Hello everyone, I'm hoping for some advice about walking to heel. Our Jack Russell is 4 1/2 months old and really doesn't enjoy walking to heel, everything is just too exciting for that. He really enjoys being off the lead and now comes back on first call 99% of the time - thanks to earlier advice! He strains at his collar when on the lead and I'm concerned he may well damage his breathing. When we are out walking he does settle down and walk near heel but in puppy class he really doesn't walk to heel and the trainer has told me to get tough and give a sharp tug on the lead. We have bought the dog a harness which seems more humane than a collar but obviously may not be encouraging him to walk to heel.We do not use the harness for every walk, but alternate it with an ordinary collar.
Help please!

do you already use a tasty treat in your hand? use something extra special, like livercake. firstly, without walking, teach your dog to touch the treat hand with his nose, and give the treat only when he does it. then walk holding the treat in your left hand...get him to keep his nose on your hand as you move. (i know he is little, you will need to bend.) initially hold the hand out to the side of your body. if he remains "plugged in" to your hand for a few steps, stop walking and give him the titbit. repeat very frequently. as he gets better, start to hold the titbit hand closer to the leg....he will then be walking at heel.sorry if you already tried this!

Thankyou for your posting.What is livercake? It sounds like something our dog would really enjoy! I've never seen it around though. At the moment he seems to do anything for a piece of apple, but I guess something meaty will tempt his taste buds that little bit further. When you suggest the walking with it in your hand I assume that you mean he shouldn't be on the lead at the time, or have I misunderstood?

livercake is a tasty treat you cook from liver and other bits and pieces, ordinary liver will do the job. you can do this on or off the lead, :)

Liver cake recipe:

8 oz lambs liver
4 oz self raising flour
2 eggs
2 cloves garlic

stick it all into a blender - whizz it till its all mixed into a smooth gloopy mixture

put into a greased flat baking tray about half an inch thick and cook in oven gas mark 4/5 fro 30 - 40 mins
allow to cool and cut into little squares -

you can bag it up and freeze it.

Be careful just giving cooked liver (not livercake) it is too rich and contains too much vit A (I think it is A but my brain hasn't thawed yet - just been on a lovely freezing walk along the beach!) A little won't hurt but using it constantly as treats is a bit too much.

Julie:)

Should Liver be avoided in pg bitches as it should be in pg women?

Fiona
x x x

Good question Fiona, never thought about it, haven't a clue
Anne

Good advice from Catherine. As its at puppy class he's acting up most, you could also try taking him out on a busy street or better still get some friends with dogs to help you. Walk along among the people or the friends and other dogs but every so often ask him to sit. Gently push him into a sit if he doesn't obey. You sound as if you are getting along well for a JRT of his age and sit is usually the first thing taught and so is often obeyed fairly automatically. Give him lots of praise when he's sitting and make him stay for a minute before setting off again. I fid that ogften steadies a pup down quite well. Another thiing you can try in your interesting place if you don't mind looking a bit silly is to walk smartly along turning around briskly every 50 yards or so (not exactly 50yds or at the same spots so that its unpredictable). That may help to keep his attention on you. Best of luck and let us know how you get on :).

With my 8 month old GSD- I hold the loop of the lead in my right hand and the remainder in my left- so she walks on the left. When she starts to get a bit ahead of herself I snap the leather lead on my jeans/trousers while saying * heel* she doesn't like the sound so she gets back in line:)

Stacey x x x

Make sure that you never walk one step with the pup pulling you ;) I know it may sound impossible, but once pup starts to realise he can decide when and where you go, he will start to reinforce his own pulling behaviour because it will get rewarded.

Try using a harness (a special one for stopping pulling, not an ordinary one) for just walks, and the collar and lead for training not to pull. That way, when you have to get from A to B in a hurry, you won't be tempted to say, "Oh it doesn't matter if he pulls, it's only down the road"

Lindsay

I think it helps if you teach the dog 'watch' first, so that when you start walking him and command him to 'watch me', his attention should then be on you, resulting in his not pulling on the lead. I actually use the word 'look' as it has a sharper sound, and you can stretch it out - 'looooook'! I hope that makes sense and it shouldn't take long to teach with a treat and clicker. You've got to remember that heelwork is actually quite boring for a lot of dogs, so really you also need to make it FUN - don't do endless circles, etc, just a few steps, praise and run backwards to have a game.