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Quite
apart from the importance of teaching the dog to heel on lead, comfortably on
your left side, for obedience tests, it is absolutely essential to have your dog
under control when taking him for a walk even if you are not in the slightest
bit interested in obedience competitions.
There are
basically two ways to teach your dog to heel on lead.
The first way is the old-fashion way, which does involve an element
of compulsion, and the second way is the motivational way, which relies
on food or a play object.
It is
perhaps unfair to call the first way a ”forced” method, because even though it
does involve an element of compulsion, using the word “forced” gives the
impression that the a choker chain- a linked chain collar – was placed on the
dog and the dog was dragged along by the leash, whether it wanted to follow you
or not.
This was
certainly not the case, even with the so called “old fashioned” method of leash
training. What
in effect happened, was that the trainer would place
a training collar – a collar with small chain links – on the dog’s next,
attached a lead and encourage the dog to follow on his left side by means of
continual, gently, little jerks on the lead. The accent is on the word “gentle”
not harsh or vigorous.
This would result in a snap-like action
on the collar. The trainer would
encourage the dog to follow by calling it’s name in a encouraging, persuasive
tone. The encouraging tone of voice accompanied by the sound of the little jerks
on the choker chain would encourage the dog to follow.
The
reasoning behind this method of training was that the dog would soon realize
that it would be most comfortable when it walked at a stead pace
next to the handler, without pulling ahead or lagging back.
When the
handler turned right the handler would give a sharp tug on the lead, not
dragging the dog, but giving a quick jerk and release of the lead.
In many
cases this method of training worked extremely well.
Thousands of dogs were
trained very successfully by
this method. Many obedience
champions were trained in this way.
There is
no doubt however that there are tremendous variations in temperaments of
different dogs and especially the dog’s reaction to the leash training.
Many dogs
seem to have an inborn resistance to the
leash. In many cases it is possible
because the initial introduction to the leash was not well managed. But there is
little doubt that some dogs are definitely more amenable to leash training than
others.
There are
dogs who strongly object to being trained in this “old-fashioned”
way.
They can eventually be trained in this way, but show their resentment by
looking very miserable and depressed and do not follow the trainer in a happy,
carefree way.
The
“modern” method of training – although it cannot really be termed “modern”
because it has been in use for many years now – is to use motivational methods
to encourage the dog to walk, pleasantly and happily on lead.
The common
motivational object is food. Food,
like a piece of boiled liver, held in the left hand in front of the nose of a
pup, is a wonderful inducement to follow you willingly on your left side.
It’s not even necessary to give the food to the pup.
It is used as an inducement to persuade the pup to follow you willingly
and happily.
Another
convenient motivational aid is the dog’s toy, or a ball that he loves to chase.
Here again some dog’s have more natural “prey” drive than others.
The
dog views the ball as the prey object and when it is thrown nothing give
them greater pleasure than to chase it.
Instead
of the food you can use the ball – or toy – as the inducement to persuade
the dog to heel comfortably on your left side.