later focus on you whilst moving.

In the next exercise coming up, we get you moving around together, but we start by you moving backwards.

Lesson Summary

Heelwork Part 1 of 2:

• The purpose of training heelwork is to teach your dog how to walk nicely by your side without pulling on the lead.
• In this module, we focus on an exercise that trains your dog to make eye contact with you and builds value in doing so.
• The first training exercise involves building focus from your dog while remaining stationary, which is essential for later training while moving.

Why train heelwork?

• Having a dog that doesn't pull on the lead makes walking together a pleasure and saves you from having to constantly control them.
• However, consistent heelwork training is challenging because dogs learn that pulling on the lead gets them to interesting smells or places faster.
• While you may not be able to completely remove this behavior if your dog has already learned it, consistent training can teach them an alternative way to walk on the lead.
• This alternative way of walking can lead to rewards like chicken from their owner and the opportunity to sniff interesting smells when being off the lead.

How to train heelwork:

• This module covers the early stages of training heelwork.
• In the first exercise, you work on building focus from your dog while remaining stationary.
• This exercise serves as the foundation for your dog to later focus on you while moving.
• In the next exercise, you will start moving together, but you will begin by moving backward.