[Trick of the Month] April: Heel, Front, and Pivoting
Hello!! Sorry about not making a new TOTM for March. I was swamped. Anyway, we'll keep right on....Here's a fun one!
April: Front, Heel, and Pivoting!!
The Trick:
Heel- (Heel as a position). Being able to get your dog in a heel position; directly beside you, facing forward.
Front- Getting your dog to stand/sit directly in front of you, facing you (toe to toe)
Pivoting- shifting back feet around, while front paws remain on a central target.
The Training:
You can teach "Front" while in the process of teaching "Heel".
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I suggest starting with a target on the ground that they will learn to step on with ONLY their front 2 paws. Something simple, like a book.
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Next, try to line them up directly in front of you, and reward them for that- reinforce it well, and name it (I use "front").
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After they understand that this exercise is about body positioning, try to get them to pivot around the target with their back feet, while the front feet remain on the target.(there are several different ways people do this, but the key is to find what works best for your dog). Reward for even the smallest little steps in the right direction, and build up from there. Don't rush this. (Some dogs may have a hard time...remember, pivoting isn't a very natural movement for a dog)
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Next try to stand parallel to the target, and have your dog, get to the heel position. reward for getting into position.
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Eventually start moving, and once again, find the best way to signal your dog to move with you in heel while pivoting around the target.
These are the basic steps to teaching your pup how to have a tight heel and a crisp pivot. Really reinforce this and take it slow. I like to spend extra time on this trick, and once you progress onto walking with heel and moving around swiftly, it can be very fun...almost like your dancing!
If you come across any confusion, just take a few steps back, and try again, and please don't hesitate to ask a question in the comments.
Things to Remember:
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take your time. don't rush things. This can be a difficult movement for some dogs.
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switch it up. don't spend too much time on one trick. Dogs can get bored quickly, it's best to keep them entertained with new stuff.
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be ambidextrous. Don't focus too much on the one side/direction, change it up, so your dog won't learn to have a "strong side".
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keep it fun. Try practicing this during play time.
The videos:
Now let's see those photos and/or videos!!
Have any questions or ideas, please, leave a comment.
Posted Apr 3, 2015, 5:33 AM UTC · edited