Training

I picked up training techniques from my friends who are/were involved in rescue, fostering, and dog daycare. I want to learn new tricks to teach Spock (who knows several already) and start training Bones to do the same things Spock does, though it may all have to wait until Bones is housebroken.

Since 4 months, Spock has known sit, stay, lie down, roll over, and come when called. He also knows "leave it" for when he scavenges trash while we're out on a walk, though I have to say it a time or two before he puts it down. When we've been out lately, I've tried to teach him heel, though excursions have been rare due to the bad weather and my recent bout of flu.

The only trick I've failed to teach Spock is shake. He licks or tries to squirm away and start playing every time I try to take his paw.

Quote:Originally posted by Chloe's Mommy:
I had experience with my other dog, from when I took training lessons with him, so Chloe was "home schooled"....apart from "heel", which I understand is quite difficult for beagles, she mastered everything, plus some other tricks I taught her... we are now working on going in circles.
She already rolls over, sit, stay (for about a minute), come, shake (both hands)... so I guess we are doing good.

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If your beagle can learn all of the above she can definitely learn heel!

Heel is actually very easy to teach, just start at home in a low distraction environment.

The command heel is about teaching the dog a position, it is not like sit where the dog learns a movement, teaching heel is about telling the dog to walk at your heel on certain commands.

People make the mistake that 'heel' is walking on a loose lead, but it is about your dog walking with you and focusing on you - the dog should be looking at you every time it heels (as they waiting for your next command, they need to focus on you).

With Daisy I taught her heel by firstly getting her to sit at my left side, in line with my leg. The dog must be in a sit. I got a yummy treat (I like sausage, cheese, chicken, kabana etc) and showed it to her. Once I had her attention, I held the treat in my left hand so she could sniff it and said 'heel'. You must step off on your left leg, as this acts as a signal to the dog as well as a voice command to heel.

Walk a few paces keeping the dog at your side and then come to a stop, and make the dog sit at your heel again. Praise once the dog is in the right position and say "heel, good girl" etc.

Repeat a few times and you will find your beag will quickly learn what heel is and should sit as soon as you stop walking without you commanding her to. This is an automatic sit and praise as soon as the dog does it /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif You will also find that you won't need to 'lure' the dog with the treat

An eg of heel is in this video I did when Daisy was learning basic obedience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM_O9HJzhV0

To answer the OP, Daisy went to puppy school and then straight into dog obedience at our local dog club. It is a blast!!! And although doing obedience with a scent hound can be a challenge it is also very rewarding /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif