So I've been considering starting Conan in rally, but I'm having trouble teaching him the proper heeling position. We train with markers/clickers.

He walks very well on a loose leash but I have trouble getting him in the heeling position (to be able to mark and reward the position). I've tried luring him there and if I have food or a toy in my hand he wants to be directly in front of me, no matter where I move the reward. I'm probably doing something wrong. The only way I can get him into the heeling position is using a very short leash and correcting him into it when he pulls. But I feel that correcting him into position, then marking and rewarding is backwards and contrary to what marker training is all about in the first place, so I don't do it.

Doing it in the house will also be likely impossible. My roommate's dog goes absolutely ballistic if he's not including in the activities. So we almost always leave the house if we're going to be doing obedience work besides basic sits and downs before being fed, etc. I've tried crating the dog or just putting him in a room but he will tear it to pieces, scream like a baby (I'm not exaggerating the screaming part), and it ends up being more of a distraction than being outside would be, I think.

Any ideas are extremely appreciated!!

Do you have any enclosed and boring (low distraction) area where you can do the starter work?

Also, do you by any chance have a way to post a video clip?

We usually go to a big empty field. It's very big and very empty, lol. It's not fully enclosed but we keep him on a long lead and it works really well.

I don't think I can post a video, but I can try. What do you need exactly?

Conan is your corgi right?

I got a white ball (I use a cheap Styrofoam one.)and in the beginning every time the dog followed the ball and touched it with their nose they got a click, and a treat.

Then I put the ball on a stick with a spot of wood glue. Again, every time she touched the ball with her nose. mark, and a treat.

Finally, We put it together with leash in one hand, ball on a stick in the other pointing to the right position and short steps, then longer steps... the non ball side of the stick, then no stick.

I use the ball on a stick for a great number of things with my little guys. It's a back saver and a great communication device.

http://www.amazon.com/Competitive-obedience-training-small-dog/dp/B0006F30Q0

Katie if you can find this book it's an amazing novel on teaching the short dog and combating some of the challenges of heeling positions with the small dog vs a larger dog.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

Then I put the ball on a stick with a spot of wood glue. Again, every time she touched the ball with her nose. mark, and a treat.

Finally, We put it together with leash in one hand, ball on a stick in the other pointing to the right position and short steps, then longer steps... the non ball side of the stick, then no stick.

I use the ball on a stick for a great number of things with my little guys. It's a back saver and a great communication device.

What a great tool for a short dog!

Thank you!! The ball and stick idea is great, I love it. That book looks good too. Both will make things much easier. Awesome ideas!

Melissa: I love the stick and ball idea too. What other things do you use if for?

Melissa, when do you start using the command? After you phase out the ball and stick altogether or somewhere in the middle?

When I start putting the ball and stick in position (usually diagonally across my kneecap) I start using the heel command. The ball is just a tool which communicates to the dog where I want them before they relate the word to the movement. My basic rule with it is so long as the dog is pointed at the ball they can do no wrong, it's up to me to guide the dog consistently to get into the position I want until they relate the movement with the word. Just like loading the clicker rewarding following the magic white ball is important too.

Other things I've used ball on a stick for was the send out, sit after down, chase your tail left (we're still working on right), look at me, look at them, jump on a chair, and free stacking.