Heeling for Rally - How to develop?

• 05-18-2008 1:39 PM

  Infiniti Joined on 08-06-2007 Chicago Suburbs, Illinois Posts 822 Points 175

  Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact My question is how to develop Honor's heel for rally.  She LLWs well, but I would like to teach her a more focused heel.   My question is how to properly go about it.   I'm noticing that I spend most of my time looking down at Honor in order to C&T when she gives me eye contact while walking.  I'm also trying to C&T when she's in the right heel position.  Can I gradually extend the time between treats and eye contact until we're walking in a true heel?  Should I be focusing primarily on her attention on my face, or her position by my leg?  I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to develop her heel.  Honor's the first dog I've had who I'm doing rally with, and I'd like to begin teaching her good habits to help us succeed. Lisa and: Honor - Alaskan Klee Kai Nike - Shetland Sheepdog Dubby - Holland Lop Max - Mini Lop

  Post Points: 0

• 05-19-2008 1:15 PM

  In reply to Infiniti

  AgileGSD Joined on 09-16-2007 Posts 389 Points 0	Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact  I would suggest getting the book Choose to Heel by Dawn Jecs.
  	Post Points: 0

• 05-19-2008 2:54 PM

  In reply to Infiniti

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 6,786 Points 850

  Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact Infiniti: My question is how to develop Honor's heel for rally.  She LLWs well, but I would like to teach her a more focused heel.   My question is how to properly go about it.   I'm noticing that I spend most of my time looking down at Honor in order to C&T when she gives me eye contact while walking.  I'm also trying to C&T when she's in the right heel position.  Can I gradually extend the time between treats and eye contact until we're walking in a true heel?  Should I be focusing primarily on her attention on my face, or her position by my leg?  I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to develop her heel.  Honor's the first dog I've had who I'm doing rally with, and I'd like to begin teaching her good habits to help us succeed.   Based on the way I trained....yes.  I looked at the dog a LOT b/c I believe that if the dog is making eye contact, chances are the head/shoulder are in the correct position.  Yes, I simply worked more time/steps between each C/T.  Keep in mind that for rally you do NOT need a perfect heel, not even close really.  However if you train a good heel and focus from the beginning, working on the stuff like the dog rotating left and/or backwards will be a lot easier.  How picky you want to be with position depends on whether you intend to try formal obedience.  They are a lot pickier about the position of the dog. Here is a video of a training partner and her Rott in RE.  The heel is not what I would call perfect and there are times the dog is ahead, lagging, or too far from her side, dog sits/downs crooked, yet this routine scored a perfect 100. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl7QB0OxvLU    My Blog - http://24ft.dutchbingo.net My Site - http://liesrosema.com

  Post Points: 0

• 06-07-2008 9:50 PM

  In reply to Liesje

  miranadobe Joined on 04-06-2006 Arizona Posts 4,060 Points 305

  Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact Only thing to keep in mind is looking down often means a smaller dog is lagging behind a bit to catch your eye.. and/or for any size dog, your shoulder drops back, which the dog often follows and lags behind. If the dog is food-motivated, have you tried spitting treats from your mouth to get the dog to focus on your face?  Makes them intent waiting for treat and you don't have to spend as much time looking at them. Like all heeling, to get it good, involves a ton of unexpected turns w/the expectation that the dog should come with you - whether you use treats or clicks or corrections or whatever.  TURNS in all directions, about turns espectially, make heeling better, at least that's been my experience. Gracie - 5yr old Doberman, Jada - 4?yr old APBT, Achilles - 4yr old ACD Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth. ~W. Hamilton

  Post Points: 0

• 06-08-2008 2:26 PM

  In reply to Infiniti

  Workingdoglover Joined on 05-22-2007 Posts 353 Points 0

  Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact Does Honor really like any toys?  Many people in schutzhund (where its more about attention heeling and work ethic than the exact position), use balls on string to get a good attention heel.  First you develop a good drive with the dog, then when the dog is all worked up, you tell her to heel and put the ball (or other toy) by your left shoulder, about where your collarbone would be.  That pulls the dog's attention up to your face without you having to turn to look at her.  If she's extremely food motivated this could definitely work with food, too.  To keep that attention without actually having the ball there, I tuck it in the shirt or something, that way you can give it to them from that spot so that they know "it is always there."  Always try to praise her and play with the toy before she loses interest, which will probably happen pretty quickly the first few times.

  Post Points: 0

• 06-10-2008 10:12 AM

  In reply to Workingdoglover

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,379 Points 100

  Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact Can I gradually extend the time between treats and eye contact until we're walking in a true heel?  Should I be focusing primarily on her attention on my face, or her position by my leg?  I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to develop her heel.  the eye contact isn't actually necessary in rally, or even in formal AKC obedience, if you read the rules. The rules talk about the dog's position relative to your body. I don't why the eye contact thing came about, but I'm opposed to teaching it- dogs have to twist their necks funny and walk funny to be in heel position and maintain eye contact and dogs worked extensively in this way can develop health problems from the unnatural position. I would also suggest you practice equal time with the dog both on the left and the right, even though in competition the dog will be on the left, just to keep the dog's body in balance. Anyway, yes, click n treat when she's perfect by your standards, and gradually extend how long she has to be perfect before getting clicked.

  Post Points: 0

• 06-10-2008 10:46 AM

  In reply to mudpuppy

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 6,786 Points 850

  Re: Heeling for Rally - How to develop? Reply Contact mudpuppy: I don't why the eye contact thing came about, but I'm opposed to teaching it- dogs have to twist their necks funny and walk funny to be in heel position and maintain eye contact and dogs worked extensively in this way can develop health problems from the unnatural position.    Really?  I've never heard of any GSDs/SchH dogs developing problems due to heeling training.  However, a good SchH heel cannot be attained with a dog that doesn't have the right conformation.  Some of the eye contact and "prances" do look painful.  The GSD must be the right size and have the right rear assembly, among other things, to look "correct" in the heeling pattern.  I believe in SchH the purpose is partially to test the dog's temperament.  They fire guns and make noises, pass through a moving crowd, also the handler looks away but the dog must remain focused and not be affected by any noise or movement. I didn't train for eye contact for rally or obedience (not necessary), but now Kenya is doing it most of the time so I won't tell her it's bad. My Blog - http://24ft.dutchbingo.net My Site - http://liesrosema.com

  Post Points: 0