[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

WALKING, HEEL, OR SNIFF AROUND ? Why are you walking your dog ? If it is to give them exercise and that follow the leader we are a family feeling, you will have to teach them HEEL. I think this is a lesson where, one on one works best. After your dog knows the cue word HEEL and what it means then he can walk with the whole pack.1. I start out SIT by my left knee. I give my cue word HEEL I pat my left knee and step off on my left foot. HEEL and knee pat means, pay attention to me, we are working now.) 2. I do not teach that dogs must heel all the time. But they must heel when, cued to heel, until released with Sniff Around. Several times on a walk, I release with Sniff AROUND and allow them to sniff, potty and explore. Then I cue them with Heel and pat my left knee to resume our walk.
3.The reason dogs surge ahead is because they are Not Watching You, They are not following a leader, they are checking doggie mail (who left pee or poo messages) and looking for adventure. A cat to chase, other dogs to meet, candy bar wrappers and so on. You must teach your dog to follow you. Teach your dog to heel in the house first. You teach this like any other lesson, once they can obey and understand in the house and your own yard, then you move the training outside where there are distractions.
4. There is a difference in teaching your dog to heel and Correcting him when he doesn't heel. If a dog bolts you can say NO firmly and stop in your tracks.
Eventually the dog will realize you are not coming and will come back to you, to see why you are not following him. After awhile he will understand, that you have to walk together. That you will stop if he gets in front. Another way to correct is as soon as he runs in front, Say NO and make a sharp turn going the opposite direction. This does make him to keep an eye on you and does tell the dog, I am leading you. But it is still correcting.
5. There are different exercises you can use to train your dog to look to you, for leadership, and Heel is perhaps the most basic of them all.
6. I teach WAIT at curbs. The dog sits until released with your cue word I use OK.

Hope this Helps, Teresa

I hope admin. can fix this sorry all