Dog Leash Training - Dog leash training - Formal heel position
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The next stage in walking on a leash is to actually teach your dog a formal heel. This
is what you'll see in the show ring when the dog is looking up at their handler's face
as they trot along beside them and it also gives your dog a precise knowledge of where
to be next to you as you're walking along. When you're walking loosely on a leash, your
dog is looking around, they can still sniff, they just have the majority of their focus
on you so that they know where you're going and where to go next with you. In the heel,
they're not paying attention to anything but you or at least that's the goal. So, you teach
them to be in one spot actually by sitting and standing next to them in the proper position.
As I have the dog sit, the front of her chest is even with the front of my leg and I am
just inviting her to look up at me in the proper position. Heel. Good heel. And I'll
reward her when she looks up at me and holds that gaze.
