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How to teach heel in the UK?
Gabriella Reilly
2025-07-31 19:57:28
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Walk at heel training for gundogs needs to be nailed before you even think about going out in the field. You can start gently when the dog is a small puppy. The important thing is not to rush things. Take things slowly – do a few minutes a day, a few times a day. Five minutes a session is plenty. After that the dog will lose focus. Choose a side If you carry your gun over the crook of your right arm, it makes sense to teach your dog to walk just behind your left knee, and vice versa.
Sit him at your side with a slack lead, move your right foot forward, tell him to stay and use the hand signal as before. Slap your left leg as you move it forward and give the heel command, luring him to your side with a treat in the hand and giving it to him as he looks up at you. Gradually progress to teaching two steps, then three, then four, until he will follow by your side, focused on you and with no pulling. Be persistent and consistent. It will take time but is worth it.
Otis Kunze
2025-07-26 06:38:46
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To teach heelwork, introduce a consistent heelwork cue.
Don't walk if your dog pulls you.
Set your dog up for success – start in an enclosed environment where there are no distractions and slowly increase distractions.
Consistently reward your dog for being in the correct position with a reward appropriate for your dog.
Similarly to recall, the best way to teach heelwork is in stages where you build up the level of distractions.
Depending on the nature of your problem it can take weeks or even months to train your dog to walk nicely on the lead.
In the meantime, it may be useful to get a body harness or a headcollar for your dog to help you to walk your dog and to prevent your dog from injuring itself.
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Brant McLaughlin
2025-07-14 07:36:26
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Start by practising this training indoors or in your enclosed garden, where there are fewer distractions. Pick up a treat and hold it in your left hand. Show it to your dog, then hold your hand against the left side of your body. Start to walk forwards, encouraging your dog to follow the food. After a few steps, stop. Praise your dog and reward them with the treat. Keep working on this exercise, increasing the distance each time. Introduce the “heel” cue when you set off, along with tapping your left thigh to encourage them to join you. Start varying the routine: change sides, make turns, stop and start. When you’re both feeling confident, start introducing some heel walking to your daily outdoor walks. Always work both sides, so if you work them on your left side first, do the same amount on the right, too.
Alan Labadie
2025-07-14 04:30:36
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To train a dog to heel ask your dog to sit in the heel position, not in front or behind. It does not matter which side, but the treat should be in the hand closest to your dog and the lead held loosely in the other. Show your dog the treat and tuck into your body just above their head, this will encourage them to connect with you and follow you with the promise of positive rewards. Once your dog is connected to you and looking at you, take one step so that your dog follows the treat looking at your hand beside you. Treat after one step if they successfully stay at your side. Repeat this five times, teaching the word association ‘heel’ and reward when your dog is at your side.
Communication is also key so ensure that you are using the word heel in a positive, upbeat and fun tone. Now that your dog is connected and staying at your side, then you can start to add distance, increasing one step at a time between treats. If your dog does disconnect and walks in front of you, avoid using the lead to pull them back as this will activate pulling. Instead stop, reconnect, lure them with the treat hand back into position by your side and start again.
Practise this around the home and garden at first around minimal distractions to set your dog up for success. Once they are successfully able to do 20-30 steps start to practise outside on your way home when your dog is relaxed, then in the park and finally you may be able to add the big distraction of excitement on your way to your walks too. It is important to ensure your dog will not always be dependant on the food lure to heel. Once you have a solid fifty steps of heel on walks then start to put your treat in your pouch and not in your hand and reward intermittently. Eventually you will only need to treat occasionally, especially once the behaviour has become habitual.
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