Command: Heel

Heel describes a position of the dog relative to the handler (you, the human):

  • Left-hand side of handler (Right Side is a separate command from Heel)

  • Dog’s eyes lined up with seam of pants

    • No more than 5 inches behind and 5 inches in front of pant seam

  • No sniffing; head up!

  • No leaning into/against the handler (you!)

  • Auto Sit:

    • When the handler is stationary, dog automatically sits, remaining in Heel position

      • Implied Stay:

        • Dog must remain in Auto Sit until Released or given another command (including Heel)

Command Signal:

  • Verbal: “Heel”

  • Hand signal: See video

Corrections:

  • Stationary:

    • Correct upward to encourage sitting posture

  • In motion:

    • Correct in the direction that you want the dog to walk

      • If dog is lagging behind, correct forward

      • If dog is pulling ahead, correct backward

      • If dog is touching handler, correct left/away from handler

Tips:

  • ”Three left turns to every right turn”

    • Got a dog who likes to get ahead of the 10-inch Heel Window?  Taking sharp left turns with dog in Heel cuts them off before they can cut you off

    • Correct outward (away from yourself) if dog runs into you

  • Slow it wayyyyy down

    • It is much more challenging for a dog to Heel slowly than quickly.  Sharpen their focus and self-restraint by walking painfully slow while in Heel

    • Pivoting left in Heel helps teach the dog to be parallel to the handler (again: that’s you!)