Heeling is the foundation of teaching polite leash walking and extended focus while out in public. It means that your dog is walking right by your side, keeping pace with you, turning and stopping when you do. It is beautiful to watch a fully focused dog moving with their person as if in a dance.
Traditionally, heeling is taught with the dog on the owner's left side, which leaves their right hand (probably the dominant one) to fire a hunting rifle, throw an item for the dog to retrieve, or get on a horse. You are free to choose whether you want your own dog to heel on your left or right side. You can even teach both and use them each as needed.
You should do all of this foundation training in your home or yard, rather than trying to get your dog to focus and learn something brand new during walks.
Getting into heel position
We'll start by teaching our dog how to get into “heel position” at your side. I will assume that the dog is on your left for these explanations - use your right hand and do everything as in a mirror image if you want him on your right side.
Start with your dog in front of you. Hold a treat in your left hand.
Entice your dog to follow your left hand as you swing it back, as if you’re reaching for something behind you. (If you have a large dog, you may need to step back with your left leg so your hand can reach far enough.)
When your dog has followed your hand far enough that his butt is by your left leg, move your hand in a “u” shape so that he turns 180 degrees. (Make sure that you are making the “u” counter-clockwise, so your dog is turning toward you to make the turn.) He should end up at your left side, facing the same direction as you.
Let your dog eat the treat in your hand.
Repeat steps 1-4 until you can smoothly and quickly move your dog from in front of you to next to your left side, facing forward.
Now practice steps 1-4 with an empty hand – no treat to lure the dog. Once he is in heel position, you'll get a treat from your pocket/treat pouch and hand it to him with your left hand.
Luring River into right and left heel positions.
Transitioning from lure to hand signal with Rafaelo.
Adding “start” and “stop” cues
Some dogs will easily learn how to line up at your side, but then they wander off after they get their treat. Here we’re teaching them to start heeling when they hear “heel,” and that they’re done when they hear “free.”
Start with your dog in front of you. Have several treats ready in your pocket/treat pouch or your right hand.
Say “heel.”
Use your (empty) left hand to cue him to come into heel position at your left side.
Reward your dog.
Pause for 1 second, then reward again if your dog stayed next to you in heel position.
Pause for 2 seconds, then reward again if your dog stayed next to you in heel position.
Reward your dog for staying next to you for 1-5 seconds - switch it up so he doesn’t know what to expect. (For example, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 1 second, 4 seconds, 2 seconds, 5 seconds, 2 seconds.)
If at any point your dog wanders off, simply call him back and start again.
When you’re down to your last treat, say “free!”
Then step away from your dog so that you two are no longer lined up, and give him the last treat. Take a break to play or cuddle.
Rafaelo staying in heel position in between treats.
Adding steps
Once your dog is reliably getting into heel position and waiting at your side until you say “free,” it’s time to get moving!
Start with your dog in heel position.
Take one big step forward.
Reward your dog as he steps forward with you. Make sure to hand him the treat with your left hand if he is on your left side, or your right hand if he is on your right side.
If your dog didn't step forward, encourage him to do so by patting your side, wiggling your fingers, or making a “kissy” noise. Reward him when he catches up.
If your dog walks too far forward and passes you, call him back and restart. On the next few reps, bring your hand down with the treat earlier, so that you “catch” the dog before he gets past you.
Don’t immediately take another step - instead, reward your dog for just staying by your side and waiting patiently for 1-5 seconds at a time.
Repeat steps 1-4 until your dog smoothly steps forward with you every time, and he stays waiting by your side when you are stopped.
Taking 1 step at a time in heel position with Rafaelo. (This video does not include the owner stopping and having the dog wait in heel position for several seconds for a treat.)
River learning to walk forward just 1 step at a time in heel position. (This video does not include the owner stopping and having the dog wait in heel position for several seconds for a treat.)
What’s the reason for rewarding your dog so much for just standing next to you? It’s easy to get your dog to go forward - most of our dogs need a lot more practice slowing and stopping to keep pace with us slow humans! We want to instill a strong foundation in watching your movement and sticking to your side like glue instead of rushing forward.