Tag: heeling

Heeling Tips & Tricks #25 Teaching a PERFECT Left About Pivot

25 left about pivot
Heeling Intro & Teaching Left About Pivot

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HANDLER CUES: LEFT ABOUT PIVOT FOOT WORK

The LEFT About Pivot is a foundation skill and can be used for your pivots during Scent Articles, Gloves, as well as many signs in Rally.  The Left About Pivot is a 180 degree pivot to the left.  In order for this pivot to be performed accurately, it is important for your dog to understand how to move backwards and have rear end awareness before progressing with teaching this turn.

NOTE: Review the weight shift from the LEFT Pivot section before starting to train the Left About Pivot.

When doing a Left About Pivot:

  • Start standing with your feet together.
  • Shift your weight to your left leg.
  • Step 1, move your right foot to make the “T” step by placing the ball of your right foot against toe of your left foot.
  • Step 2, place the heel of your left foot against the heel of your right foot and point your left foot in the direction you will be going or sending your dog.
  • Step 3, bring your right foot up to your left foot.

Teaching the Left About Pivot

  • Use a high value toy or pocket to place under your left arm.  Drop it on the first step for a number of repetitions.  Once your dog will keep his head up on the first step, start to drop the toy on the second step and so on.  Do randomly reward each step during practices to maintain the heads up behavior.
  • Hold your leash in your left hand to rein your leash as you shift your weight and start your turn.
  • With your dog on your left side, start to rein back on your leash as shift your weight to your LEFT leg.
  • Bring your RIGHT foot to a T in front of your Left foot.
  • Turn your Left foot so that the heel of the left foot is touching the heel of the right foot.
  • Turn your right foot so that it is even with your left foot.
  • Praise and release your dog up to a treat or toy BEFORE the sit or completion of the pivot.
  • Add a sit to the pivot only once the desire is built in each individual movement to build desire and focus.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 26 – Handling Footwork and Body Cues for Heeling 

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

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #23

23 heel wean off treat hand
Heeling Progression
Weaning off Treat and Hand Position

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Weaning off treat in hand.

  • Once your dog is moving with his head up focus for 20+ steps, it’s time to start weaning off the treat in your hand AND randomly move your hand/arm to a normal heel position.  That is down at side or up at waistline.
  • All this is done in a straight line with NO SITS.
  • This process will take time and patience but worth it in the long run.
  • NOTE: the hand up at shoulder position may also be used in Line-Ups for focus and is addressed further in the Fronts&Finish class.
  • Over repetitions randomly put your arm at your side or at waste.  Line-Up (no treat in hand), toy under arm and as long as your dog is in a focused active state, heel a few steps and reward.
  • Take your time with each step of training and build a solid foundation.  When problems arise down the road, it will be these foundations that you will fall back on.
  • Remember that adding skills BEFORE your dog has a true understanding of straight line heel will only confuse your dog and decrease his confidence and desire.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 24 – Slow Pace Introduction 

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Heeling Tips & Tricks #22

heeling # 22
RIGHT ABOUT PIVOT
Intro, Handling and Teaching

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Watch to the end for a NEW Training TIP

HANDLER CUES: RIGHT ABOUT PIVOT FOOT WORK
The Right About Pivot is a foundation skill for your about turn in heeling. In additions, it can be used for your turns for the Scent Articles, Gloves, as well as many turns in Rally.

When doing a Right About Pivot:

  • Stand with your feet together.
  • Shift your weight to your right leg.
  • Look down past your right foot and back onto the line of travel you will be turning on.
  • Step 1, move your left foot to make the “T” step by placing the ball of your left foot against the toe of your right foot.
  • Step 2, place the heel of your right foot against the heel of your left foot and point your right foot in the direction you will be going or sending the dog.
  • Step 3, bring your left foot up to your right foot.

Teaching the Right About Pivot

  • Review the weight shift from the Right Pivot section before continuing to train the Right About Pivot.
  • Hold your leash the same as in the right pivot so you can rein your leash as you shift your weight and start your turn.
  • With your dog on your left side, start to rein forward on your leash as shift your weight to your RIGHT leg.
  • Bring your LEFT foot to a T in front of your right foot.
  • Turn your right foot so that the heel of the right foot is touching the heel of the left foot.
  • Turn your left foot so that it is even with your right foot.
  • Praise and release your dog up to a treat or toy BEFORE the sit or completion of the pivot.
  • Only add a sit to the pivot once the desire is built and your dog understands how to move on your weight shift and turn while keeping his head up and focused on you.  This can take many training sessions.
  • Use a high value toy or pocket to place under your left arm.  Drop it on the first step or as your dog starts movement for a number of repetitions. Once your dog will keep his head up on the first step, start to drop the toy on the second step and so on. Do randomly reward each step during practices to maintain the heads up behavior.
  • Keep training sessions short.  Use HIGH VALUE rewards and use games with any effort your dog offer to build desire.

PLEASE add YOUR comments Below!

😉🐶🐶🐶 *****Next video – 23 – Heeling Progression – Wean Off Treat and Hand in “heel” Position

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