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From time to time the Sheriff’s Canine Association will have articles detailing training tips for you and your dog.  This is an article on basic obedience, teaching the dog to heel and sit at heel.  We hope this will help you get started and enjoy the time with your family member.

Many times police canine handlers hear, “Man, I wish my dog would do that” or “Hey, would you take my dog and teach him something”?  I know people laugh and joke about how well police canines mind their handlers, but the bottom line is the only difference between a police canine and the average family canine in the area of obedience is the amount of time officers spend with their canines.

Obedience is the basic fundamental behavior all police canines must have.  Without obedience they won’t be able to do area searches, building searches, quite simply they will not work.  If the handler does not have control over the canine he/she is useless.  Police canine handlers put many hours of obedience training in with their canines before they get certified to work the streets.  Teaching a canine obedience is done in a series of steps.  The first step is the handler must be willing to take time everyday or at least every other day to work with their canine in obedience.  Handlers must be consistent in the behaviors they are trying to teach the canine and the way they are teaching the canine.

There are a couple of terms used in training canines such as signal, pressure praise or compulsion and avoidance. I’m sure there are more; however, they pretty much have the same meaning.  Canines will automatically migrate to positive re-enforcement and avoid negative pressure.  How this translates to teaching a canine obedience is when you are attempting to teach a canine a behavior you have to be patient, precise, consistent and intelligent in what you are attempting to accomplish. When you tell your canine to heel that is a signal.  When the canine does not start walking at the heel you give a leash correction that is compulsion.  Whenever you give a correction and the canine completes the behavior you are looking for you need to give praise.  Most canines will try to avoid compulsion and if they understand what you are asking them to do they will eagerly and willingly do it. 

To start your obedience session with your dog you will need a few things:

• A six foot leash
• A correction collar like a chain collar, also known as a choke chain
• Your dog’s favorite toy. Tennis balls or Kong’s are most commonly used
• And most importantly you will need a positive happy attitude

Before you get started you should make sure your dogs training collar is on correctly.  For a choke chain to work it must be on the dog in such a way as so it will release the pressure once the leash is lowered.  To make sure the collar is on the correct way place the collar over one of your hands.  Pull on the live ring tightening the collar around your hand.  Once you loosen the pressure from the live ring the collar should fall free releasing the pressure.  If it is on incorrectly the collar will bind up and not release and not work correctly. Now that you have seen the differences between the two you will be able to place the collar on your dog.

The first thing to remember when beginning an obedience session is to keep it fun for you and the dog.  Something that the both of you enjoy together you will continue to do.  Also, ask yourself what you want to accomplish with your dog.  Would it be simple obedience like walking at heel on a leash or complete off leash obedience and recalls?  The more you want to accomplish the more time and effort you should be willing to put into your lessons. 

To get started with basic heeling have the collar on the dog and a six-foot leash attached to the live ring.  Have the dog sitting at your left side.  For the dog to be in the correct heel position he/she should be sitting with their right shoulder equal with your left thigh. Your dog should not be too far in front of your leg or behind your leg. The dog should be sitting on its back feet, not rolled over on a hip.  If your dog wants to sit on their hip that will be find for the start.  This will most likely change as the both of you become more efficient in obedience.  One thing to remember is when you start walking with your dog at heel you always begin with your left foot.  The movement of your left foot is a queue to your dog to start walking.  As you step forward tell your dog heel as you give a slight forward tug on the leash.  Your leash correction should be in the direction that you are walking.  Once the dog has started to move release the pressure from the leash and tell your dog good boy/girl.  Always praise your dog for doing a behavior.  This will help them understand what you want them to do.

You should walk a short distance and then prepare to come to a stop.  In your mind you should think about what you want the dog to do as you come to a stop.  Be prepared to make a correction or give immediate praise.  As you are coming to a stop hold your leash with your right hand pull upward on the leash slightly as you place pressure on your dog’s hindquarters with your left hand.  You should be making an up and down motion like an oil pump. This will help your dog sit correctly.  The amount of pressure and correction you use is based on the dog’s willingness to sit.  In teaching dogs any behavior you want to use the lowest level correction possible.  Once your dog has sat make sure to praise them.  Stand there calmly for a minute to make sure the dog stays in the sit at heel.  With your dog in the sit position give them the heel command and begin walking to repeat the exercise.  This should be done ten to twelve times a day for a couple of days.  Your dog will pick up this behavior quickly.  Always remember when you finish an exercise play with your dog with his/her toy.  This is a fun way to finish.

Now that your dog has accomplished the walking at heel you can begin to make right and left turns.  While walking with your dog on leash prepare to make a right turn.  In making a right turn pivot on your right foot.  As you turn give a leash correction in the direction of the turn.  Make the turn and continue to walk in the changed direction.  Remember to praise your dog.  In making a left turn you pivot on your left foot.  To set up for a leash correction for a left turn hold the leash in your left hand.  As you make your turn give a correction to the left.  As you come out of the turn give your dog verbal and physical praise by petting him/her on the side of the head.  Make sure not to overdo the petting while you’re trying to heel because it may distract the dog.  As your dog begins to make turns well you can vary the speed in which you come out of a turn.  This will make the dog stay up at heel better and will avoid lagging. While making several right and left turns don’t forget to continue to work on stopping at sitting at heel.  As you and your dog master the on leash obedience try the same exercises off leash.  Remember to walk the same, talk the same and you should practice the obedience in the same routine when you first take him/her off the leash.  Dogs are time, place and routine orientated. They will do off leash obedience better for you if they feel it is the same thing they have been practicing with you. 

Your obedience sessions should not be more than twenty minutes long.  You always want to keep it exciting for you and your dog.  Never forget to play with your dog after you finish obedience.  After a while your dog will begin to anticipate the playtime and they will be ready to practice obedience. 

Give yourself a week of practicing each day for short periods and see how far you both get. You may be surprised. 

Your dog is eager to learn and wants to please you.  Your job is to teach him the behaviors you would like him/her to do.  Good luck!
 

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