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
You must create an account to view this video. Use your coupon code K9CLIENT to get a FREE month of membership!