Bob will stick to my side like glue if I've got a lure/treat in my hand... the second I give it to him, he'll run off... like that's the end of the command. I'm guessing I'm doing it wrong as I wouldn't be able to get him to heel without waving anything under his nose... Any tips on how to start training a 'proper' off lead heel walk please? Thank you kindly!
Re: off lead heel walk Louise how good is your on the lead training as I would definitely start there if you haven't trained off the heelwork lead before. I'm always careful to mark the start and the end of the exercise with a sit and if I'm allowing him, a cue (off you go) that he is released so he can go off. I also would build it up really slowly...with only one or 2 steps in between the sits, perhaps just dropping the lead first before trying to losing it completely. Go back a step if Bob gets it wrong and continue practicing. For me and Welly it goes something like this Sit Heel for a few paces, click and treat as we go along Sit Then either a sit/stay while I walk away or sit and off you go (release) Obivously the shorter the distance in the middle the more difficult it is to C&T and it might feel like you are only C&T the sits but Welly seemed to get it fine and after a while the heelwork in the middle becomes longer and you can include changes of direction/pace etc. You can also start to introduce off lead with Pippa's technique of an imaginary circle around you, click the dog as he enters the circle, then throw his treat outside the circle so he comes rushing back to get another treat, reducing the circle as he gets it so he's then getting treats for walking by your side ...perhaps finishing with a sit and off you go when you have finished the exercise. This is what I did with Welly when he was a small pup to get him used to and rewarded for walking besides me but I think the sit at the start also helps him know that I'm expecting something more 'formal' from him. I hope this helps but I'm sure others will also give you more advice and there are lots of articles on the main site that do help with this too...depending on where you are and what you/Bob can already do Lisa
Re: off lead heel walk Pippa's articles are very good on this - training an off lead heel helps enormously with on lead heel, I think. Bob is legging it because he is just focused on the lure and just trying to get it - once that's done, it's done. You need to move away from this so he understands he is carrying out a behaviour in return for a reward. Then he'll start to try to repeat the behaviour. You could try the "catch up" game. Make sure you are in a quiet place where there isn't much else for Bob to do. Have him on lead, show him some great treats (make sure they are great, not too small so he can find them easily in grass, don't be tempted to use kibble or normal stuff, push the boat out a bit, and use a small handful), scatter the treats on the ground under his nose and as he puts his head down to eat, unclip his lead and walk off quite quickly. Most dogs, when they have finished eating the treats, will hurry to catch up with you because you seems to be in the mood to scatter loads of fabulous treats around. As soon as he catches up with you, click (if you use a clicker), and drop 2 or 3 fabulous treats on your left hand side (use more than one treat so he doesn't just catch it). Just have your hand down at your side and drop the treats. Keep walking. Do this about 5 times then stop for a break and do something else but try to repeat the catch up game lots and lots, while training, out on walks etc (don't try with loads of distractions though, until he really knows the game). Once he knows the game, don't drop the treats right away, wait for one step. Then two steps...progress slowly. Once he can walk at heel add a cue (don't do this until he is trotting along beside you for 10 steps or more and his response is reliable). You can use the drop the treat thing every time you take off his lead - this also has the advantage of getting him to focus on you when his lead comes off and you can end up with a dog that walks to heel when you take his lead off (I'm still waiting and hoping for that though! ;D ;D ;D ).
