Preparing to Train Your Dog
Pick a type of harness for your dog. A dog harness fits under the animal's front legs, across the chest and over the back. It will be much more comfortable for the dog than a regular collar and will give you more control. The lead should clip onto a ring in the middle of the back. There are also front-clip harnesses where the leash attaches at the middle of the dog's chest that can greatly reduce pulling. If your dog is consistently pulling, you may want to try using a head halter. These work very well once your dog is comfortable wearing it, although it may need to be desensitized to the feeling of the halter on its face first.
Buy a harness that fits your dog properly. Many harnesses are adjustable but even dogs of the same breed vary in size. The best idea is to take your dog to the pet supply store and try on several harnesses until you find one that you are happy with. If you are unsure if a harness fits your dog correctly, feel free to consult with pet store personnel for some help. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and dog trainers can also help you fit a harness or head halter to your dog.
Get your dog's favorite toy and treats. Getting your dog's favorite treat or favorite toy is key for training it to heel. It will be used to lure your dog into following you around and it will be used as a reward when your dog completes your commands. Holding a treat in your hand will also teach it to hold its head high, since it will be looking at you and the treats.
Limit possible distractions. Start your training in an area with few distractions. Make sure that no other dogs are around and that you will not be interrupted. Also, start your training session after your dog has already exercised in some way. Playing fetch with you or running in the park will get excess energy out of your dog and allow it to focus on you. A good place to do training with your dog is your back yard or if you live in an apartment building your dog park if you have one. This is typically a comfortable place for your dog, there are no unknown smells, and you will not be interrupted.
Completing Positive-Reinforcement Training
Start with the dog at your side. You should start your training session with the dog sitting at your side. Having it sit calmly next to you will set the tone for training and will position the dog where you want it to stay even when moving, at your side. In order to train your dog to heel, it should have some basic training already. A dog that can sit and stay will have a much easier time heeling than a dog with no training experience.
Have your dog heel at your side. If the dog starts to pull, it should meet firm resistance. In order to get it back under control, take a few steps backwards until the dog is moving back towards you again and is at your side. At that time start walking forward again and the dog should be at your side. Remember that you need to give your dog enough slack in the leash so that it remains loose when the dog is walking close to you. If you hold the dog close to your side with a tight leash, it will be very difficult for the dog to learn to walk without pulling. Never move forward if your dog is pulling you. It must learn that heeling is the only way to go forward when on a leash.
Reward good behavior. When your dog is at your side, say “heel” out loud and then immediately reward your dog by handing it a treat. In the early stages of training or if your dog’s struggling to learn, it may only be able to heel for 10-20 seconds at a time. During this phase, reward your dog quickly and frequently to reinforce the correct behavior. As your dog improves, gradually space out rewards by larger and larger intervals. When your dog breaks away from your side, make sure to reward it after it resumes heeling, so you can reinforce the desired behavior. Pick a treat that your particular dog likes. This could be a commercial dog treat, a piece of kibble, or a treat you make yourself.
Keep your dog's attention. In order to keep your dog interested in its training, change pace and direction often. Also, every time your dog looks away, say its name excitedly, shake the toy or treat, and say "Let's go!" excitedly. The dog will keep walking and training if you can keep its attention. If you have been training for quite awhile, for example more than an hour, and your dog is losing interest, then it might be time to end your training session. Even the most dedicated dog will get tired of training after a while.
Do not get frustrated and tug on the harness or yell. Remember, do not use any harsh discipline like hitting, jerking on the leash or yelling when your dog doesn't follow. Training a dog to walk and heel can take a long time and it can be frustrating. Just remember that walking on a loose leash is challenging to teach but it can be accomplished with the correct method. Tugging on the harness out of anger or frustration may hurt and confuse the dog. It is both cruel and counterproductive to your training program.
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