How to Train Your Small Dog to Heel

Start out with one of your pup's favorite treats in your hand, where your pup can see and smell it. Hold your hand down on your chosen 'heel' side, by the side of your leg.

Let your pup see the treat and then take a few steps.

If your pup follows you, come to a halt, give your pup the sit command and give him the treat. Be sure to give him lots of praise.

Continue repeating this step, going farther each time and remembering to reward him with a treat and plenty of praise.

Now that your pup has the basic idea, it's time to add the 'Heel' command. This time as you get ready to move off, say "Heel" and pat your leg as you step off. If your pup continues to follow you and runs to catch up with his 'Heel' spot, go for a walk and praise him. Each time he tries to pull or run ahead, stop, make him sit and start off all over again.

When pup can stay in the Heel position for the entire walk while in a calm location like your neighborhood or yard, seek out distractions and practice around a variety of distractions to help pup improve even more. Add distractions gradually, only making the training more difficult as your dog is ready. Distractions might include dogs in the area, people walking by, bicycles, traffic, squirrels, or noise. Expect pup to struggle a bit more with new distractions. Work them through the new challenge with patience until they have mastered Heel in that situation too.

Start by getting your dog to come to you. To do this try clapping your hands and saying "Heel!" in a happy voice. Pat your leg, if he goes to this spot be sure to praise him and give him a treat.

Have your pup standing in the heel position and take a single step forward, keeping his leash slack while giving him the 'Heel' command again. If he follows, praise him and give him a treat. Repeat this one step at a time, praising him each time he follows.

Keep walking in a straight line until he masters the Heel position while walking with you, then start making the walk a bit more challenging by gradually adding patterns like sharp turns, figure eights, winding trails, and anything you can think of to challenge your pup's ability to remain in the heel position. Each time he succeeds, be sure to reward him with treats and plenty of praise.

When your pup has shown that he can remain in the heel position on quiet walks, it's time to start going for walks in busier areas where there are plenty of distractions. Start with easier distractions first and gradually increase the difficulty as pup improves. Distractions might include traffic, other people, people walking with their dogs, bikes, and noise. Reward him each time he remains in the Heel position despite the distraction. It's okay if you have to remind him from time to time. But each time he stays in place, give him a reward and plenty of praise.

After your pup has demonstrated the ability to assume and remain in the heel position, it's time for the final test. Make the leash slack and practice walking pup around distractions. Make turns and change speed while keeping the leash slack the entire time. Can pup walk without depending on the leash to remind them to stay in position? Practice until he can.

Pick your 'heel' side before starting the training and be sure to stick to it so you don't confuse your pup.

The best place to start this training is a calm and open area, like your yard, a car-free cul-de-sac, or a quiet park. You don’t want too many distractions at this point in the training and you will need plenty of space to make turns while walking.

With pup on leash, pat the side of your leg to encourage pup to come to the heel position. Praise pup and offer a treat right next to your leg, so that their muzzle is at or slightly behind your leg.

Give the 'heel' command and take one step forward. If pup rushes past your leg stop. If pup stays next to you or slightly behind, praise and give another treat. Practice this single step until pup doesn’t rush past when you begin walking.

Once pup is not rushing past when you begin walking, start walking but continue your walk this time. If pup’s muzzle begins to move past your leg, tell pup ‘Heel’ while turning directly in front of pup at a ninety-degree angle to encourage them to slow down. If they adjust and stay in position during the turn, praise and offer a treat.

If pup begins to lag behind you or weave away from you, tell pup ‘Heel’ while turning away from pup. If pup is very distracted, also shuffle your feet when you turn and take small quick steps, to make it look like you are running away. The quick movement can help pup notice your turn better. If pup stays in position during this turn, praise and offer a treat.

When pup can stay in position for right and left turns, periodically change your speed from fast to slow or slow to fast, to teach pup to adjust to your changes. Praise and reward pup when they stay by your side and adjust to your speed.

When pup has mastered Heeling in a calm location, gradually add in distractions. Distractions might include: walking past neighbors, Heeling around dogs and their walkers at the park, keeping in step with you while a squirrel is in your yard, and going on walks with more traffic and noises present.

A good test of pup’s skills is whether they can walk past distractions and keep their leash slack the entire time. Practice until pup can keep a six-foot leash slack because they are staying in position because they are focused on you and not dependent on the leash to notice where you are.