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How To Practice The “Traditional Heel” Command (Traditional Leash Walking)

Key Points:

  • Hold the leash with an overhand grip (Thumbs up, pinky down).
  • Keep the leash short but not tight.
  • Imagine an invisible boundary line across the front of your hips.
  • Always correct your dog right at the boundary, not after he has already gone in front of you.
  • Stay relaxed, let your arms hang at your side and swing naturally.
  • Let the weight of you arm swinging do the work for you when correcting, just add an extra flick of your wrist.
  • Walk at a good pace and with “purpose”. The slower you walk the more difficult it is for the dog. Purposeful movement makes the dog want to follow you naturally.
  • Your dog should sit when you come to a stop. If he doesn’t, gently pull straight up on the leash, and release when his butt hits the ground.
  • When you want to give your dog a chance to use the bathroom or just relax and sniff around, come to a stop, make sure your dog sits, then use the release cue “Break”. At that time you can give them a bit more length of the leash and casually hang out or walk in a more casual manner. This casual style of walking will be contrasted against the more purposeful walk that you do while heeling.

Doorways:

For information on doorways and thresholds, please view the “Doorways” portion of the video found at  https://www.considerthedog.com/programs/walking-behind

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Testimonials

“I just wanted to take a minute to give an update on Remy, our GSD, who was there for a boot camp in early October. We brought her in with high hopes of bringing home a better mannered girl and I can say without hesitation our expectations were exceeded on every level. . .” -Carrie Cimini Mills

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