Hi All,

I have searched the boards and not quite found what I was looking for. I was hoping some of you may be able to give me some new options.

I have recently purchased a new dog from Germany. She is 3 years old and a really nice dog. My only problem is that the heel position is totaly incorrect! There is always something isnt there?!!

When she heels she is crowding, forging, looking back up at me and her body position is also skew/crabbing almost.

I have tried the food and the ball under my arm to get her to move back and left circles. What I basically have done is start with the correct basic position and wait for focus. As soon as you move forward and give the command FUSS, she immediately takes up this incorrect position. The heel has obviously been trained this way!!
Should I basically start from scratch using food and retrain the heel with a different command or have any of you got any other ideas of correcting an obvious 3 year problem???? And also how long do you think it would take to correct the problem?

PS Also tried correcting her on the pinch, she gives a yelp but really seems to not take any notice of the correction or perhaps she just thinks she is being corrected for nothing as this is the right position for her to be in!

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Should I basically start from scratch using food and retrain the heel with a different command

yes. go back to the beginning. use "heel".

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perhaps she just thinks she is being corrected for nothing as this is the right position for her to be in!

Robynne,

If you are correct that the dog has been trained to heel in the manner you described in your OP then your comment quoted above is also correct. The advise to start from square one is probably the best. You may get quicker results if you change the command. I'd be interested to hear what methods you use and how they worked for you once you tackle this issue, as I am having a forging problem too. My dog will stay in line with me and give focus but be canted out on an angle to my body for the benefit of her comfort and I'm having a hell of a time getting her in line with me.

If she has been trained in the wrong position for 3 years, you may have to start from scratch. There is a method you could try but it may not work in this case. You can use a fence (I use a tennis court) to keep her in the correct position. Start with her between you and the fence (it helps keep her in postion) be sure to reward along the way. When she seems to understand the command, you can turn around and walk with her on the outside and you next to the fence. If she gets out of position, turn around and walk with her next to the fence again. When she is forging (and you have her next to the fence),you can block forward movement with your knee. Also, if you are using food rewards, feed more from the hip than in front. Good luck!

To correct crabbing: Place the dog between you & a fence or a building & continue with the heeling. The dog can't swing out their butt with a fence or wall to block it. For forging: If using food as a reward, keep your closed hand low & close to your side. If using a toy you will need to hold it higher unless you can keep it in your hand if not block the dog with you knee. Now to start: go back to basics & take only one step at a time & reward after 1 step when in correct position. Only add another step when the dog can always stay in the correct position after 1 step. Continue with 2 steps until alway stays in correct position then add another step & so on.

Edited to say: I see that Mary was posting the same time that I was.