Hi All,
I have a question regarding how I'm teaching my dog to walk/heel while on the leash.
Presently, she wants to lead the way while on our walks. We walk through some fields to a walking track nearby. She loves to sniff and explore all the scents of critters that have traversed the area, esp while in the grassy areas. I alternate at times between allowing her time to sniff etc. vs heeling (walking politely beside me with out tension on the leash) She does heel well when I refocus her and on occassion correct her with the flat collar.
Am I sending her mixed signals?? Or should she be able to alternate between the two with proper commands from me??
Hope I don't sound too idiotic, I'm just trying to do the right thing by my dog.
Thanks,
Linda
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote:
...Presently, she wants to lead the way while on our walks.....I alternate at times between allowing her time to sniff etc. vs heeling......
Am I sending her mixed signals?? Or should she be able to alternate between the two with proper commands from me??
My two cents: The dog is never allowed to lead you, because you are the pack leader. Maybe the most basic behavior of the pack leader is to be, literally, the leader, and lead the way. But yes, she is allowed to sniff and explore and be a dog -- on your terms.
My (pet) dogs heel on the walk until we're at a good place for them to be released from heel, and I signal them by me coming to a stop and saying (in a high-ish voice) "Okay!" with a little leash signal.
That means the dog is free for the length of the leash until I say "heel" again.
Others will have different takes on the mechanism, but I think the important part is that the release from heel to poke around and play and sniff is on your terms, always, and not at her whim.
That question doesn't sound idiotic to me! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Connie,
Thanks for your reply. You helped clarify for me what I should be doing, and what I am doing that does not identify me as the leader to my dog. I want her to be able to sniff around, and yes, it should be on my terms! Thanks. Also, I will "release" her from the heel with a marker, on my terms. Now, that makes total sense to me, and should to my girl as well.
Thanks Connie,
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walking on leash/heeling
#93509 - 12/28/2005 06:50 PM 
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