All the online guides on how to teach a dog to heel always instruct you to.. step forward with the left leg... etc etc. Is there a reason they use left side? Is this just a coincidence, or do dogs like the left side better? Or does this have something to do with dog pack dynamics?
2007-03-30 05:15:46 · 13 answers · asked by vandergraaff27 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Having dogs heel on the left goes back years. The reason is that if the dog is heeled on the left side of the owner, that their right hand is free for other things.
The stepping forward with your left leg actually becomes a signal for your dog to move with you. If you say heel and always step with your left leg first, your dog will associate that with moving forward with you. If you ask your dog to stay, you'd step with your right leg first. This becomes a signal for your dog to stay. Eventually you'll be able to step with your left and your dog will heel, or step with your right and your dog will stay in place, without you even saying a word.
Of course if you aren't going to be competing, you can have your dog heel on which ever side you want. Just change the foot you'd step with for heeling or staying.
2007-03-30 05:36:34 · answer #1 · answered by Bindi *dogtrainingbyjess.com* 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Teaching A Dog To Heel
2016-12-10 03:15:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-04-25 13:15:48 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heeling on the left is because most people are right handed.. and therefore ties in with the hunters. ALso when walking your dog along a street, you are supposed to face the oncoming traffic if there is no sidewalk... therefore in North America you would have your dog on the side furthest away from the cars.
This is important as you don't want your dog anywhere near the traffic. If you live in a country where cars travel on the left, many owners change the side that their animals heel.
In my experience I usually find holding the dog with my non dominant hand more comfortable. A well trianed dog on a leash will not require any strength from his handler... this means that your dominant hand (in my case right) is free to open gates, latches, doors, etc.
2007-03-30 05:30:49 · answer #4 · answered by Goddess 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For formal, competition obedience (AKC Companion Dog titles and higher) the dog must heel at your left side and your left side ONLY.
Stepping forward with your left foot is meant as a signal to the dog that you are now heeling and he is to follow you.
Stepping forward with your right foot is meant as a signal to the dog that you want him to stay in place.
A well-trained, competition dog will learn the handler's body language and know that when the foot nearest him moves - he is to move.
See the links below for more info - but that is where it comes from. If there is a practical reasoning behind the AKC's rule of "left-side-only" - I'm not aware of it.
2007-03-30 05:48:47 · answer #5 · answered by shewolf_06340 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are right handed have the dog heel at your left & if you are left handed have the dog heel to your right. Leaveing your most dominate hand free.
If your were a police officer your would not want your dog on the same side you carry your weapon. In everyday life it would leave your dominate hand free to carry a bottle of water, cola, beer, pick up poop at the park, hold a childs hand, etc.
2007-03-30 05:24:16 · answer #6 · answered by bluebonnetgranny 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://bitly.im/aOepc
A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.
2016-05-20 22:42:48 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was told that it is because hunters normally carry their gun in their right hand, so they want the dog on the left, out of the way.
Unless you plan on competing in obedience, you can teach the dog to heel on whichever side is better for you (or both).
2007-03-30 05:18:13 · answer #8 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most of the time when you walk with a dog the left side is away from the middle of the street, when showing dogs they should be used to both sides. so i guess the question is what are you doing with your dog.
2007-03-30 05:23:09 · answer #9 · answered by jessica b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you would find here http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?fA2s an amazing help! i am currently in the throes of training my new puppy, a german shepherd/alaskan malamute cross who is still just a baby..but i've grown up with dogs...had 2 border collies when i was just a kid.. my sister has a toy poodle, my brother has a lab, and my parents have a toy poodle and a yorkshire terrier/pomeranian cross and we lost a lab last august...
i live with my parents while i'm in school and my mom trained the dogs with Cesar's techniques.. they really do work! and that is what i'm training little Justice with... his techniques i have found more effective than a water spray bottle, rolled up newspaper, yelling or anything else!
my mom trained the lab we lost with the "Lead Training" that a trainer named John Wade taught us. You put the dog on a leash and put the leash around your ankle...wherever you goes, the dog goes and eventually, you can take the dog off for longer and longer periods of time... this works (as far as i understand) because in the end, you could be across the room and the dog will still think s/he is attached to you, therefore deterring any errant behaviour..
if you stick with it, are firm and keep a calm, but assertive, "pack leader" mentality, you will have your little terror :-) trained in no time!
I don't know where you live but you might find these helpful:
2017-02-13 19:55:59 · answer #10 · answered by Martin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋