I attended my first puppy obedience training session with 4-month old Abby, a Cairn terrier. The heeling technique the trainer used was to hold a treat in one hand, at the level of the dogs head, and give it to the pup immediately when she paid attention and was close in to the heel position. The idea is that you progress to the point where you reward only when the dog is doing a proper heel.

Now, that technique may be fine for some, but I am not physically able to cope with it. I am far from fit and 5 foot 8 inches tall. Abby's head is about about 10 inches off the ground and she runs and jumps like an Olympic champion. To use this technique it means I have to walk completely stooped over, which I can do for about two minutes. I told the trainer that a) it was making me dizzy and b) this technique is fine for large dogs (eg, not small ones). No other options were offered.

Does anyone have a preferred technique for teaching small dogs to heel that does not involve physical contortion on the part of the trainer?

Stacey

Hi Stacey

Two minutes at a time should be more than enough for a 4 month old if you can manage that long. Even a few steps with the dog in the correct position is better than a long distance with the dog in the wrong place.

Are you able to "walk" on your knees for short periods - an old (well into 70's) lady at one of the classes I went to did this and found it successful.

Once Abby knows the position then you will be able to walk upright with the treat in your hand and just reward her with it at intervals, hopefully using your voice inbetween.

Another way might be to have two leads, one going behind you and one in front although you will need to be quite dexterious for this

Christine

Christine,

I'm afraid the problem is my back. I will try the method a bit longer and see what happens. Without stopping completely it is very difficult for me to get low enough to get the treat at Abby's level - rather than just above so she has to "dance" for it.

On the other hand, I may just have found a way to train her to dance around in circles. If I could eventually get her to wear a little frilly ballet skirt I might have a circus act in the making. :-)

Stacey

Can you train Abbey to a 'target stick'? Some people use a cheap riding crop, or a collapsing magnetic mechanics thing for picking up dropped tools....... Either way, you reward the dog each time he puts his nose to the end of the 'traget stick' (if you can use a 'clicker' as wel it's great, as it marks the exact second the dog has his nose on the target). Then you can transfer the willingness you've conditioned in the dog to touch the stick to heelwork by holding it in your left hand, lead in the right hand, and each time your pup walks beside you with nose on the stick, you 'click' and reward him...... Slowly vary the amount of time he has to walk beside you for his reward...

The target stick approach sounds very interesting. Thanks, I will talk to the trainer about it next session.

Stacey

A few more ideas which come from a book in fact, Sheila Booths "Purely Positive Training" - she suggests teaching a small dog to be comfortable walking on a bench ( do you have a bench or one you could borrow?!) and then put the dog on the bench to heel with you as you walk alongside it. Hopefully this may mean the dog is close enough to reinforce without you totally changing body posture.....

This also eliminates a small dog's fear of being stepped on :)

Another tip she gives (amazing as she mostly works with big dogs such as Shepherds and Belgian Malinois) is to reward the small dog with peanut butter on the end of a wooden spooon or similar. She says it is important to reward the dog at the exact moment he is in the correct position for this :)

Lindsay

Hi Stacey. Another idea have you tried holding a tube of soft cheese in your hand and giving it a squeese when she is correct so she gets her reward. Just might save you bending down as far, easier for your back.Good luck. Barbara