Does your dog move when you walk it?
Does your dog move when you walk it? Here are two ways to fix it.
Here are two different ways you can use to get your dog to walk quietly by your side.
One way is to train your dog to follow. The heel is a fundamental exercise taught in obedience training classes. Your dog sits on your left side parallel to your left leg when you are not walking. When you walk, your dog walks at the same speed as you, with his head at the level of your left leg.
One technique you can use to accomplish this is to first teach your dog to sit when commanded. Once your dog is able to do this, with your dog sitting on his left side, begin walking with his left leg coming out first and give the command “Fido Heel.” Give the leash a slight tug (appropriate for the dog’s size and temperament) to get your dog into the correct position, giving him a command to follow through with each correction. Praise your dog every time he gets into the correct position. After five or ten steps, with as many corrections as necessary, stop and tell your dog to sit down. If necessary, physically place him in the correct sitting position. Give him lots of praise when he’s there.
Keep doing this by walking more before the stops, and turn left, right, and over turns as you walk. Correct your dog as soon as he deviates from the correct position. Just remember to compliment your dog when he does well. Do this for 10-20 minutes per session (5-10 minutes for young puppies) and at least one session each day.
Your first goal is for your dog to sit when you stop walking, without having to give him a command to sit. Your next goal is to have to give a single heel command between stops, no matter how long you walk.
Remember the two most fundamental rules in dog training.
1. Whenever you give your dog a command, your dog must obey that command. Use whatever it takes to make that happen.
2. You are training your dog when he is with you. His training never really stops.
Another less formal way to get your dog to walk quietly by your side does not use any commands. It is done like this:
With your dog by your side, take a small step forward. If your dog does not take a small step forward, correct him to get him in the correct position. Give her lots of compliments when you get there.
Now take another small step forward. Again, correct your dog for the correct position with lots of praise when he gets there. Continue doing this for about 50 steps or until your dog is parallel to you. You will see that your dog will begin to make eye contact with you and will begin to remain parallel to you. Give him lots of praise every time he’s in the right position, whether you had to correct him or not.
Now take two small steps forward and stop. Keep doing this for about 50 steps or until your dog is parallel to you. And remember to give her lots of praise when she gets it right.
Now take three steps forward, doing the same. Then go back to one step. Remember to give her lots of praise when she gets it right.
Keep practicing this and your dog will finally understand what he is supposed to do. Once that happens, you won’t have a problem walking your dog by your side.
Let me repeat, again, the two most fundamental rules in dog training.
1. Whenever you give your dog a command, your dog must obey that command. Use whatever it takes to make that happen.
2. You are training your dog when he is with you. His training never really stops.