Help!!!! :O)?

Question

Can anyone help? Does anyone have any tips on heeling i have a 9 month old choc lab ive been to a trainer that worked a little. Any tips anyone?????

Answer 1

Heeling is actually really easy to teach. What I recommend is a prong collar. It doesn't hurt the pup but gives correction naturally. The Alpha dog or mother would apply pressure using its mouth on the neck or chest area, the prong collar mimicks that.

All you do is keep the dog in heel position on the left side in sit. When you begin walking use a command word "heel, let's go, etc" then start walking. As the dog starts to pull turn around and give a quick tug (called a correction). DO NOT drag, or apply constant pressure with the prong collar, it defeats the purpose, use only for quick corrections.

Repeat as needed. Walk, use your command, give encouraging words and praise. Keep the dog's attention focused on you and your pace. If he starts pulling again turn quickly and give a quick correction. When you stop pull up slightly and tell him to sit. So he'll learn to sit at your side when you're not moving instead of roaming around.

Don't keep the leash tight. It's called loose leash walking for a reason. Give your dog room to pull so you are able to correct him. Hold only to the very end of the leash and let the rest dangle.

The prong collars come in a variety of sizes and is good for huge dogs all the way down to itty bitty puppies.

I use this method on both my dogs, my golden retriever walks on the left and my english setter on the right. I'm able to hike, and jog w/ them. The were fantastic when the went trick or treating through stores and art galleries and now they have become so proficient with this method that on long walks I don't even use a leash, they have been trained onto the word.

I've used this method to traing huskies (who are bred to pull), german shepards, sharpeis, boxers, pitbulls, and a number of other dogs.

It only takes a few times but is most effective.

Gentle Leaders and Haltis help to curb the pulling (but the dog is sometimes so distracted because they are uncomfotable with it that it causes even more problems. My Setter made her nose bloody on several occasions trying to get it off). The head harnesses also don't TRAIN a dog not to pull.

A shoulder or chest harness doesn't a deter a dog from pulling, it just takes pressure off of the neck. A chock chain is most detromental. It applies even pressure around the neck and you risk collapsing the esophagus and the treachea.

Training your pup w/ a prong collar is the most safe, effective and quickest way. Once the pup is trained you are able to switch the do back onto a regular flat collar or even walk w/o a leash.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Find the toy your dog loves more than anything in the world and hold it in front of him when you walk while commanding him to heel. After a few steps reward him with the toy and praise him. Gradually within a week increase the distance you walk and reward. If he starts to get off track then call him back and try again. The second week you can work on turns by rewarding him a few steps after the turn. Eventually he will associate being close to you as a reward. Remember that in the learning stages you don't want to correct him. Learning should be positive for the both of you. If you can't find a toy that your dog likes you might want to try chew toys. Only use treats as a last resort because it could encourage behaviors such as biting or licking the hands. I wouldn't recommend using a choke chain at this time but a leash may be needed to maintain control of your dog. Keep the training sessions down to five minutes three times a day and then give your dog some free time to play after each session. Otherwise your dog will become bored and frustrated and this creates a negative learning environment.

Answer 3

You will need to find a collar and leash set that best works for your dog. I think the gentle leaders or halti collars work well. They are not harsh on the pet and work well as a training device. They keep the dogs attention on you and really helps with the dog by not allowing them to rip your arm off. You need to get his/her attention first off (which can be hard with labs). Have the dog first sit next to you, not in front of you because that shows that you are not in charge of the situation. When YOU start to walk, give a slight tug on the leash to tell the dog that it is okay to walk. Do not allow the dog to initiate the walk, it needs to be when you want to start. If he/she starts to pull, stop walking immediately and make the dog sit. Tell him/her to "sit" as you stop. Wait a few seconds until you notice that the dog has calmed down and then repeat. They will eventally figure out that walks are not all about yanking the owners arm off. Use the word "heel" and pull back on the leash if you start to notice some pulling, but if if gets too bad, make the dog sit. If you do not want to purchase a gentle leader, use a regular slip lead that will cinch down some when tension is applied to the leash. Place this at the top of the neck because if placed at the bottom of the neck, you will not be in as much control as you need to be. Do not let the dog walk in front of you, and also do not have a death grip on the leash. Practice the same technique as I mentioned above and with time you will notice a difference. Be consistent with your training method and reward when you get a positive behavior from the pet. This will take time, but it will work out. Good luck!!

Answer 4

A dog this old is still very much a puppy, especially a Lab. The process can be slow to get them to heel and to listen to you consistently. They have so much else to capture their interest all the while you are trying to get through to them. However, having said that, it is still possible with your continued patience and REPEATED training. Your dog will naturally want to please you. To reinforce that, I have found that using small pieces of hot dogs as reward for correct action works very well. I buy a cheap package and cut them up in 1-2 inch pieces which I carry in a baggy. Your dog will quickly learn what you expect in order to get another "treat". I would use a "choke" collar and a SHORT leash during training times. DO NOT allow your dog to control YOU! If he tries to go too fast, stop him short! Bring him to your side and get him calmed. Give him a treat and then resume your walk and training session.
As I said, your dog is still just a puppy. If you will continue to work with him EVERY DAY for 15-20 minutes at a time, by the time he is 2 years old, you will have him well under control. Read some good dog training books and apply yourself to the job. Remember this: You will get back what you give him/her. A dog's behaviour is the DIRECT reflection of how the owner has trained him.

Answer 5

I tried every thing for my hunting dog and nothing worked until I read Cesar Millan's book Cesar's Way. He even sells a special collar called the Illusion Collar for heeling. If you don't have one you can use a leash. Loop it around the neck up high on the dog as it will go. Then put the leash up over your shoulder and to the other side so your right hand has the other end. When the dog lunges forward just pull up on the leash in your left hand. This is hard to explain but in his book it is explained in greater detail. Anyway this in the only method that finally worked for my dog. Also he stresses the importance of showing your dog you are the alpha.

Answer 6

Dogs are pack animals. In the dog pack there is a leader, or the alpha dog. You have to be the alpha dog of your pack or your dog will never obey you.

Never let your dog place it's paw on you. If it does, remove it and say "no". You don't have to scream or repeat it. When your dog does something you don't want it to do, place your hand on it's head or shoulder, look it in the eye and say "no". By placing your hand on it and looking it in the eye you are showing your dominance. Your dog should look away first.

To heel your dog, shorten the leash up so that your dog is forced to walk next to your feet. When you stop, your dog should stop. Never let the dog lead you. Use whatever word commands you want, but be consistant and always use the same ones.

Your dog looks to you for what it should do and what is acceptable behavior. It needs to know it's place in the pack. This is not cruelty, but actually makes the dog feel secure and loved. The dog will behave exactly as you train it to behave.

Answer 7

man if you can't get a lab to heel , dogs are mnot your thing. He might just be one of those dogs that needs to be a little older. but if you get a choker colar, and ever time he moves ahead to far tug it a little he will catch on. The idea of the chain is not to actually choke him, you may have to a couple times just so he knows what it does but only a few times. After that all you will need to do is make it make the noise it does. Each time you pull it say something like"heel, back, I just say hay quietly. After a while all you need say is that workd and he will know. My little dog knows when ever i say hey he is doing something unwanted and stops and listens to me..hope it works for you..Labs are by far one of the easiest to train as they want nothing more than your acceptance. hug him lots to...Lets

Answer 8

what do u want tips about and talk to the trainer tell him/her u want to take 9 month old choc lab to the next level

Answer 9

Carry on with the training It can take time. Use rewards. Try keeping a little liver in your pocket get the smell on your fingers and you'll be popular with every dog you meet. use the liver to keep your dog interested if he goes ahead STOP and call him to heel wait til he comes and sits at your heel before you move again. It's a bore and it can take a long time to get anywhere but your dog will soon get the idea. If he wants awalk he'll do it your way.

Answer 10

This dog is very young to be expecting perfect heeling out of. Heeling is a difficult exercise and can take months of working with an adult dog in training classes. For now make it fun for your puppy. Enroll in the training class again and carry bait or treats with you ( my dogs like little pieces of hotdogs cut up). Say dog hell and when the dog is in position and walking next to you pop a little piece of food in his mouth and say good boy, don't do this constantly just occasionally when heeling with him and always do it when he is exactly where you want him to be in heel position. Practice 15 minutes twice a day, otherwise you are going to bore him out of his skull.