Before we look at how to teach a dog to heel, is everyone clear about what “heel” means? I for one, before I learned dog discipline techniques, didn’t have a clue.

The desired outcome when you teach a dog to heel is to have your dog walk on your left side, neither too far ahead or too far behind. In parallel and equal stride if you may.

So how do we teach a dog to heel and show the kind of dog discipline that will make all your dog owner friends green with envy? It’s actually not difficult at all.

A couple of things before we start any lesson — make sure your dog has been fed, and has done his or her business first. You don’t want your dog to be distracted by hunger or discomfort.

Make sure you are in a good mental state too! If you’re in a bad mood, forgo the lesson for the day. Otherwise you might end up shouting at your dog which is a bad thing.

Also, a basic fundamental — your dog must already know its name so that it doesn’t get confused by the new command. OK, with that out of the way, let’s start.

Here are the 3 simple steps to teach a dog to heel –

1. Face your dog in the right direction

Needless to say, the starting point when you want to teach a dog to heel is ensuring the dog is facing the right way. Just point your hand in the right direction, use a firm friendly tone and say “this way, this way”. A bit of prodding should do the trick.

2. Say “heel” and move forward a few steps

Have your dog’s favorite treat handy and hold this just out of reach as you move forward. Keep tempting him or her until your dog moves with you. Everytime your dog gets it, praise him or her, or give it a good pat. But don’t surrender the treat yet. Not until you are done with the lesson!

Keep your lesson short, no more than 15 to 20 minutes. But try and do this a few times a day to reinforce the learning.

3. Finally, try this without a leash

You will want to start “heel” training with a leash. The ultimate goal when you teach a dog to heel is to remove the leash. This will be the final “test”. A dog that can heel while unleashed is a wonder to behold. (Watch your friends turn green like Kermit!)

To get the desired result, do be prepared for some hard work. Just be patient and persevere. Dog discipline doesn’t come easy for all dogs. Some dogs get it faster than others.

But keep going. When you are able to teach a dog to heel, the results are so rewarding. Plus isn’t it fun to spend more time with that lovely dog of yours? And even more fun when you see your friends’ faces!

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