As dog trainers, one of the most common complaints we hear from our clients is that their dogs have poor leash manners. The dogs dart and zip back and forth from left to right, sniffing every tree, flower, or shrub along the way, pulling their owners to where the dogs want to go. These people are essentially being controlled by their dogs. Teaching your dog to heel will transform this situation.
Aside from the relaxation value of having a dog walk calmly beside you, the heel position has a huge positive impact on her overall state of mind and adds tremendous benefits to any dog training program. What are those benefits? I’m glad you asked…
Physical positioning and R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Yes, a proper heel position looks great… but it really goes much deeper than that. The position of your dog during walks says a lot about her mental state. When your dog is walking, calmly, next to you, she is connected with you, focused on where you are and where you are going. This makes her a lot less likely to react to things in the environment, not only because of her physical position, but because she is relaxed and tuned into you, not disconnected, overly excited, and/or externally focused on every dog, bike, jogger, bush, and butterfly.
Impulse Control
As you already know, dogs are pretty impulsive little creatures. A walk brings a constant stream of distractions and temptations their way, making it hard work for them to stay focused on and engaged with you. A structured walk exercises your dog not only physically, but also mentally. A tired dog is a good dog, and working your dog physically and mentally is going leave her even more ready to relax at home.
Relationship Building
Having your dog walk alongside you requires her to have a great deal of trust in you as a leader. As she follows your direction, rather than being allowed to take the world head on, she will relax and calm down. Dogs learn that they don’t need to worry about all those scary things in the world because they are being guided through safely. For dogs who are nervous, fearful, or anxious, this can be a huge game changer.
Heeling is Doggie Yoga
How many of you out there do yoga? If you do… how do you feel when you finish a session? You are relaxed, you feel like you’ve worked your body and your mind, and your sense of well being has completely changed for the better. A walk with your dog should leave her feeling the same.
It is often said that dogs with behavioral issues need more exercise. Probably true, but the point needs further clarification. The dog needs more structured exercise. Running or biking with an anxious dog, without any structure to help focus her energy, can leave her feeling even more amped up, the complete opposite of what she needs. Turning the walk into a time of bonding with you will help her calm down. This is incredibly therapeutic for all kinds of behavioral issues.
If you are experiencing unsafe or unwanted problem behaviors with your dog, the walk is one piece of the puzzle that may need fixing. If you are walking your dog on a flexi-lead, allowing her to be in control of the walk, or if she is already fearful or anxious, try introducing a loose leash heel. Turning walks into times when your dog is connected to and engaged with you will greatly strengthen the bond of trust between you and your best friend.
Bridget Murphy owns Koru K9 Dog Training + Rehabilitation with her husband Ray. They live in the Outer Richmond of San Francisco with their two German Shepherds, Luna and Nero. Bridget can be reached at 415-583-5412.
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