Should I begin heel training at 9 1/2 weeks or wait longer? I think its time, or past time as she pulls hard on the lead and off lead runs around wherever. My training book says wait until 12-16 weeks so I have been hesitant. Thanks.
Re: Heel command? Heel on lead? or? I would definitely use this time to start training her to walk to heel and to come to you when you call, as she will naturally want to follow you! And I would do it off lead at first, out in your yard and in the house as well. Again, remember to keep it fun and keep using a very encouraging voice. She wants to be with you and will tend to follow you around, so make use of that now. In a few weeks she will be a lot more independent, and less likely to stick close to you. But don't expect perfection; that will take quite a long time! Also, I would dump your puppy training book and get a new one!!! ;D ;D ;D It sounds to me as though some of the training information is a bit old fashioned. I hugely recommend Pippa's book The Happy Puppy Handbook, but there are plenty of others out there which are based on positive training methods.
Re: Heel command? Heel on lead? or? Thanks. This is my feeling as well. I will start this evening. It is time to dump the books.. Maybe I can use them as chew toys.
Re: Heel command? Heel on lead? or? [quote author=Dan.NY link=topic=5827.msg74884#msg74884 date=1399560344] Thanks. This is my feeling as well. I will start this evening. It is time to dump the books.. Maybe I can use them as chew toys. [/quote] ;D ;D ;D
Re: Heel command? Heel on lead? or? Bear in mind I have no experience at all, but as soon as we were able to walk Benson we started to train a strict heel, no sniffing and a short lead, lots of praise and treats when this went well. Now he is much bigger weighing 25kgs and very muscular, nearly 7 months old and I am so glad now that we made such an effort earlier. We have also just found out that one of the reasons the original owner of Benson's sire let him go because he was a very powerful dog with quite a presence. One of the comments our gun dog trainer made is some people don't start early because you do have to be a little firm and this is not so good for a little pup There again my understanding is that working dogs are trained until around 6 months old anyhow.
Re: Heel command? Heel on lead? or? A completely futile excersize with a 9.5 week old on a lead with so much potential for it to go horribly wrong turning into a bad experience for the pup. Apart from those times where safety of the pup is a concern I wouldn't have a lead near it. A pup at that age will naturally want to walk beside you so use that to your advantage off lead. There is time enough for formal heel work at 6 months when the pup is mentally ready for it. Between now and then make the pups experience of walking beside you the best experience it knows not the worst.
