Heeling On The Left

[Savane]

Are you able to go to obedience classes and no be to pedantic about getting your dog to heel? I am fairly certain I won't be doing trial with my new pups a Ridgeback and Border Collie so will the instructors get narky about it?

I more want to joing to socialise my dogs, and just eventually steer towards agility or flyball with the Collie.

I have a Golden Retriever I trained and the fact it wouldn't lead out ahead of me has annoyed me hugely! I don't want to make that mistake with the other 2.

Also when walking them together I imagine having them all next to me they would be tripping over each other.

Or is it possible to have a dog that does both?

[TerraNik]

You can definitely have dogs that do more than obedience. There are many people on this forum that do agility and obedience (among other things).

There is a possibility that a highly trained obedience dog won't be able to do distance work, but if you do both at the same time there's usually not much of a problem.

I have two dogs that both do obedience, flyball, herding and we dabble in agility. For agility my boy didn't want to work on my right - so I taught him right sided heeling and after that he was fine. I'm sure others will have more to add.

In terms of your question about obedience clubs - it depends on the club and it depends what obedience level you're up to. At my obedience club heelwork doesn't start until you've been through 8 beginner classes.

[spottychick]

I'm not sure I understand your post but it seems to me you're saying you don't want to teach your dogs to heel. Whether you are simply going to walk your dogs round the streets or to a park or trial them and have them in agility etc they need to know how to walk to heel regardless.

It's a really basic command and needed by all dog owners and especially if you want a dog that is socialised!!

Why don't you want to do it?

What do you mean "it wouldn't lead out ahead of me" and why did it annoy you? Was "it" a he or a she??

ETA I think I'm probably misunderstanding your question

Edited February 17, 2010 by spottychick

[Savane]

I'm not sure I understand your post but it seems to me you're saying you don't want to teach your dogs to heel. Whether you are simply going to walk your dogs round the streets or to a park or trial them and have them in agility etc they need to know how to walk to heel regardless.

It's a really basic command and needed by all dog owners and especially if you want a dog that is socialised!!

Why don't you want to do it?

What do you mean "it wouldn't lead out ahead of me" and why did it annoy you? Was "it" a he or a she??

ETA I think I'm probably misunderstanding your question

Why do they need to walk to heel? If I see another dog I could teach it to wait or leave it. He can still be social and not heel. I have done obedience before I am not a novice dog owner, it annoyed me because I own a massive Golden Retriever and I also had a pram, not sure if youvé ever walked both it was tricky he was also at times slow, but he would never ever go ahead of me and it was PITA to be honest.

It's a he, and more the heeling annoyed me and I probably put that wrong, his style of walking was annoying, not him, he is a sweetheart.

I guess I want to know from those with more than 2 dogs, is is possible to walk 3 dogs to the left? Or 2 or will that get difficult?

When I walk the pups I find it fantastic that they actually take the lead.

[TerraNik]

You can teach the dogs to walk ahead of you, even if they do know how to heel.

Yes you can walk 3 dogs on your left, provided the path is wide enough. I personally prefer two on my left, one on my right. The dogs just need to maintain their position rather than swapping around - that's when problems occur.

[JulesP]

If you aren't going to do obedience then it doesn't matter which side the dog loose lead walks on. For agility the dog needs to work on both sides of you. Both my dogs will do a formal heel on both sides as well as loose lead walking.

Most obedience clubs have levels and you have to master each level to move up. When you get to formal heeling and if you don't do it then I guess you will not get to move any further on.

[spottychick]

I've had 3 dogs (dalmatians) walk on my left to heel all at the same time. I attached two of them to my dog-walking belt via a double ended lead and had the other on a single lead. So yes it's possible to train them to do that. I've also had 2 dogs on leads run next to me while I was riding my bike.

It just seems to me that your lovely GR was being extremely well behaved by not wanting to go ahead of you But yes I've walked dogs and pushed trolleys, prams, bicycles or carried several bags of groceries etc.

Not an easy task but they can be trained to do it if they've all been trained to walk to heel well.

[tlc]

Are you able to go to obedience classes and no be to pedantic about getting your dog to heel? I am fairly certain I won't be doing trial with my new pups a Ridgeback and Border Collie so will the instructors get narky about it?

I think this will depend on the particular obedience school you attend, talk to them and tell them what you want out of the classes.

I more want to joing to socialise my dogs, and just eventually steer towards agility or flyball with the Collie.

I have a Golden Retriever I trained and the fact it wouldn't lead out ahead of me has annoyed me hugely! I don't want to make that mistake with the other 2.

You can train the dogs to lead ahead if thats what you want to do.

Also when walking them together I imagine having them all next to me they would be tripping over each other.

I walk 4 to heel all together, or two each side , or 3 one side and one on the other, with no problems. They also will lead ahead if I let them, I would prefer they stay by my side with 4 it is easier for me that way.

Or is it possible to have a dog that does both?

Yes it is very possible to have a dog that does both. Your GR sounds like a very well behaved dog!!

Welcome to DOL by the way, have you posted any pics of your pups, Id love to see them.

Edited February 17, 2010 by tlc

[Savane]

Well I think my idea scenario would be to train the 2 new pups to be able to heel both sides and lead in front of me too. Should I just explain to the obedience club that this is what I want to do or should I be starting that sort of training from home?

I am really hoping in the 10 years since I was in the dog club it has progressed a bit, the Golden Retriever and I never got out of grade 1 even though he heeled so well! And they wouldn't teach drop until about grade 3 so we got bored and left and I taught him at home.

I had previously come from and Instructed at Croydon Dog Obediance Club which was awesome!

I had previously owned a Sheltie so I went from having a super smart dog that we gained titles with easily to a GR who was so laid back and goofy!

I am looking around this site getting rather excited at all the options available with dogs now such as the endurance test, I love riding I can't wait to teach my Collie to ride beside me!

[Savane]

Are you able to go to obedience classes and no be to pedantic about getting your dog to heel? I am fairly certain I won't be doing trial with my new pups a Ridgeback and Border Collie so will the instructors get narky about it?

I think this will depend on the particular obedience school you attend, talk to them and tell them what you want out of the classes.

I more want to joing to socialise my dogs, and just eventually steer towards agility or flyball with the Collie.

I have a Golden Retriever I trained and the fact it wouldn't lead out ahead of me has annoyed me hugely! I don't want to make that mistake with the other 2.

You can train the dogs to lead ahead if thats what you want to do.

Also when walking them together I imagine having them all next to me they would be tripping over each other.

I walk 4 to heel all together, or two each side , or 3 one side and one on the other, with no problems. They also will lead ahead if I let them, I would prefer they stay by my side with 4 it is easier for me that way.

Or is it possible to have a dog that does both?

Yes it is very possible to have a dog that does both. Your GR sounds like a very well behaved dog!!

Welcome to DOL by the way, have you posted any pics of your pups, Id love to see them.

Thanks, as soon as I work out how to I will, I don't suppose anyone can tell me how to get the pictures onto here? Ivé not been on a forum as sophisticated as this one! I can't find the IMG bracket bits

[Erny]

There are many enough training clubs around who teach you to walk your dog to heel ie being on a loose lead AND walking next to you at the left. Personally, I disagree with this because of the fact that there are many people out there with dogs who aren't interested in having their dog stuck to their left all the time and don't particularly need the "heel" command.

I'm an advocate of teaching lead manners (ie Loose Lead Walking) first. This of course solves the problem of dogs pulling on lead but also permits the freedom of not needing to be so conscientious about "position, position, postion". It permits the dog to sniff along the way as well.

So to the OP, I presume this is why you ask the question? Look around for a dog training school that teaches both LLW and Heel. You can then make the choice as to whether you wish to continue on with teaching "heel" as a separate exercise to LLW.

The way I teach, LLW bears no command. Heel does.

[Cosmolo]

I think it would be really beneficial to go to a few different obedience clubs and/ or obedience classes run by private trainers and see what would best suit you.

If i had clients who did not want to teach a formal heel that would be fine- although all of my clients to date have taught loose lead walking as their main 'walk' (with dogs out in front but not pulling) and heel for specific times like crossing roads, busy places etc. I think you have the ultimate in flexibility if you have both.

ETA What erny said!

Edited February 17, 2010 by Cosmolo

[tlc]

Our obedience club teaches drop from puppies, usually in the first lesson they are shown how to teach the pup drop. I think Obedience cclubs have come a long way in the last 10 years and there is a lot of options available now.

I found with my lot, if out walking they will cast ahead and if I ask them they will come to heel. Most of the dogs I have some across will automatically lead ahead then if they have been taught to heel they can.

[tlc]

Do you have a photobucket account? all youhave to do is upload your pics to there and then copy and paste the link with the img tags to here and wa la you have your pic right in your post!!

[Savane]

Perhaps I might start using a command word when they go out in front then? I can't believe how smart these pups are, I take them out seperately and teach with small food reward and praise and by the 3rd walk they know they are expected to sit at a road I can't believe how smart they are, I forgotten how awesome it is teaching a dog commands!

I am planning on taking my 10 year old son to obedience classes too, he can train the Collie or at times we may swap he is a fairly tall child although not particularly strong so possibly won't manage the Ridgey. If I am lucky maybe it will teach my son to become obedient too!!

Unfortunetly though we are a bit limited as to where we can go, we are in Ballarat and I'm not sure there is another dog club apart from the German Shep. one.

[tlc]

Someone may be able to advise you about clubs in Ballarat, I think there are a few DOL ers in Ballarat.

Some clubs have an age limit with younger handlers.

[Savane]

Thank you so much, I had no idea photobucket already had an option with the IMG codes added, how easy!!

[spottychick]

Thanks, as soon as I work out how to I will, I don't suppose anyone can tell me how to get the pictures onto here? Ivé not been on a forum as sophisticated as this one! I can't find the IMG bracket bits

When you are posting you will see a button under the text window with "browse" and another button with "upload" - this allows you to upload some pics from your pc and then you choose where you want to place them in your post. Once you have uploaded an image it appears in a drop down box with a bit where you can click on to paste the image into the post.

Hope you can follow that explanation

And I agree with the idea of teaching loose lead walking, but in addition to heeling. There are so many things I wouldn't be able to do with my dogs without the ability to bring them right in next to me. But my dogs are usually walking to my left or slightly ahead on loose leads (or off lead) but not right by my side. But if I tell them they are "free" by giving them a signal and saying "off you go" (usually when we get to the river or the forest track) they will run off wherever they feel like going (but keep me generally in sight). They walk well off lead (except my new boy but he's still learning) and will come to my side if I call them to heel - which has proved to be a life saver at times!!!

PS I don't use the word 'heel' tho LOL I say "slowly" - and they will immediately stop running etc and walk next to me. Don't ask me why - it just sort of evolved.

[spottychick]

OMG THey are so CUTE

[Savane]

And I agree with the idea of teaching loose lead walking, but in addition to heeling. There are so many things I wouldn't be able to do with my dogs without the ability to bring them right in next to me. But my dogs are usually walking to my left or slightly ahead on loose leads (or off lead) but not right by my side. But if I tell them they are "free" by giving them a signal and saying "off you go" (usually when we get to the river or the forest track) they will run off wherever they feel like going (but keep me generally in sight). They walk well off lead (except my new boy but he's still learning) and will come to my side if I call them to heel - which has proved to be a life saver at times!!!

PS I don't use the word 'heel' tho LOL I say "slowly" - and they will immediately stop running etc and walk next to me. Don't ask me why - it just sort of evolved.

Yes that's pretty much what I'd like to be able to do. I worked it out! Hope you like the pics, I am totally besotted with these boys and they seem to have brought my GR back to life too which I am most grateful too.

Everyone told me I would have my work cut out for me with 2 pups, however Ivé got 3 young boys under 10 and I manage that OK so I think I am up for this challenge!