Here's a short clip of Chula and I starting the heel. This is probably our 4th or 5th short session, using markers.

Any comments are appreciated and also tips for where I need to go from here would be helpful.
Chula- beginning heel

Anyone?

I think you guys look great!

Heeling is something I have been challenged with so I think she looks fantastic. But I also have no idea where you go from there

What is your goal...competition style heel?
What videos have you watched..streaming etc?

Lynne,

Looks great! Chula has her eyes on you the whole time, which is half the battle. I think I would practice distance now, but still in baby steps. See if you can get her to heel for 10 steps in a row, then 20, etc.

Chula is a beautiful, powerful dog. I bet you guys would like Rally Obedience.

Meredith

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

Lynne,

Looks great! Chula has her eyes on you the whole time, which is half the battle. I think I would practice distance now, but still in baby steps. See if you can get her to heel for 10 steps in a row, then 20, etc.

Ditto!! She looks wonderful Lynne!
And I totally agree on the focus - she's locked onto your face, even though you're not spitting treats out of your mouth , and that's awesome. I would definitely start to increase your distance, and if you had her on leash, you probably wouldn't need to use the fence to keep her lined-up - once shes got the auto sit on stops down, there will be little reason for her butt to swing around (though every dog is different, and some - who will remain nameless - have a TERRIBLE time keeping the trailer lined up with the cab!)... you're absolutely doing the right thing if she's all over the place...

Great work! Assuming they'd get along, I sure wish Oscar and Chula could meet - they look like they could have one heck of a play date!

~Natalya

I have one little comment. Watch where your hand is when rewarding. The way your doing it looks about right, but you are rewarding in front and to the inside of Chula and the reward doesn’t look like it comes from the same place every time.

I try to always reward above, outside of the dogs head having your hand in the same spot every time. You want him to always be looking up. Make sense??

Using the method you seem to be using is the best way to get nice, straight, focused heeling, IMO.

Don’t rush these very early steps of heeling or you can run into problems later, I spent a long time where you are at right now and it defiantly paid off.

Your next step could be, after you get 5-10 steps forward, stay and on fence (barrier) and teach Chula to back up staying straight.

ETA: have you done any leash pressure exercises?

 Quote:

I try to always reward above, outside of the dogs head having your hand in the same spot every time. You want him to always be looking up. Make sense?? ETA: have you done any leash pressure exercises?

Scott, thanks. That does help... And I will keep at this slow pace, in short sessions. I have not done any leash pressure exercises yet. I have heard M. Ellis talk about it, but haven't tried it yet.

 Quote:

What is your goal...competition style heel?
What videos have you watched..streaming etc?

Willie, yes, competition style, but it's just for fun. Is there a streaming heeling video? I need to look harder for it...

Also, Chula has a tendancy to sit behind my leg, so I was attempting to lure her into a more forward position. Is that the right was to accomplish the correct position for the sit?

Everyone, thanks for the comments. It's really been fun working on this; once we get a little better I'll post another video.

Great job for only a few short sessions.

Using the fence (since you have it)like you are, teaches the dog to keep her body straight right from the begining. You don't want to use it forever & make it a crutch, but until things are solid I'd use it. If you want her to sit when you stop mark it EVERY time her butt hits the ground & treat. Treat up above her nose & from the front.

When you stopped at 1:24 you lost the dog's focus, because you didn't mark & treat when she sat & she started looking around & BEHIND you for her treat. She was 'lost' because you didn't mark & she wasn't sure what she should be doing. Be consistant in where & how you treat. It will give her 1 less thing to be thinking about & loose focus. ALso she does not have the focus to just keep sitting there when you stop for a longer period of time(but no longer than 10-15 seconds at this point). If you want her to learn to sit by you for a short bit, continuse to mark & reward the posiiton during that longer stop. I would not expect too much from her in that yet, though.

I also would not move off the fence for a while. You have it use it until all is very solid. When you eventually(down the road) move off the fence & she starts to swing her but out..move back to the fence for a few sessions.

I would keep her without the leash for a bit longer, until he is really solid & you have named what you are doing. The leash at this point, IMO, would be a distraction & would wait to introduce it.

I would keep the sessions short & do it multiple times a day, during other training & fun play. Always end on a good note & with something that she knows well. I I would maybe add a step or 2 every other day or so depending on how she is doing. Remember you can always back things up if needed. Move ahead slowley, don't rush. It's harder to go back & fix mistakes then it is to take the time to slowly teach them correctly to begin with.

ETA... I wouldn't add asking her to move backward until you have her very solid on your leg moving forward for at least 15-20 steps at different rates of speed. Before I asked her to move backward, I would want to be able to give a heel command & change my posiitons & have the dog follow me & move into the corrrect heel position. I would move a couple of feet sideways, backway, turn my body etc etc & expect the dog to reposition her self into the heel position. Once you can do all that....then I would start to teach her going backwards. You want the dog to have a clear understanding of when she is supposed to be & how to stay there before you ask her to walk backwards. I would also want her to know a back command without being on a heel before I started to train a backward heel also.

 Quote: Anne Jones

Using the fence (since you have it)like you are, teaches the dog to keep her body straight right from the begining. You don't want to use it forever & make it a crutch, but until things are solid I'd use it.

I would keep her without the leash for a bit longer, until he is really solid & you have named what you are doing. The leash at this point, IMO, would be a distraction & would wait to introduce it.

Absolutely forget what I said and follow Anne's advice!
Great tips, great post.

~Natalya