How to Train Your Dog to Heel Without a Leash

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How to Train Your Dog to Heel Without a Leash

Medium

1-2 Weeks

General

Introduction

Have you been out for a walk with your tugging, pulling, distracted and rambunctious pooch only to see another dog and human couple calmly walking side by side? Or maybe you’ve been switching channels and managed to happen across an obedience demonstration online. Being able to calmly walk next to your dog isn’t just something to aspire to. Obedient walking by your side, also known as a ‘heel’, is an important part of being able to enjoy outdoor activities with your pet. The feat may seem hard enough with your dog tethered to your side, but many are also able to walk with their dog in a heel position, off-leash. Healing without a leash isn’t just a pipedream, it’s a teachable skill that just takes a little bit of time for both your pet and yourself to master.

Defining Tasks

Heeling without a leash refers to the position that your dog is in either at a standstill or while walking. Heeling happens when your dog is at your side, either left or right. Many dogs like to forge out ahead or linger behind and can still maintain a loose leash while doing so. In a heel, your dog learns to stick by your leg and watch only you. This is a valuable skill for walking in close confines such as city sidewalks or crowded parks and heeling without a leash can often come in handy while trekking through brush or in areas where leashes may be inconvenient.

Getting Started

Before you start teaching your dog to heel without a leash, you’re going to need to gear up. Even though your goal is to remove the tether, you should start out with a nice, comfortable leash and flat buckle collar for your dog’s safety until he’s solidly mastered the command. Treats and a convenient treat bag are also great items to have since you’re going to need to get and keep your dog’s attention.

Finally, your pooch should have loose leash walking mastered before teaching a heel, as this foundational behavior will make learning the modification much easier. There are a variety of different methods for teaching your dog to heel without a leash. Like people, dogs learn in different ways. Try one or more of the methods on for size to see which is the best fit for your dog.

The Treat Lure Method

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Step

Get ready

Start out with your dog walking on leash and your treat bag fully loaded. Be sure to work off a bit of energy and let your dog pee and sniff a bit before getting down to work.

Step

Lure

Place a treat in your hand and, while still walking, call your dog to you. Keep walking while you treat your dog.

Step

Keep it up

As soon as your dog finishes the treat and starts to head back to the end of the leash, immediately offer up another treat so that your dog wants to head back in your direction and is constantly checking in, thinking she’ll get food.

Step

Increase duration

When your dog is reliably checking in for treats, slowly lengthen the time in between food rewards.

Step

Add a command

Apply a command to the behavior, saying the word "heel" before administering a treat. Treat as long as your dog remains by your side. Slowly increase your demands, only rewarding when your dog is at your side for longer and longer periods of time and when her body position is in the ideal heel.

Step

Challenge

One you’ve mastered this on-leash, it’s time to take off the training wheels. Practice off-leash heeling with treats in the backyard and slowly work up to distractions of people and other dogs until your pup is reliably heeling without a leash.

The Follow Along Method

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Step

Hit the road

Start out with your dog walking calmly on leash. You may want to walk for some time before starting the training to help alleviate any excess energy.

Step

Lure

In your left or right hand (depending on which side you want your dog to learn to heel) you should be carrying a toy or spoon that’s been coated with peanut butter. After your dog has had a chance to burn off energy, get her attention with the toy or food.

Step

Lead with the lure

Keep walking and allow your dog to tug on the toy or lick the spoon while at your side. If she stops walking by your side, remove the spoon or the food. Do this continuously for several minutes at a time, multiple times a day over several days until your dog begins to associate following alongside you with a tasty or fun reward.

Step

Decrease the lure

Once your pup is reliably following alongside you with the toy or spoon, bring your hand up from time to time and remove the constant treat. Your dog should keep walking and may look in anticipation at the item. Occasionally drop your hand and allow her to have the reward. Slowly increase the amount of time in between rewards until she is following alongside reliably without constant treating.

Step

Off-leash

Once your dog has mastered this behavior on leash, work through the steps again but this time without a leash. You may see some regression in behavior but don’t give up. If need be, up the “value” of the reward with a tastier food item (frozen beef on a stick, anyone?) or a more exciting toy. Slowly increase the amount of time your dog goes between treats along until she is reliably heeling by your side without a leash.

The Watch Me Method

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Step

Jump start

The “watch me” or “look” method of teaching 'hee'l is great for dogs that have some advanced training under their belt. If your dog already knows the 'watch me' command or 'look at an object' command, you can combine these behaviors with walking to help jump start heeling without a leash. Start out by walking with your dog loosely on a leash.

Step

Give the command

While walking continuously, give your dog the “look” or “watch me” command to make eye contact. If your dog is out ahead of you, this will cause her to turn back around. Reward instantly for the appropriate behavior.

Step

Target

After your dog is looking while on leash reliably, ask for her to watch your hand or leg. Point to the spot and say "watch", just as you would if you were holding still. You may need some tasty treats to both bribe and reward good behavior here.

Step

Stay in motion

Watching a spot such as your hand or leg while you continue to walk will naturally put your dog into a 'heel' or 'by your side' position. Remember to praise and treat and maintain a brisk walking pace so that your dog learns the appropriate behavior involves movement and not simply a 'come' or 'sit'. Slowly increase the length of time between the commands and treat spontaneously if your dog remains by your side. This lengthening of time in between treats will be the foundation for a solid heel.

Step

Lose the leash

Once you’ve mastered the on-leash heel, start out in a quiet, distraction-free space to teach heeling without a leash. Use the exact same methods and don’t be worried if you need to take a few steps back in order to move ahead in your training. Before you know it, you’ll have a super obedient pooch that knows how to heel both on the leash and without.

Written by Kimberly Maciejewski

Published: 01/29/2018, edited: 01/08/2021

Success Stories and Training Questions

Training Questions and Answers

Question

Wiley Bear

Lab/Australian Shepard mix

1 Year

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Wiley Bear

Lab/Australian Shepard mix

1 Year

My dog has been showing signs of anxiety since he was brought to me as a puppy. I thought over time he'd get over it, but I was wrong.Sometimes its in the car on car rides, and I cant leave him in the backyard alone or he yelps and whines.But other wise is fine. How can I break this habit and feel more confident?

2 years, 3 months ago

Wiley Bear's Owner

Darlene Stott

Dog Trainer and Groomer

104 Dog owners recommended

Wiley Bear looks like a happy and curious pup! The two anxiety issues that you talk about can be remedied. Take a look at this guide for excellent tips on riding in the car: https://wagwalking.com/wellness/car-pet-friendly. It could be that Wiley Bear gets motion sickness. Start with having him sit in the car and give him treats. Then, sit in the car with you when it is turned on for a few minutes. Then, on another day take a very short ride. Each day extend it just a bit and be sure to include a very fun destination like the park or pet store in the ride. Here are more tips: https://wagwalking.com/wellness/natural-remedies-for-motion-sickness-in-dogs As for the anxiety outside, use a similar method. Stay outside and play games with Wiley Bear. Then, next time, pop inside for 30 seconds. Gradually extend the time each day (one minute, then two, etc). Make the yard a fun place to be with chew toys, water and a treat or two when he goes outside. Good luck!

2 years, 3 months ago