$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
Conditions apply. Learn more.
Wishlist
April 21, 2011

I've been working my 17 week old GSD pup on eye contact while heeling but he's not doing it all the time especially when we are moving. What should I do different?

Full Question:
Hi,



I and my 17 week old GSD pup are in obedience class. I have been working with him in healing as well as trying to get him to keep his eyes on me. I have been using bits of hotdog and dropping them from my mouth when he lloks up at me, as well as saying "watch me." He does this more when not moving, but not all the time on a heel. What do I need to do different? Or do I need to continue this as I have been doing.



Thanks,
John
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
I see that you have the focused heeling video, but at 17 weeks very few puppies have the level of engagement or coordination to do a lot of heeling.



Did you do the muscle memory heeling work first? At 17 weeks, I would not worry about a focal point yet, I would just teach the pup to walk with his head up for rewards.



I'd also recommend getting the foundation video The Power of Training Dogs with Food and do this work before you spend a lot of time teaching him incorrect heeling. Back up your training to more foundation and focus your work on engagement. Most puppies are not ready to do real focused heeling until they are done teething and you have done leash pressure work (typically not until about 7 months old at the earliest).



Cindy

100% (18 out of 18)
respondents found this answer helpful
Did you find this Q&A helpful?
Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
100% (18 out of 18)
respondents found this answer helpful

Did you find this Q&A helpful?

Recommended Products
Scroll to Top