With the dog sitting on your left side, give the command "dogs name, heel". Start out on the left foot, at a brisk pace. If the dog does not come with you immediately, give the lead a short jerk, encouraging him to come close by slapping your side and praising him. Always give the voice command before jerking the leash. After your dog goes along well at heel start to make turns and about turns (to the right only so as not to tangle him). Pivot smartly, snap the lead when the dog does not follow your movement, but always release the lead immediately after each correction. If the dog lags, circle to the right, so that he has further to go, patting your side to encourage him on. If he forges ahead, make left-hand turns and circle to the left, brushing your knee against him if needed to hold him back (this way the dog blames himself for bumping into the trainer). Once your dog has gotten the general idea of heeling, you can alternate ordinary strides with fast and slow pace; this will keep him alert and attentive. DO NOT adjust your speed to his. Make him keep up or stay back with you.
With the lead in your right hand and
walking with your dog at heel, come to a halt and give the command "Sit". Raise your
hand, palm turned upward, this is the hand signal to "Sit". If your dog does not
respond, place your hand under the dog's collar and place him in a sitting
position. When he sits, pat him and be sure to praise him. If the dog sits in a
crooked position, make him sit straight, then praise. This exercise will have to be practiced
repeatedly and probably over a period of many lessons before the dog will sit automatically
when you halt or give the command.
Then , starting with your right foot, walk a circle around your dog, holding the lead. Repeat the command and the whole lesson if he moves. If he moves when you return to the heeling position, hold the lead over his back to the left and tell him again to "Stay!". When he completes the exercise correctly. Praise him and let him relax and play.
After your dog has had sufficient lessons to stay while you walk around him,
he is ready for a new lesson. Give him the command to "Stay"; walk out in front of him to the
end of the lead and face him. If he is reliable about it, you can drop the lead and move a
little farther away, but always return quickly and correct him if he moves. If necessary,
go back to the "Sit-stay" training on lead.
Allow the dog to wander on the lead out to it's full extent. Give the command "Come!" If he does start toward you right away, jerk the lead and encourage him with praise to come to you. If necessary, reel him in, praising all the way. Pat him, allow him to wander again and repeat, praising generously when he obeys.
To make the exercise a neat one, leave your dog on a sit-stay, walk to the end of the lead and face him. Call him, and gather up the lead so that he comes directley in front of you. Tell him to sit, making sure that he does it squarely, not off to one side or at a distance from you. When your dog will come a short distance promptley, back up as he comes to you, praising him all the way in across the yard, so that he works happily.
Finally, you can try it with the lead dragging loose, but if he does not come immediatley, run back to him,jerk the lead, and gather it up, pulling him in while you repeat the command.