I am picking up my new golden retriever pup tommorrow, (so excited!) and whilst i realise she cant go out for a month or so i was wondering when i should begin training to heel? My first dog was never really taught until about 6 months and now we just cannot stop her pulling! Should i start from the moment she begins to go out for walks or should i wait a while? Would there be any point in trying to push 'heel' when training in the garden, (making it into a game when introducing the lead?) I really want to learn from the mistakes i made with my first little girl. :-)

The very first time you take her out on the lead! Young puppies rarely pull on the lead so there is no training to do, just never allowing her to go wrong! It's a simple as that :) I personally never bother with lead training in the garden. I figure that it is so different to "Outside" that it really makes no difference.

Best wishes, John

I agree with John totally on this one, the first time you take her on the lead in an outside environment, then make her to stay by your side and use whatever word you want to for her to heel, and reward I don't titbit reward I use my voice, but whichever you prefer a reward it must be.

I do this a lot when they are real babies even when out in the garden off lead, constantly calling them to me, rewarding and then walking a few steps talking to them with them at my heel.

Jayne

Hi,

If you mean walking nicely on the lead, then definately as early as possible, you can start in the garden once you have got him used to the collar and lead. Don't keep jerking him back, just praise him when he doesn't pull and reward with a treat and give him a command for not pulling, or keep stopping and turning in the other direction until he learns that pulling gets you nowhere.

If you mean obedience heelwork, the best way is to teach them to watch you and then proper heelwork will come automatically. Our 6 month old Working Beardie is doing perfect heelwork now and we have used this method. It works really well.

Good luck and hope you enjoy your new baby. :)

Manda
X

Hi
how does this method of stopping and turning work ?
My pup pulled the very first time i took him out , where did i go wrong?
Thanks serena

A treat held just where I wanted Ash's head to end up worked beautifully. He was so interested in what was in my hand that he never pulled ahead, and now its habit.

Julia & Hooligans

mY trainer says that as soon as they pull stand still. then when the lead relaxes, which it will, walk forward.

they learn they dont get to go anyway if they're pulling

Then periodically treat/reward while walking to heel

thanks everyone, as it turns out i have the opposite problem, she is fine pulling it along on the floor, but as soon as i pick it up she refuses to move, even when i try to play or tempt her with food. oh well have to keep trying!

This is quite normal. As soon as she gets outside and begins to find it fun that when it will change. She will not pull to start with so all you have to do is not to allow her to start. Simple as that!

Best wishes, John

Thanks John. Can't wait to take her for a walk, but don't have much choice unfortunately.