Heelwork Foundations: Clicker Dog Training

[@murwill1]

this is one of your best video yet. it is very detailed and easy to understand thanks for this

[@MarshWoolf]

Pam loved the targeting of the leg - my youngest already knew brick work (though without the leg touching criteria), so I started the leg targeting without the perch - I did one session of it the other day and tonight he not only remembered it but maintained it no matter where I went with pivots and turns and backups, He's a smart boy but it was well beyond anything I expected. Needless to say - love the clear cut criteria!!! Thanks!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

I do add the cue once the dog understands the behavior/position. I might not have added the cue in this video, yet. Once the dog understands the behavior and I know they are about to do the behavior, I will say the new verbal cue. When the dog does it, I click/treat. If the dog does not do the behavior, I move and when the dog finds the position, I click/treat. I keep repeating until the dog understands the new verbal cue. Hope that helps. :)

[@corgiman23]

Thank you Pam for making this working on focused heeling with my mini aussie great ideas her. I love the way you break everything down in your videos. Glad to see Twix on the med

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Awesome! Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your kind words about Twix. I am super thrilled he is moving so well after two back surgeries. :)

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@PapillonHoney I would move away and as she is moving toward you BEFORE she touches your foot, click and treat. You would be capturing the movement into position. Also, if she does touch your foot, you could move away and try it again. Do not click and reinforce the foot target if you don't want it. Twix used to just lean into my leg as we walked, because I clicked him for touching my leg and it made it hard to walk. I had to retrain it a little and now he is doing better! Hope that helps!

[@kikopup]

Pam that was amazing! I bet you spent a lot of time editing this one to perfection!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

I train eye contact separate and work on building duration. I have a video called Loose Leash Walking with eye contact and focus and this is actually how I teach eye contact with heel work. :)

[@Pamsdogacademy]

I would use a lure if the dog is not understanding and the shaping process is going slow. This way the lure can eventually become a follow the hand until you can fade it completely. I would also do a few on the box and then get a lower box and a lower box or book until you can fade the object. Some dogs just pick it up and others do take a lot of time. Twix makes it look easy, he is just a crazy smart dog. Hang in there. I hope those few things help...

[@francinevale4805]

Yay I am going to try this all out! I have been so confused about heelwork because I am new in the dog training world, and I have my first dog so I waited a year and half to start doing heelwork yeah I know we are so late (but I didn't want to risk getting everything messed up). Now with your guidance I feel confident that I will get this right! I think my biggest problem that is I rush things too quickly. I will let you know how it goes!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@murwill1 Thanks, it is probably my best one because it is actually an episode on my Loose Leash Walking DVD that I sell on my website. I do put a little more effort into the videos that I put into my DVDs that I sell. :) I figure since I am charging for the DVD that the episode should be the best that I can get it. Plus, I like to keep my KZbin videos shorter than my DVD videos. :) So, THANK YOU!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@murwill1 Thanks! :) I actually do not teach an automatic sit because I do not do competition obedience and I do not want my dogs sitting when I stop moving. I will cue a sit when I need one. :) Hope that makes sense.

[@pinquiwoolf]

Thank you so much Pam. This video is great, you explain the process so clearly in such a short video. I'm going to give this a go this afternoon : ) you are an inspiration!!!!!

[@francinevale4805]

Amazing video!!!!! Anyone else having problems with eye contact? I heard someone saying to train eye contact, and heel separately and then combine them.. what do you guys think?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@murwill1 Isell a few different DVDs on my webste and it is in the video description. pamsdogtraining com

[@pinquiwoolf]

Hey Pam, i think we've had a small breakthrough : ) I had a friend watch me adn realised that it was my clicker timing that was out : ( I needed to raise the critera a little higher and wait until he moved round to touch my leg. So we've sorted the problem in one sesion : ) hopefully i can now move down box sizes until working on the floor. I'm really pleased : ) thanks for your suggestions.

[@murwill1]

@murwill1 Well then. I must buy your DVD! how do i get it?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Thank you! You are welcome! Sounds like you have a smart pup! Keep up the great work!

[@TheTerrinelson]

Thanks! This is the best tutorial I've seen. When do you name the behaviour? Do you name heel first and once solid name side? Thank you!😊

[@Pamsdogacademy]

That is awesome! Have a great Labor Day! Pam

[@francinevale4805]

Wow! Thanks! I would have never had thought of that!! How do you know when it is right time to combine both? Plus sience I have been working til now only in the living room, when I change places do I need to start over both separately and then combine them once again?

[@TyRoot]

Hey Pam! Amazing videos. Would this type of training work with an Aussie Shepherd? I see you use BC mostly. Thanks!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Ty Root Thank you 😊! Yes, it will absolutely work for your Aussie! 😊

[@AndresGReyesCine]

I love this idea!! The only thing is that I can't get my dog to look at me even with the target. he spins round but does not look up and once I stop and he looks at me I'd click and treat. Once I provide the treat he'd look down again. Any suggestions?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@Blakenest Thank you! You are welcome! If you want to learn more about heelwork and loose leash walking I sell a few DVDs on my website. pamsdogtraining com

[@PapillonHoney]

Yeah Honey and me did it month ago ... with the prob that she uses my feet as a target .. you ll see on the vid ... do you have a tip for me how i can change it :.-)

[@murwill1]

Yea for this. I am wondering when you are working heel and then sit. how do you cue that? because he is used to heeling while standing.

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@pinquiwoolf You are welcome! Good Luck!

[@jillk5826]

My dog understands to step up on the platform but when I try to teach her to move by holding the treat away from her head she steps of towards it instead of moving her back legs. Any idea how to help?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Jill K Try not to move the treat too far away, and click for any hind leg movement.

[@pinquiwoolf]

Thanks so much pam, I'll try with a lure and see if it helps : )

[@azmauigirl]

When did you add in the verbal cues (heel/side)? I never heard you use them. Do you just usually use a hand signal? I know you wait until they have it well learned.

[@pinquiwoolf]

This is soooo hard!!! I've been working on this for more than a week and still can't get it : ( I think i've got stuck using the object, i am standing side on to the object and then when i move around he shuffles round a few steps, It took a long time to get to this stage. Now trying to change the object and he gets stuck and just lies down or stis : ( I haven't taught this behaviour with a lure i have shaped it maybe this is the problem as there is no obvious cue??? Help, getting frustrated ; (

[@Pamsdogacademy]

It will depend on your dog. If he gets in a new environment and acts like he has no idea what you are asking of him, then I would work on the behavior as if it is a new behavior in that new place. However, usually dogs will pick it up quicker because they already do know the behavior. They just don't know it in the new place yet. Every time you change your criterion you might have to go back a few steps and retrain the behavior. Soon he will generalize and just know it. :)

[@nathalielampron]

I use a small plastic bench in my kitchen, like the ones the kids use to get to a high cupboard. It's easier than sitting on the floor the whole time to teach some tricks... And you would look a bit higher to your girl. Maybe as an intermediate step...

[@Cowgirlevie]

Hi Pam. I have a lab puppy. He will put his front paws on the box or bowl but will not move his rear end around independently. He usually just turns his head and touches his butt. Then eventually sits or lays down. What would you suggest?

[@caridc]

I think this is one of my favorite videos! :) Soooo helpful!!

[@Mischeif1231]

I have a kelpie x collie that has a problem of pushing a head of me in heelwork I have not tried this yet but I am planning on doing it but can I ask how did you manage to keep twin to stay on the box when turning as my terrier steps off when I go to turn... Would appreciate a reply... Great video by the way! :-)

[@lorrainenolan3696]

May I please ask why you use something for the dog to stand on ? Can’t he do it and learn it without standing on something ?

[@Pamsdogacademy]

The platform is for teaching the pivot into heel position. Once the dog understands on the platform you fade out the platform. If you watch the entire video, it shows a lot of footage without the platform (bowl).

[@lorrainenolan3696]

Pam's Dog Academy that explains it beautiful!!!! However brandy won’t turn the opposite way she only goes anti clockwise and I have to nudge her round, I know that’s not right but she’s a stubborn one!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Lorraine Nolan Do you use clicker training? If you move towards your dog, will she move away? If she moves one small step, you can click that and micro shape the behavior.

[@christiehubbard3720]

Was wondering how to get the dog to target the bowl while standing. I think this would be great to teach heeling :)

[@Pamsdogacademy]

christie hubbard This is used to train heeling… and the purpose for the video. I would shape the dog to put his paws up on the object and once he is up there reliably then add criteria.

[@christiehubbard3720]

Pam's Dog Academy Thanks - I just started trying to get my beagle to do this - if i pretend to "shake" and her paw lands on the bowl - i treat this - she is usually either laying down or sitting though - is this expected at first? Or do i need to find a way to teach her to target first?

[@pratapambikasingh]

Thanks

[@708Bunny]

Hi Pam, I would love to train to get my dog between the legs to walk or turn around in freestyle.. Issue here is, Im 5'2 feet tall and my 2.2 year old GSD is standard height. Getting him to step on the box with my legs around or to get him to move while he is between my legs is difficult.. Last thing I want to do is end up sitting on his back....Please suggest how to over come this ?. Thanks.

[@littleaussiepoodle5106]

You could stand on some books or block of some kind :) You could also use a flat object for the dog to target, but unless your dog was very good at front paw targeting, they might ignore or be confused by this. I know my dogs are all poor at targeting things like paper or magazines, but it's worth a shot.

[@leotakleewein6437]

when I treat to have head swing away my dogs head will completely turn with out moving back legs to move toward my leg what do I do to stop this

[@Pamsdogacademy]

Do you have video? It would be best if I could see what your dog is doing...

[@rubyshetty5942]

i dont have clicker soo howll it will work plss help me with that

[@Pamsdogacademy]

You can use a marker word such as yes, if you do not have a clicker. :) Check out my clicker basics video to learn how to use a marker word the same way you use a clicker.

[@rubyshetty5942]

Ok

[@sarahandchichimanley1813]

I can only get mine to step with four paws not two

[@Dehzee]

awesomeness!

[@Pamsdogacademy]

@fickla01 TRUE TRUE!!!

[@cinnamon8884]

what a great tutorial! love it :)

[@randydoriege6212]

merci infiniment ! thanks a lot ! i have to work and yet i know how :-)

[@Meiiiow]

MrRepzion

[@pinquiwoolf]

you make ths look so easy but it's not : )