teaching heel?

Lauren
Training Dog
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Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:29 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am a wife, mother of 2 kids, 3 cats, 1 Standard Poodle (10 yrs) and Xena, a Dutch Shepherd Puppy.

Re: teaching heel?

Post by Lauren »

felixone123 wrote:Odin rubbed his face wherever he could with the halti to get it off. Takes a little time to get used to. He now has stopped rubbing. In the beginning, I did leave it on in house for a while. Made him eat with it, etc. Was not happy, but he got over it when he realized I was not taking it off when he gave me that sorrowful look. :dsdoubt:

Poor dog! Xena has given up on me taking it off and now tries to rub it off on the crotches of unsuspecting admirers... :shock: oops.
Lauren from Western NC
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alspyce
Working Dog
Posts: 1222
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:51 pm
Tell us about yourself: I am in New York State. Got my first DS about 14 years ago (more or less as a rescue- lost her in Nov.). After years of GSD's, and a few dogs of other breeds (Rotti/Beauceron/Ger. Shorthaired Pointer/ Yorkie and my current Jack Russell) I now have another DS, 4mo female, no name yet, tho I have a few in mind.
Also have a horse-old quarter horse mare-32.
Can't wait for all the snow to get gone! Spring is coming too slow this year!
Location: Corinth, New York

Re: teaching heel?

Post by alspyce »

Lauren wrote:
Poor dog! Xena has given up on me taking it off and now tries to rub it off on the crotches of unsuspecting admirers... :shock: oops.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France
Chris Carlton/Lyric
Sugars Mom
Working Dog
Posts: 1734
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:16 am
Tell us about yourself: I adopted a Dutch Shepherd mix (without knowing what she was) from the SPCA here in Victoria BC and am now trying to learn everything I can about this breed. My husband and I work from home most of the time so I thought it was time to get a puppy! We have his 2 boys here half the time and we wanted a nice family dog.

Sugar looks like a miniature Dutch Shepherd with floppy ears, and has every ounce of DS traits in her little body!

I hope to learn from other DS owners and share doggy experiences.
Location: Victoria BC

Re: teaching heel?

Post by Sugars Mom »

:oops: :oops: :oops:

:lmao: :lmao:
Sue (and Sugar)

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Marjolein
Working Dog
Posts: 2078
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:17 pm
Tell us about yourself: I'm a Dutchie myself ;-) but live in Germany with Johan and my two DS's Cobber-Dingo and Knivil (Dingo and Ivil to friends...)
Location: Warbeyen, Germany
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Re: teaching heel?

Post by Marjolein »

:lol: :lol: :lol: Go Xena! :lol: :lol:
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GSDNanny
Training Dog
Posts: 615
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:13 pm
Tell us about yourself: Dogs are my life, what can I say. GSDs primarily for nearly 50 years til bringing in my first DutchShep about 4 years ago. GSD rescue for 9 yrs, nearly 200 thru my home, rehabbed, adopted out. Been involved in AKC ob, herding, tracking, agility; Schutzhund-DVG; scent detection (HR-water)&narcotics, some patrol work. Mostly herding training at present on my little farm.

Re: teaching heel?

Post by GSDNanny »

I am by no means an expert in dog training but what has worked for me with my train/board dogs is I use a snug flat collar with a long lead (15ft plus). The lead is just dragging so if the dog takes a bolt, I can step on it and stop him. Other than that, I never hold a leash/lead until the dog knows what heel means. I direct the dog into position with a treat, mark and treat. Next, as the dog is getting this position down pat, I give it a name ie command to heel. Same process. All this done in a circle. Done in short intervals so as not to bore the dog. At the end we play with the favorite toy. Its a happy fun time! Not drudgery. I made that mistake with my old GSD, drilled heel, drilled heel, til she and I both hated it.

Eventually, I then use the leash which is loose. Proofing later comes with a pinch strictly for correction. So far, so good on this method.

Denise Gatlin & Zip, Shooter & the K9 crew

Livin' in the deep south - Louisiana
Sugars Mom
Working Dog
Posts: 1734
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:16 am
Tell us about yourself: I adopted a Dutch Shepherd mix (without knowing what she was) from the SPCA here in Victoria BC and am now trying to learn everything I can about this breed. My husband and I work from home most of the time so I thought it was time to get a puppy! We have his 2 boys here half the time and we wanted a nice family dog.

Sugar looks like a miniature Dutch Shepherd with floppy ears, and has every ounce of DS traits in her little body!

I hope to learn from other DS owners and share doggy experiences.
Location: Victoria BC

Re: teaching heel?

Post by Sugars Mom »

GSDNanny wrote:I am by no means an expert in dog training but what has worked for me with my train/board dogs is I use a snug flat collar with a long lead (15ft plus). The lead is just dragging so if the dog takes a bolt, I can step on it and stop him.
I found that worked for me when training Sugar to heel...stepping on the leash when she got out of position seemed to be very effective and much easier then holding and pulling on the leash to give the correction.
GSDNanny wrote:Other than that, I never hold a leash/lead until the dog knows what heel means. I direct the dog into position with a treat, mark and treat. Next, as the dog is getting this position down pat, I give it a name ie command to heel. Same process. All this done in a circle.
So does this mean you don't take your dog for a walk until they know how to heel??
Sue (and Sugar)

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GSDNanny
Training Dog
Posts: 615
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:13 pm
Tell us about yourself: Dogs are my life, what can I say. GSDs primarily for nearly 50 years til bringing in my first DutchShep about 4 years ago. GSD rescue for 9 yrs, nearly 200 thru my home, rehabbed, adopted out. Been involved in AKC ob, herding, tracking, agility; Schutzhund-DVG; scent detection (HR-water)&narcotics, some patrol work. Mostly herding training at present on my little farm.

Re: teaching heel?

Post by GSDNanny »

Sue, when I take any of my dogs for a leisurely walk, I dont make them heel at all. This walk is strictly for pleasure.

Denise Gatlin & Zip, Shooter & the K9 crew

Livin' in the deep south - Louisiana
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pdlucky
Puppy
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Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:16 am
Tell us about yourself: I am the proud owner of a 18 month old neutered male Dutch Shepherd.

Re: teaching heel?

Post by pdlucky »

Remington has improved by leaps and bounds. I started turning around to walk the other way when he got out of position and it has worked wonders. When we start out on our walk he will try to pull once but a quick change of direction has him back in place and a loose leash. Usually after 5 or 10 minutes I will need to make another direction change because he starts to pull but then he is back at my side and it seems each walk he gets better and better with fewer directional changes each time.
Paul
Remington 2 year old flying Dutch Shepherd
Sugars Mom
Working Dog
Posts: 1734
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:16 am
Tell us about yourself: I adopted a Dutch Shepherd mix (without knowing what she was) from the SPCA here in Victoria BC and am now trying to learn everything I can about this breed. My husband and I work from home most of the time so I thought it was time to get a puppy! We have his 2 boys here half the time and we wanted a nice family dog.

Sugar looks like a miniature Dutch Shepherd with floppy ears, and has every ounce of DS traits in her little body!

I hope to learn from other DS owners and share doggy experiences.
Location: Victoria BC

Re: teaching heel?

Post by Sugars Mom »

Great to hear Remington is doing well. :wtg:

When I take Sugar out for a walk (on the street), I expect her to walk at my side, without pulling and not in front of me...and I call that heeling. Probably not a technical heel?? But I don't let her stop and sniff along the way.

Then there are parts of the walk where she gets to go off leash (on trails) and sniff and trot and run where doesn't have to heel, (or walk beside me). I also practice off leash heeling with her for short bits of time as well, then back to her having some freedom and fun for her.
Sue (and Sugar)

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