Clicker training to heel

[ShinyAndNew]

I have a clicker. I have treats. We started with 'sit' and 'down' He already knows these but is not great at them, so I want to improve on them. Plus the man in the petshop said I need him to learn about the clicker and the treat. So to start with something he knows then click and treat when he responds.

All this went fine, but when we tried to move onto to heel and I tried luring him into heel position with a treat, he just sat there looking at me.

I would spend a couple of days just cliking and then giving a treat. No command or anything. This will reinforce the clicker.

Then lure the dog into a sit and click and treat do this for several days do not say sit. Do wait for the dog to offer the behaviour eg just look at him and say nothing eventualy he will sit.

To do heel work. Do it somewhere secure but without the lead. Lure the dog to your side and walk forward and the dog should follow if you have something yummy in your hand. If dog is on the left have the food in the left hand clicker in right. When he is in teh correct position click and treat. At first you wil hopefully be doing this a lot do not say heel or any command for several days. When you have worked on it and he is aware of the position you can then say heel. I have a heel command for the dog to be on my left hand side and a close command for the dog to walk on the right. A good idea to get them used to working on both sides of you.

With clicking training take it slowly and if they make a mistake they are still learning so do have loads of patience. For example if the dog goes ahead of you don't tell him off just lure him back and click he will soon realise the best place to be is next to you.

Eventually work up to doing it on a loose lead and then with distractions. When you add the lead never ever have a tight lead as you will teach the dog to pull. So if the dog goes to far ahead lure him back again to the correct position and click.

Do treat regulary and do be prepared to refresh this training even when they seem very solid on the heel as it just reinforces that good behaviour.

good luck

Thanks Minimu. I'll try that.