Train a Dog to Heel

"Hi this is Elise for ExpertVillage.com and in this short video we’re going to be talking about how to get your dog into the heel position. We’re going to be using Tai here who is a 4 year old male Briard. The first thing we’re going to do is we’re going to start off with him in a sit in front of us. Tai sit – wait. If the dog does not know the behavior, you want to use a lure to get them into the correct position, so what I am going to do is I would like to have him sitting on this side facing forward with me. So I’m going to show him the treat, I’m going to move my left leg out of the way, bring it around and then ask him to sit. Yes good boy. Wait- we’re going to do that again so you can see that from another side. Dog is sitting in front of you, we want to walk forward, we want to have the dog on this side of us, and so we’re going to ask him to come around – sit. Yes. Good boy. Okay I’m going to do the motions slowly without the dog so you can see what it is. If I have a leash on the dog, the leash is in the right hand, and my treat or hand signals is in the left hand side. As I’m bringing my hand back, I’m also moving my left leg back and as the dog comes forward I move my left leg forward and put the dog into sit – wait, good boy. We’re going to try this on hand without giving him a treat. Tai come, sit. Take my hand signal this way, move around – he didn’t do it without the lure, we’ll try it again. This way – sit, good boy. Tai right here. Come around – and sit. Yes. Now I’m giving him the reward. Good boy."