mrv
Posted : 4/16/2006 6:30:18 PM
One option used by Patti Russo is to do an about turn halt. It prevents forging. Another option is to do left about turns. Start practicing heeling with only 3-4 strides. Stop play, pet, praise,etc, Then start again. Precision heeling (OTCH level is really beyond a puppy this age if you are going more than a couple of strides). Another option is to find a secure area (fenced). Get some REALLY REALLY good treats that are not used for anything else. Go into this area off lead. Wave the hand with a treat near your dog's nose. Then you wander about without paying any attention to your dog. As soon as your dog is one your left side, stop (make sure your legs are not together; most dogs learn that position as "sit") and feed the puppy a small piece of treat. While the puppy is chewing/gulping turn left INTO/toward the dog, so you are now going in the opposite direction. This automatically forces the dog out of heel position. It becomes the responsibility of the dog (if they want that treat) to find heel position again. As the puppy gets the hang of it, start moving very erratically. Your puppy will soon learn heel position is where the cookies appear.