Category: K9 Competition

Heeling Tips & Tricks #15

15 weight shift
Heeling video 15
 
Weight Shift
 
A Turning Secret!

 
What is the “Weight Shift” – This is the first cue to your dog letting him know you are getting ready to turn and in which direction you will be going.   The cue is when you shift your weight to one leg in order to pick up the other prior to the actual turn.  As you shift your weight, it’s slightly shifts your position to either the right or the left, giving your dog a “cue”.

Teaching Weight Shift

When my dog will readily move with the pressure, I pair leash reining with the Weight Shift.  This teaches my dog the “pre-cue” for all pivots and turns.

  • Start with your dog next to you on your left side (Not in a sit) and  on a short leash with no slack in it.
  • The leash runs from the dog’s collar, up my palm with my thumb holding the leash.
  • For any movement to the left, I place my left hand on the leash with my knuckles forward and shift my weight to my left leg.
  • For any movement to the right, I place my left hand on the leash, but this time my palm is forward, and my weight will shift to my right leg.
  • Little dog? I use a solid leash for small dogs.  This is a dowel rod that has a leash attached to it at both ends.  The handler uses it with the same directions as regular reining on a leash.
  • The only motion is the weight shift, your feet DO NOT move.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – handling cues pivots foot work right pivot build desire  

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #14

heeling 14
 
Heeling video 14
 
REA progression – starting to reduce box

 
 
REAR AWARENESS – HINDQUARTER ROTATION: REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE TARGET 

  • Review foundations and then reduce height of box by ½.
  • Once your dog is OVER ROTATING his rear end, it is time to gradually reduce the height and size of the box.
  • If using a book, rip off half of the pages making the book half as tall.
  • Continue to train the REA until your dog is consistent with the skill.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Adding Auto Sits – Halts

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #13

13 heel progression
 
Heeling video 13 –
 
Progression Heeling 20+ Steps
 

 

Heeling progress – Straight-line Heeling – Increasing the number of steps.  Random rewarding 20 + steps

  • Hold your right hand on 3-6 small treats in your right hand and your RIGHT hip about waist high.
  • Play with your dog and fall into heeling. Doing so will help build DESIRE and FUN into heel work.
  • After play, start moving forward at slow than a normal pace.
  • Deliver reinforcement by varying how many steps you take BEFORE you give a treat.
  • Randomly break and play. That is sometimes release on the first step, sometimes on the 3rd, sometimes on the 10th, and so on.  MAKE IT RANDOM and keep the dog guessing.
  • Watch delivery of the reinforcement. Remember – placement of rewards can help OR hurt your training

Remember

  • Resist starting heeling with your dog on a sit.
  • When you move a treat to your left hand, your dog gets it, there is no luring or holding the treat by your side as you take steps.
  • Make sure your dog is keeping his head up as he eats the treat, this is extremely If this is still an issue, go back to the information provided on Week 1 “Rapid eating” for how to teach your dog to eat a treat with his head up.
  • Energize and play OFTEN with your dog during training so that your dog maintains his attitude and desire to want to train.
  • Keep sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – REA Progression

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Use of Rewards

Reinforcement can include treats, praise, petting, or a favorite toy or game.

Since most dogs are food motivated, treats can work especially well for training. Next to food and toys, dogs love attention! Instead of, or in addition to using treats and toys during your next training session, reward your dog by providing praise, affection, or applause.  Yes, clapping for your dog.  He will love it!

When your dog performs a skill you have been trying to perfect, tell him “Good Boy!” in a happy, upbeat tone and applaud his efforts. You both will find training much more enjoyable with the extra affection added to your training sessions.

The do’s of using food~

  • A treat should be irresistible to your dog. Experiment a bit to see which treats work best.
  • Treats should be a very small, soft pieces of food, so that your dog will be able to immediately eat the treat and look to you for more. Avoid treats that your dog has to chew or that breaks apart into pieces on the floor.
  • Keep a variety of treats handy so your dog will stay interested in what is coming next. Place all types of tasty treats in a bag that will become a smorgasbord for your dog.
  • Each time you use a food reward, pair it with a verbal praise. Say something like, “Yes!” or “Good” in a positive, upbeat voice.

When to give treats~

When your dog is learning a new behavior, reward him every time he does the desired behavior. Once your dog has learned the skill, switch to random reinforcement. Gradually reduce the number of times he receives a treat for doing the skill. Reward your dog’s best efforts.

At first, reward him with the treat four out of every five times when he does the behavior. As he perfects the skill, reward him three out of five times, then two out of five times, and so on. Use a random reinforcement schedule. Your dog will soon learn that if he keeps responding, eventually he’ll get what he wants.

By understanding the use of reinforcement, you’ll see that you are not forever bound to carry a pocketful of treats. Your dog will soon be working for you because he wants to please you, and knows that occasionally, he’ll get a treat or a game of tug too.

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #12

heeling 12
 
Heeling video 12 –
 
Intro Leash Reining

 
 
Leash Reining Intro

NOTE: Leash Pressure is good to condition BEFORE adding reining to pivots or turns.

Leash Reining is a great tool to use for turns and pivots. I rein my dog to teach and refine position.

  • Pressure n the taught leash is applied from your hand and wrist, NOT your arm.   Taught leash, pressure is back OR forward.
  • Have your dog next to you in heel position.  Sit is NOT recommended.
  • Apply a constant light pressure in the direction you want your dog to go.
  • The pressure is light and constant until your dog moves.
  • Praise and reward your dog for any movement due to the leash pressure.
  • Example: Apply pressure back on the leash until my dog moves backward.
  • Take frequent play breaks to relax your dog and continue to build desire.

Problems?

  • Reining the leash up.  Use pressure with your leash lateral to your dog’s topline when standing.  The correct reining will get the best results.
  • Visible treats. Often treats in your hand will distract your dog and prevent the motion desired.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Progression Heeling 20+ steps

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #11

heeling 11
 
Heeling video 11 –
Adding Tuck Sits to Heeling

 
 
 

Adding Halts to Heeling
Halts are not added to heeling until the dog understands how to do a tuck sit, understands the halt cue footwork, AND the dog understands how to heel and maintain proper alignment aligned with the handler’s body.
All skills are taught and polished independently before integrating them.

  • If your dog understands the TUCK SIT add to short straight line heeling i.e. a few steps 2-4.
  • Heel ONLY 2-4 steps.
  • As your left heel is getting ready to hit the ground (1/2 step)
  • Say SIT
  • Your dog should quickly SIT!
  • Make sure your dog keeps his head up as he is moving forward and into the sit.
  • When working on the tuck sit, you will be taking a few steps forward in a straight line and the dog should sit on your verbal and body cue and NOT AFTER you stop.
  • The goal is that the dog sits BEFORE you actually stop.
  • Release and play with your dog between each sit

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Leash Reining

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #10

video 10 heeling adding sit halts
Heeling progression –
Handling Cues –
Adding a HALT Sit

 

 

Heeling video   10 – Handling – Halts

Footwork Timing
Footwork is VERY important when adding halts as this will be your cue that your dog sees first.

Remember:

  • Practice footwork and verbal timing BEFORE adding your dog
  • BEFORE your left heel gets ready to hit the ground,
  • Say “sit” to your dog.
  • Stop as you are tucking your dog’s rear end.
  • Ideally, your dog is in the sit by the time your right foot plants.
  • Keep your training sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – Adding Auto Sits – Halts

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #9

heeling tips tricks 9
 
Heeling progression – 1-16 steps
Random Rewarding

 
 
 

Heeling progress – Straight-line Heeling – Increasing the number of steps.

Remember

  • Hold your right hand on 3-6 small treats in your right hand to load left hand as you are heeling and watch delivery of the reinforcement.
  • Review the value building phase once before progressing and break and play.
  • After play, start moving forward at slowly, deliver reinforcement randomly and vary how many steps you take before releasing (sometimes release on the first step, sometimes on the 3rd, sometimes on the 10th, MAKE IT RANDOM, keep the dog guessing).
  • When you have delivered all the treats, release and play with your dog.
  • Resist starting heeling with your dog on a sit.
  • When heeling, make sure your dog is keeping his head up as he eats the treat, this is extremely important. If this is still an issue, go back to the information provided on Week 1 for how to teach your dog to eat a treat with his head up.
  • Energize your dog during training so that your dog maintains his attitude and desire to want to do the skill.
  • Keep sessions short, fun, and full of energy and play.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Handling Cues – Halts

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #8

heeling tips 8
Handling Cues
FOR the Person only

Click Image to take you to YouTube Channel
 
 
 
NEW HANDLER CUES intro

General and Straight-Line Heel work – For your dog to do his part when heeling, you must also do your part.

  • What hand positions are acceptable – On leash vs. off leash
  • Body posture –
    • shoulders straight,
    • look 2-4 feet in front of you,
    • head slightly down,
    • see dog out of periphery vision
  • How to properly walk when heeling –
    • heel-ball-toe,
    • keep your feet in your space and pointing forward,
    • have a ‘rhythm’ for you heeling. Use a metronome, think of a song that has the beat that you need to heel, etc.
  • Make sure you are walking in a straight line!!!
  • When you start heeling, take your first step with your LEFT leg.  To gain momentum for this first step, have your weight on the balls of your feet and push off with your right foot.
  • Practice and video your footwork so you will be consistent and comfortable with your heeling cues.

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Heeling Progression

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley

Heeling Tips & Tricks #7

Heeling tips and tricks # 7

heeling tip tricks 7 
REA – Moving to side

Click Image to take you to YouTube Channel

 

REA Progression dog moving to side

The progression of teaching hindquarter rotation is for your dog to understand the value of placing his front feet on a box, and anticipate going  to the right or the left.
 

REMINDERS

  • The speed in which he runs back to the box tells you the DESIRE your dog has for skill.
  • Place 3-5 treats in one Hand, and with other hand is over the box, with the back of your hand is facing down and your PALM is facing up and your hand slightly higher than the dog’s head.
  • Reward A LOT when your dog first gets on the box.
  • Use delay of reward to get your dog moving more and more.
  • Restart often by tossing away from you
  • Dog runs and puts feet on box with immediate reward.
  • After a few treats, hesitate rewarding to kick in frustration factor.
  • Dog moves, praise and reward, hesitate again.  Feed again for motion.
  • Restart and repeat, feed, hesitate, feed hesitate, restart.
  • Work with both hands and dog moving to either side.
  • Keep training sessions short.
  • Work with dog going to both right or left side
  • Immediately pick up the box after training

GOAL – for your to hurry onto the box and ANTICIPATE going to your side. 

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video- Handling Tips

Visit https://debbyquigley.com/classes/  for Free classes on foundational skills. 

Please leave comments or email me with future article ideas at Ask DebbyQ. 

Visit my Youtube LIKE & Subscribe, and watch training videos at https://www.youtube.com/@DebbyQuigley