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Heal!!!

edel

Well-known member
Ive tried getting Lady to heal on our walk last night but she just wasnt getting it. Every time the lead went taut i pulled her back to me and said heal. We did this for 1/2 hour and she still wouldnt do it.

wat am i doing wrong?
 
Doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong. It just takes time for them to get it sometimes.

Bruce
MysticKnight Cavaliers
 
Try gentle tugs to bring her back to your side. Pull and release on the leash while encouraging with a happy " heel Lady, heel Lady". Very short training sessions as she is very young. Let her walk free on leash for awhile then have her heel for a short distance. Then let her walk as she wishes again for a period. She will get it but it takes time. She is a baby. Make it fun. Always end on a positive note.
 
I would suggest doing a good obedience course with positive training methods -- this doesn't involve any pulling back on the lead but typically using food to get her to walk alongside. Especially with the risk of causing any aggravation to any existing SM condition, neurologists have suggested not to use any neck pulling or sharp jerks etc on cavaliers for training (also train on a harness not collar and lead).

You could PM TKC on the board to ask if she knows of classes in your area. She does great training courses at Ashton riding stables in Dublin but think you are down the country.

This is what Tara's (TKC's) training partner Lisa (they run Dog Training Ireland -- http://www.DogTrainingIreland.ie ) has said on another board:

Start practicing in the back garden or in a long part of your house (e.g. a hallway) and progress to outside when your dog starts to response.
Assuming you are walking your dog on the left side, hold the lead in your right hand (the lead will cross your body). Have food reward, like chicken or ham in your left hand nearest the dog. Use your left leg as a guide to position your hand and keep it level with you. Your dog will position his nose behind your hand to try and get the food. Your dog is now in a perfect heel position with his head level with your leg completely of his own free will! Start walking and release food every couple of steps and repeat "Heel" or "Close" as you release the food - NB, do not say Heel or release the food if the dog is not in the correct position. The point is to condition your dog to the meaning of the word "Heel" or "Close" to the heel position and for them to associate that position with something nice. The lead is pretty much incidental here really and should be kept loose by the handler. The dog is in the position because he wants to be. As you progress all you will need to say is "Heel" or "Close" (whichever you used in training ) to get your dog into position. Over time decrease the frequencey of the rewards and also make them random.

To help with this, if your dog lunges at something and starts pulling occasionally combine it with turning to your right 180 degrees and walk back the way you came. Your dog will now be behind you. After a few strides you can turn again and continue on your way.

The "look" command is also helpful to get their attention if they are trying to get to something particularly interesting such as another dog.
 
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