How do i teach my dog to heel?

Question

i have a very inteligent mini schnauzer. i want to start entering him into shows but he wont heel.
he will do it at home, but when we go out he pulls like mad and ignores me.
i tried keeping him on a short leash and rewarding him when he wont pull but it did not work.
he also goes mad when he sees other dogs.

any ideas?

Answer 1

Your best bet is to take him to obedience classes. I took my dog and I was surprised as to what I did not know about how a dog learns and how I had to teach her. This class will also teach you how to correct the problem of him going mad when he sees other dogs.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I've never been able to teach my GSD this either and for the same reason - she's always interested in something else and wants you to go there - I've reached a happy medium by going where distractions arn't a problem, or using either an extend-able lead or a harness, but I was told (by a Kennel club trainer called Bea with very well behaved Max another GSD) that if your dog pulls as you start walking, immediately turn in another direction and walk elsewhere, the dog will eventually realise that you are not going to let it do what it wants and get the message to follow you - in the meantime, I got giddy!!!

I also think that having seen a very good trainer of a GSD that (unfortunately) you have to return to the 'sit' and 'attention on me' and me only stage before you can stop the dog from going off elsewhere - whether this is treat lead or otherwise - I could not find the secret, but hear that this (the dog going where it wants) is the sign of an intelligent animal that knows it's own mind!

Be careful what you wish for as anything else might mean that it needs constant direction (by you) before it will do anything - some independence is, I have found, a good thing but I haven't won any prizes!

Answer 3

A well-trained dog makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training him, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side. Find more https://tr.im/NonZz

By their nature, dogs are pack animals with a well-defined social order. Through basic training, you need to consistently make sure your puppy understands that you are the leader, not him. So in teaching him the basic rules, you take on the role of pack leader.

To fit into the family circle, your dog must be taught to recognize his name and such commands as come, heel, lie down and sit.

Answer 4

I have a one-year-old chihuahua, and within 3 months I completely trained her in Spanish to sit, drop, stop, get up, come, give kisses, and dance. I have never had a dog before her, so you can definately do it. The key is don't lose your temper with your dog, and don't yank at his leash. Train him indoors away from other distractions, and use little bits of food or treats (mine really liked grapes and carrots). Hold the treat above his head and repeat the command until it does what you want. Then you act like it's a national holiday and praise it to no end when it does it. Then what I did, was I took mine out on a leash. We'd go to the nature center and she would bark at people or try to run (on the leash) into oncoming trafic. I would say "PARA!" (or "stop") in a very firm voice and she started doing it instantly. If your dog still won't listen, an important tool is eye contact. Take two fingers and poke him (gently but firmly) against the chest and look into his eyes and say "NO." or say the command you want him to do. Now my chihuahua is almost 2, and it still will "sientate" on command, and twice in the last year it escaped from the house and tried to run into the street, and I yelled "PARA!" and she dropped down on her stomach and wouldn't move until I got her. It really works.

Answer 5

There is a special lead that is fitted to the dogs muzzle, so that when he pulls it tightens up over his snout and is uncomfortable. Keeping short leed with this unit stops dog from forging ahead.
Patience, verbal reward as well as dog bits on a regular basis when he is doing the right thing. Eventually he will spend more time looking for the hand that delivers the dog bits than forging ahead.
Use strong tones of NO! or leave it when he attempts to go after other dogs. Hold the lead so that it tightens over the snout when he tries to move after the other dog. Get him to sit and when he does distract him with the dog treats again before moving off.

See your vet for one of these special snout halters, they are axcellent and I have used them on several dogs with 100% success.

Answer 6

Dogs are really clever but when they around other dogs they become really dumb. The best thing to do is to try and teach ur dog to heel while around other dogs maybe then he wont go all mad

Answer 7

You might try using a dog whistle. Every time he starts pulling, blow on it. It should annoy him enough to stop. If that doesn't work then I am not sure. Really, anything that annoys him would probably work eventually, it just takes time. My mother used to use choke chains but I hate those things... I think they are cruel.

You also might try squirt him with water if he starts pulling too hard. However, he might enjoy it haha. That does sometimes work with training however. Depends on the dog's personality.

Good luck.

Answer 8

If you want to start doing shows then find a club in your area. They will be able to teach you everything you need to know as there is a lot more to it than just your dog walking nicely, but it's lots o fun so it's worth the effort to find a club. In the UK, try www.obedianceuk.com for a list of clubs in your area.

Answer 9

Dogs are very inteligent, they soon learn the direction you are going to go when its walkies time and then they will pre-emptyou and pull in that direction.you must alter the direction you set of in and if he starts to pull you must sit him and go tottaly in the other direction, if anyone sees you they will think you are mad but keep it up every day for about half an hour and after a couple of weeks he willstop and sit and look at you to see witch way to go. sorry i nearly forgot after sitting the dog when you set of again always put an arm out in the direction you want him to go, this helps later when the dogs of the lead you can shout sit and point him in the direction you want him to go . Only give trears after the walk if he,s been good but lots of praise during. otherwise they only behave for a few second while there getting the treeats. we don,t want to make him over wieght do we.especially if youre going to show him.GOOD LUCK.

Answer 10

Using treats and rewarding good behaviour with love and attention wil do it. The short leash is a good idea and onlywhen you're in the park in a safe area from the road can you let him off the lead. That should be the only time he is allowed to trot off to meet with other dogs.