Heeling
For the average pet dog heeling is not an important exercise to learn. Yet, one often can find a pet dog out on a walk
being shouted at to “heel” while the owner repeatedly applies sharp tugs on the leash to get the dog to walk next to him.
Heeling is a position with the dog sitting or walking on the left side of the handler. To “Heel” simply means, to “hold that position.”
It is an attention exercise used in mainly two instances:
1) When in traffic, or crossing an
intersection, and you want your dog to pay attention and stay close to you. This is when you will want your dog to, “Heel.”
2) In obedience trails or competitions, when you want to show the judge that you have created absolute attention and
obedience in the required exercises to be performed, you “heel” your dog. Read the rest of this entry »