How to Teach a Dog to Heel – 7 Effective Tips

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Make Sure You Have a  Lot of Treats

Train dog to heel with lots of treats. Reinforce behavior, stay motivated, and focused on you. Enjoyable training for both.

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Short and Frequent  Training

Teach your dog to heel with short, frequent sessions (2-3/day) of 5-10 mins each. Consistency is key for effective learning.

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Decide on the Heel  Position

Teach your dog to heel at your knee level to walk straight, avoid pulling or lagging, and prevent leash tangling. Stay in control.

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Position Your Dog on Your Non-dominant Side

Teach your dog to heel on your non-dominant side (e.g., right-handed, keep dog left) for future task flexibility.

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Keep Your Dog Close  to a Wall

Stand next to a wall with a small gap for your dog to fit through, keeping them close and in the right position. Creates a snug space against your leg.

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Use Treats to Circle Your Dog into Position

Teach dog heel with treats: Show treat in right hand, move to left, guide dog to left side, use pointing gesture, add "heel" cue, reward.

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Add One Step at a Time

Gradually teach your dog to heel, adding one step at a time, and slowly increase distance and distractions. Leash training is essential.

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