How to Train Your Lab to Hunt
How to Train Your Lab to Hunt
When teaching heel, make sure there are no distractions such as another dog, kids playing, etc.
I suggest a chain choke collar for this drill because you will be tugging on it and a chain choke collar allows you to release its hold as soon as you stop the tug. A short lead is also helpful. Since I don’t have a puppy or young dog at the moment, Ember is my model and I have a 12” lead because I want her close to my leg. A 12″ lead would be too short for a puppy or an older small dog so choose the lead length that allows you to hold the dog close with no slack.
Start with the dog in a sitting position at your side.
Start sitting at your side then slowly walk around and after several steps command the dog to heel and tug on the lead as needed. Keep walking slowly, commanding heel. Praise the dog a little but not too much otherwise he will start jumping around. Don’t break his focus. Continue walking and holding the lead tight so the dog can’t stray more than a foot from your side. Keep saying ‘heel.”
Walk slowly and practice the heel command.
A ‘switch’ like I show in the Tools of the Trade video can be helpful. Hold the switch in your right hand somewhat behind you so the dog doesn’t see it. As you give the heel command, if the dog starts to leave your side, reach around your back so the dog doesn’t see it coming and lightly swat his backside and say heel at the same time.
How much of a swat depends on how ornery he is being.
Swat the dog’s backside and give a convincing verbal heel command if he starts to leave your side.
Do this drill once every day – starting at a max of just a few minutes until the dog understands what you are asking of him. (Your dog always needs to understand what you want him to do.) Stop the drill after he has done it correctly a few times, give him lots of praise and leave him feeling good about himself.
For the next day’s lesson, increase the length of time you do it. Then increase the length of the lead. When he is ready, do it off lead. This drill is not very exciting to the dog so don’t do it too many times a day or for too long. Your dog best learns skills taught in small doses over time. Be patient.
Once your dog has a grasp of the basic heel, even if just on the short lead, you are ready for sit to the whistle as instructed in the next entry.
