Hi. Harvey - 13 week old CKCS, had his first walk yesterday and he LOVED it! he was belting ahead and so excited. My question is, when is the best time to start training to heal and whats the best way to go about it? He's my first pup so it's all new to me. Can anybody recommend a good book to help all training aspects.

Thanks

Hayley. x

Heelwork training can start even before you ever go for your first walk - teach Harvey the heel position whilst you are standing still, then when moving a few steps then repeat with the lead on, then repeat when outside in the garden, then repeat when outside in the street so he learns that heel means heel in every situation :)

Hop it works. My 2 yr old still thinks she can ignore me when theres something more exciting like a bird, another dog, a cat, a leaf blowing in the wind, another person ........ i could go on but i won't, blimey i must be really boring to her :)

Well done luvhandles

Having a pup run along on the lead on his first walk is a bonus.  I find the biggest problem is a reluctant puppy who simply doesn't want to go.  Definitely garden training is the way to go as suggested, but also try the turn around method - garden first.  Walk a few steps in one direction turn and go in another direction just a few times so that pup keeps his eye on you. 

Enjoy the fact that he is actually moving when outside and start to introduce the turn in a week when you are out in the world.  Keep up this pups confidence.

You're doing great!

Hi Hayley - The most important thing is not to continue walking when the dog hits the end of the lead.  As soon as the lead goes tight, you should stop walking.  Then guide the dog back to your side, praise, and walk off.  Again, as soon as the lead goes tight, stop.  It might take a while and it can be very boring doing this but eventually it works.  The reward for the dog is to go forwards, so don't reward the dog by continuing forwards when he is pulling.  The dog has to learn that tight lead=stop and slack lead=go. 

Since that was his first time out, I wouldn't worry about training him to heel yet - the outside world is so interesting and exciting and he rightly should be looking at it and taking it all in.  Just make sure you don't continue walking when the lead is tight and you can work on perfecting that to an ideal heel position later (or start doing that in your garden but don't ask for it on walks yet).

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