How to Train Your Stubborn Dog to Heel

How to Train Your Stubborn Dog to Heel
Medium difficulty iconMedium
Time icon1-4 Weeks
General training category iconGeneral

Introduction

Oh, how you wish your dog would walk to heel! 

He's always pulled on the leash but you didn't think too much about it. That is until you slipped on ice and wrenched your back. Now, not only is the ground treacherous underfoot, but it's as if the dog is trying to pull you over with every step. And if the fear of another fall isn't bad enough, despite his diminutive size a dog with a low center of gravity really hurts a sore back when he pulls. Indeed, it's occurred to you on more than one occasion to wonder how people with really big dogs cope...but there again...they are usually breeds that are easier to train than your little free-spirited pocket rocket. 

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Defining Tasks

Walking to heel is a learned skill that every dog, regardless of size, is capable of. 

As part of learning to walk to heel, it helps to get inside a dog's mind and understand why he pulls. The majority of dogs pull because of excitement (Hey! Let's get to the park!), although some do pull because they are fearful and want to get back home, or they want to control the pace you're walking at. 

Teaching a stubborn dog to heel means resetting those expectations, and realizing that pulling doesn't get him to the park faster but rather slows things up. 

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Getting Started

To train a stubborn dog, the most important requirements are patience (by the bucket load), time, and consistency. This is so that the dog clearly understands what's expected of him and the consequences should he chose to carry on pulling on the leash. 

In addition, you will need these basic supplies: 

  • A collar and leash
  • Training treats
  • A treat bag for easy access to the rewards
  • A clicker

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The Stop and Sit Method

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2 Votes

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1

Understand the idea

Here you first teach the dog that when you walk and stop suddenly, he gets a treat if he sits down. Once the dog learns this you then stop walking whenever he starts to surge ahead, so the dog then stops and sits. With the dog watching for opportunities to sit for a reward, he pretty soon by default learns to walk to heel.

2

Start in a quiet room

The first step is to teach the dog to stop and sit immediately you stop walking. To do this, have a tasty treat to hand. Get the dog's attention on the treat and walk a few steps. Stop. Ignore the dog and wait for him to present you with a sit. Don't tell him what you want, he has to work out that it's 'sit' that gets the treat. He may fool around, walk round you, paw your leg... ignore him. Eventually he will sit, if only to think about what the heck is going on. At this point say "Yes" in an excited voice and give him the reward. Practice.

3

Go for a short walk

With the dog's newly acquired skill, take him for a short walk. Hold the treat in your hand and after a few steps stop. Wait for the dog to sit, and reward him. Walk another few steps, then stop. When he sits, reward him

4

Label the action as 'heel'

As the dog cooperates in this stop-start game, while he's walking beside you, label this "heel" in a firm but happy voice. Then stop and when he sits, offer the reward. Start to stretch out the distances you walk before stopping.

5

Stop for surging

As the dog improves, when you notice him start to surge ahead, immediately stop and wait for him to sit. This halts his forward movement and brings him back under control.

6

Use the 'heel' command

Now make full use of the 'heel' command by using it on walks. As he gets good at walking to heel, give him occasional rewards while he is walking nicely by your side, in order to reward his great behavior.

The Clicker Training Method

Effective

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Effective

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1

Understand the idea

The clicker uses a distinctive noise to mark the desired behavior (in this case, walking to heel). The dog is also taught to link the click with getting a reward. The idea is that the dog links the action that's clicked with a treat. This is the basis of reward-based training and is a way of encouraging the dog to walk well to heel.

2

Link click to reward

Scatter a few treats on the ground. As the dog eats each treat, click. Now, offer the dog a small treat and as he takes it, click. Repeat this several times. Then wait until the dog turns away from you and press the clicker. If he turns and looks for a reward, you'll know he is now associating the clicking sound with a reward and you are ready to move onto the next step.

3

Lure with a treat

Have the dog on a collar and leash in a quiet place with few distractions. Hold a treat in your left hand, just in front of the dog's nose to encourage him to walk forward matching your stride.

4

Click and reward

Once the dog has taken a few steps forward in the heel position, say "Heel" and quickly click and reward him. Keep repeating this, luring him forward with the treat and clicking when he walks as requested.

5

Stretch out the rewards

As the dog learns to be attentive, try this training but without a treat in your hand. Command the dog to heel and if he takes a few steps by your side, click and reward. As training progresses, travel further each time before you click and reward.

The Stop and Turn Method

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1

Understand the idea

A dog that fails to walk to heel is usually pulling hard on the leash because he's keen to get to the park. In the dog's mind, pulling is rewarded by getting where he wants to go. The idea behind this method is to teach the dog that pulling only delays arrival, and therefore it's better to walk to heel.

2

Prepare to go nowhere fast

Chose a time when you're not in a rush. This is because you are going to spend at least 20 minutes going absolutely nowhere as the dog zigzags to-and-fro on the end of the leash.

3

Stop when the dog pulls

Start on the walk. As soon as the dog pulls on the lead, stop in your tracks. Ask the dog to come to heel. If he does, great! Reward him and start moving forward again. Repeat this each time the dog surges ahead.

4

Switch direction

If, however, you stop and the dog continues straining on the end of the leash, determined to power you to the park, then a different strategy is required. This time, start walking in the exact opposite direction. Slap your thighs and encourage the dog to follow. As he reaches your heel, say "Heel" and praise him.

5

Switch and switch again

The dog may take a few steps to your heel and then decide he can speed things up by pulling again. Do exactly what you did before, call the dog, and if he doesn't come to heel, switch direction and walk off. You can expect to-and-fro while staying on the same spot. But eventually, the dog will figure out that when he pulls he gets further from the desired destination, not closer and he'll start to walk to heel.

Written by Pippa Elliott

Veterinary reviewed by:

Published: 11/30/2017, edited: 01/08/2021

Training Questions

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Training Questions and Answers

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Bruce

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German Shepherd

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Ten Months

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Question

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Won’t walk to heel I have done everything but nothing works

Aug. 13, 2023

Bruce's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello, I recommend hiring a professional trainer to help since training on your own isn't progressing. I would find a trainer with experience teaching an Off-Leash heel, because even though pup will be on leash, you likely need to teach heel with that end in mind - since off-leash heeling is meant to increase the dog's focus toward you, which it sounds like you need. Check out James Penrith from take the lead dog training on youtube. I also recommend following the Turns method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel What gear is pup wearing while training? Certain tools can help during the process of training, others can make it harder to train - like a back clip harness. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Aug. 25, 2023

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Peggy

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Spoodle

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Four Months

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Trying to teach the dog to heal. Varies between walking nicely, pulling and sitting and refusing to move. If using technique where you frequently change directions and pup sits and refuses to move, what do you do? Puppy school said to drag the pup but I’m loath to do this.

July 10, 2023

Peggy's Owner

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Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer

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1133 Dog owners recommended

Hello, First, this time of year touch the pavement where you are walking. You might be coming across hot sections, especially where the pavement is black asphalt instead of light grey or white concrete. Too hot, and the pavement can burn a dog's paw pads and also cause them to avoid walking on those sections. If the ground is not too hot, then bring soft easy to swallow and chew treats, such as freeze dried kibble toppers. When pup follows you, especially past an area they usually stop, or when you approach something that might be new or scary, like walking past a dog barking in a fence, strange yard decoration, vehicle in the driveway, ect... Give pup a treat for continuing to walk, to teach them to follow but also to help them overcome any fearfulness they may have. Pay attention to how long pup can walk willingly for. Try to keep walks about that length or shorter in the hot weather right now to also avoid put putting on the brakes. Doing the above should decrease how often Peggy is stopping for. When they do stop anyway, give gentle but persistent tugs on the leash - do not drag pup and pull continuously like some suggest. Not only could that be bad for pup's neck but most dog's natural response to being continuously pulled forward is to pull back away from you. Instead give a brief tug then relax the leash, give a quick tug then release. You are simply making pup sitting still a bit uncomfortable until pup takes a step forward to stop those tugs. As soon as they take that step forward, praise and give a treat. See if you can get pup taking about three more steps forward willingly, then you be the one to turn toward home while pup is again walking with you - knowing that they are tired and done walking for the time being. This takes into consideration what pup needs in the walk but also teaches them not to just put on the breaks to get you to turn home - to follow you willingly and trust you to turn around as needed. Finally, proactively teach pup what leash pressure means - come toward you, so that it becomes easier overall to train pup to heel using a leash. Check out the Pressure method from the article I have linked below. Practice first in your home and yard before using the method on a walk. Pressure method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-your-puppy-to-accept-leash Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 17, 2023


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