I would appreciate any input to help my problem. First to provide some insight I have a 1yr old GSD who has good drive and does very well in obiedance. My GSD does great with heeling on walks and during training, however, I have a problem getting him to get into the heel position on recalls. On recalls he does a great job of returning into the sit position in front of me, however, I'am having a hard time training him to return to the heel position from the sit position. I have tried leading him with the leash around my back and have tried leading him with a food reward into the position. He seems to get confused if I give him the heel command when I do either one. Any input would help alot. Please let me know what I'm doing wrong so that I can correct my errors and not confuse my GSD. Thanks.
Kristel Smart Webboard User Reg: 10-03-2006
Posts: 1548
Loc: Vermont
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I didn't put a command to it until the behavior was solid. My guy learned it as strictly a hand-signal first. Now that he's very familiar with the behavior and knows that "foos" (or heel) ALWAYS means come to a heel position, there is no confusion. It just took awhile for him to make that connection.
I did the lure/reward thing that you are doing, having the dog follow the food behind your back and into position. It took about a week or two for him to do it without needing to follow food, but almost four months to generalize "foos" with always being in position on my left side, whether sitting in front of me, sniffing the ground, walking forward, etc. Until then I had to train the finish as a separate behavior.
I'm pretty happy with the result that I got, but somebody with more/better experience might have a slicker way to get it done in less time.
Thanks for your input. I think the command itself was causing the confusion with him, because up until now he has only been told to heel while in motion on walks or during obeidance. I will try the method you shared, which sounds alot less confusing for the dog.
Reg: 01-23-2006
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cali & Wash State
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If the dog is having trouble with the concept of returning to heel position from the front, sometimes starting with quarter turns is easier for the dog to "get it". With him sitting in "fus" position on your left, pivot just slightly on your left foot, a quarter turn to your right. Now give your verbal command and with your leash pop him in to your left so he is once again in correct position. As soon as he is, reward. Keep making these little quarter turns, you should very quickly see him moving himself into position.
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Teaching the Heel Position from a Sit
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