The Heel Command
Having your dog heel simply means that your dog will walk on your left side with his shoulder next to your leg on a loose leash. The dog will do this no matter which direction you might go or how quickly you turn. Teaching your dog to heel is really important because it will not only make your daily walks far more enjoyable, it will make for a far more tractable companion when the two of you are in crowded or confusing situations. There are a lot of times that you often see people being pulled down the street in all but a flat-out horizontal position behind their dog. There is no reason for this to be going on, and mastering the heel command will help prevent this from happening.
You may want to begin the heel lesson a few steps at a time. Three or four steps at a time without pulling on the lead are three or four steps in the right direction. Take those pull-free steps, have your dog sit, and praise him to the high heavens. It is a good idea to change from the collar your dog normally wears to a special training collar constructed in a manner that will assist in the training. There are many different kinds of collars that can be purchased.
The Down Command
Once your dog has mastered the sit and stay commands, you may begin work on the down command. This is the single-word command for lie down. Use the down command only when you want the dog to lie down. If you want your dog to get off your sofa or to stop jumping on people, use the off command. Do not interchange these two commands. Doing so will only confuse your dog, after which evoking the right response will become next to impossible. The down position is especially useful if you want your dog to remain in a particular place for a long period of time. A dog is usually far more inclined to stay put when he is lying down than when he is sitting. Teaching this command may take more time and patience than other lessons. It is believed by some animal behaviorists that assuming the down position somehow represents submissiveness to the dog. It’s all part of canine body language.
Begin with your dog sitting in front of and facing you. Hold a treat in your right hand with the excess part of the leash in your left hand. Bring the treat under your dog’s nose and slowly move your hand down to the ground. Your dog will follow the treat with his head and neck. As he does, give the command, “down,” and exert light pressure on his shoulders with your left hand. If your dog resists the pressure on his shoulders, do not continue pushing down. Doing so will only create more resistance.
An alternative method to getting your dog headed into the down position is to move around to the dog’s right side, and as you draw his attention downward with your right hand, place your right hand or arm under the dog’s front legs and gently slide them forward. In the case of a very young dog or puppy, you will undoubtedly have to be on your knees next to the youngster. As your dog’s forelegs begin to slide out to the front, keep moving the treat along the ground until the dog’s whole body is lying down while continuing to repeat, “down.” once he has assumed the position you desire, give him the treat and a lot of praise. Continue assisting your dog into the down position until he does so on his own. Be firm, be patient, and be prepared for those occasional “I have no idea what you mean” looks your dog student may give you.
