[Hiaja]

I'm looking for advice on how to retrain the heel. My papillon has a CD in obedience and we're geting closer to being ready for trying for our CDX. Our big failing point is the heel. Jazz will lag, allot and she swings wide on the about turn I'm not sure what I did but obviously I made her think the heel posistion is behind me. How would I teach her to heel at my heel?

I know I could force her to heel but how can I make it fun for her?

 

[TooneyDogs]

This is a hard one to fix once they discover that they can lag and go wide. Refocus on teaching where heel position is. I know going back to the basics isn't alot of fun but, it's essential. Start with the static positions...1/4 turns in place and about turns in place...no heeling. Do your turns slowly making sure she is in heel every inch of the way. If you need to do the turns in the very corner of a room to keep her from going wide...so be it.
Note where she is looking...at your left knee? at your shoe? (those are OK). That's where she is taking her heeling cues. She doesn't have to look up at you....just maintain heel position.
Go back to beginning heeling.....one step halt....two steps halt...etc. Do lots of circle rights...make her work a little to keep up. Lastly, proof the heeling with calls to heel while you're walking. Put her in a sit...start heeling and then call her to heel...keep walking....does she catch up and come into heel position? If she comes but lags behind then she's still not sure where heel is.
There is another way: Heeling with zero slack in the leash or the use of a hard leash (a dowel with a clip).

 

[Love's_Sophie]

Tooney gave some really good advice; let us know how she does!!

 

[skelaki]

One thing a friend of mine found with her toy breed dogs was that they cued better if she stepped off on her right foot for the heel rather than the usual left foot.

 

[Hiaja]

*sigh*back to basics it is.. No magic pill for her to take? lol
very good advice, thank you! Just a random tought would changing the word to say, "toe" help her understand I'm reteaching her? When I am teaching her she looks at me and her eyes say, I know this already mom! Would changing the word make her better understand this is something new and help her see the difference between heel and toe?

 

[TooneyDogs]

Possibly. Sometimes just eliminating the dogs name can make a big difference.
For example if you've been saying, "Jazz, Heel" you might try just "Heel" or, change it to "Let's go". Often our tone comes out as a command instead of an invitation...upbeat/happy (lets go have some fun)!

 

[Hiaja]

hmm I do both. When we start I'll either say "Jazz, heel" or just "heel" depending if she's paying attention. I've even donr "Let's go , Gid up" in a really happy voice with little response.

Our heeling was never our strong point but I think a little has to do with her being a bit overweight. We're watching what she's being fed and she's trimming down quite a bit. I'm hoping her being more fit will help her keep up with my longer strides.

 

[txcollies]

Get a good obedience book, like "Competition Obedience: A Balancing Act", "Beyond Basic Dog training" or "Choose to Heel". You should be able to get some ideas from that.

 

[poodleholic]

*sigh*back to basics it is.. No magic pill for her to take? lol
very good advice, thank you! Just a random tought would changing the word to say, "toe" help her understand I'm reteaching her? When I am teaching her she looks at me and her eyes say, I know this already mom! Would changing the word make her better understand this is something new and help her see the difference between heel and toe?

Everything that Tooney said, and, you might try using a wooden spoon with something yummy smeared on it (I use Braunsweiger) to get her into position. I've used this with both Toy and large breed dogs I had trouble getting into proper position. Best of luck, and do keep us posted!

 

[Hiaja]

thanks all!

I'll try and keep you up tp date. I live in a dial up world so I often lose patience. <)