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.