Category: Performance Events ¤
  Author: Trish King ¤
   Title: Heel Back ¤

Since it came up... I'm using a fun new way to teach the dogs what's in it
for them.  You place a few treats in a paper bowl (it doesn't have to be
paper, but what the heck!), and put it on the floor.  The dog should know
its there.  Now you move the dog back to an official starting point about
20 to 30 feet away.  Give the dog about 3 feet of leash, and hold you hands
at your waist; do not move them.  There are no jerking cues from you
whatsoever.  Say let's go, heel, or whatever your cue is, and begin walking
towards the bowl.  When the dog a)pulls or b)walks ahead of you and can't
see you, say "oops!" or some such silly thing, and walk quickly back to the
starting point.  Begin again.

You will discover your dog picking up the idea very quickly, and starting
to watch you - really watch you.  If she doesn't, you're giving too many
leash cues.  When you finally (after many false starts) reach the bowl, you
can let her have the food if she's a beginner.  If she's already somewhat
trained, make her sit-stay first, get a piece of food from the bowl, pop it
in her mouth, and then release!  The c/r  can of course be put in the
behavior whenever the dog is walking right next to you and at the end.
Most of my students have a hard enough time saying "oops" and walking back
to the starting gate!

I graduated a group of intermediate dogs last night, and this was one of
our games.  It was fun, and our blue ribbon dog was perfection itsefl!

Like Nancy, I believe in teaching many other methods of walking on leash as
well, so students don't overdo it, and so the dogs actually learn to
generalize well.

Paw-litely!

trish king & friends
ariel, jobear, & barney
http://www.marin-humane.org/