Things To Know About How To Train A Puppy To Heel

Whether or not you know how to train a puppy, rest assured that you can succeed. There are certain things that you must learn yourself that will help you in your task.

Before we talk about teaching your puppy to heel, there are a few things to consider.

The first thing to understand is the difference between praise and petting. During training, you want your puppy to remain calm. If you show excitement when you praise your puppy for doing well, she will become excited too. When this happens you might as well stop trying to train her because she will not be able to focus on your instructions.

If you're one of those owners who ruffle your dog's fur when they've done well, don't, unless your day's training session is over. Stay calm so that she will stay relaxed. Do not lean over your dog. Stand errect while you tell her that she's been a "good girl". Use her name, too. She'll like that.

How to train your puppy to heel

The first thing you need is a collar and leash. Use this to control and correct her.

In a quiet open place, either inside or outside, position your puppy beside you so that you are both facing in the same direction. Be sure your puppy's paws are lined up with your heel. From this position you're ready to begin teaching her the heel command.

Keep your arms straight down at your sides with the leash in one hand but relaxed. You want to keep your thumb behind the centerline of your leg about where the seam of a pants leg would be.

Start walking and your puppy will either lag behind or bolt forward. Correct her right away by giving a slight tug on the leash. Tell her to "heel" and don't forget to use her name.

Do not pull the leash back as this will only encourage her to pull forward. Instead, pull the leash towards you, sideways.

When she obeys, don't forget the praise. You can even introduce a treat in the early stages but you do not want to make this a habit once she has learned the command. If you do, she will become reliant on the treats rather than on the satisfaction of your praise for doing what pleases you.

If she continues to pull forward, walk in a circle instead of walking straight. This method will prevent her from becoming distracted by something ahead of her.

Another way to stop her from pulling is to switch speeds. She will be hesitant to race ahead when she thinks you could stop at any moment.

Complete the circle and then make your puppy sit beside you. Wait a few seconds and then complete another circle. Do'nt forget the "sit" command and the praise. Do this for about 5 circles. This exercise should be performed two times a day for best results.

Once you have perfected the "heel" command, you will probably want to know how to train a puppy to come to you or perhaps how to shake a paw. Before long, you will have a well behaved dog that you can be proud to show off.