Tuesday Training Byte: Teaching your pup to "heel" without a leash

Puppies naturally have a following behavior. Start with treats in your pocket and standing in your living room with your pup. Turn and walk away as you pat your left thigh, encouraging your pup to follow along. As he follows you for a few steps, give him a soft treat from your pocket. Continue the process turning right and left and perhaps circling around the coffee table. If you see your pup hanging fairly close to your left knee, be sure to mark the behavior with a "Yes!" and a treat. Play the following game for about four to five minutes. Then stop and give lots of praise for a job well done. The next day, add in the command as you step off with your left foot and pat your left thigh, saying, "Rex, heel!". Again you will reward often as you encourage your dog to follow whatever pattern you walk in the living room. The next session you will want to expand the area where you have your pup follow. On about day 4, clip a leash on his collar and practice again in the house- being careful to not pull or yank on his leash. On day 5 you should be ready to practice this outside on leash, and reinforce his correct position with lots of praise and treats. If he is too distracted, then go back inside again. Taking advantage of the pup's natural instinct to follow can make it easier for him to understand the correct "heel" position by your left leg regardless of distractions later. Happy training!

Start teaching "heel" in your living room without distractions, capitalize on the pup's natural desire to follow you..