spiritdogs
Posted : 1/26/2007 12:15:03 PM
ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d
Emma has a really pretty "heel". Lots of attention, really nice position, always happy to carry out the command. The only thing is, I have to be focused on her to get it. *I* have to give eye contact, LOL. I'm sure there's something not quite right about that. If I get into a conversation, or get distracted, she's over to the side, in front, or behind, sniffing or playing or whatever. I don't mind when she puts herself down and takes a nap, but if we're walking, I'd like for her to stay next to me. Just on a leash. She doesn't have to do it all the time. How can I perfect her "heel"? I do clicker train, but only for shaping behaviors. I don't carry a clicker all the time. I do generally have treats and toys when she's out with me.
jennie, keep in mind that "heel" is really a behavior chain, and not a single behavior. If it was, there would be only one behavior, and, as we know, when the dog is at heel, she must walk fast, walk slow, sit, start off, stay in place if your right foot starts off instead of your left, and maintain a position. That's complicated stuff. Remember that we only call a behavior (or a behavior chain) by its name when the dog has the complete behavior down pat. So, carry your clicker for this one and C/T when the dog gets to your left leg, and during the moving phases for staying there, plus for the auto-sit. Then, once that gets reliable, it's all "heel", and you can use the cue at all those points so the dog gets to understand the entire behavior means "stay right by my left leg no matter what, and speed up or slow down when I do". Then, you can begin to insist on straighter sits, and precision in the heel. Your dog may have learned that the eye contact is the behavior while doing the other stuff. You just need to convince her that it's the position that is the real behavior you want. [
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