Is my puppy too young to start heeling?
Question by Ave: Is my puppy too young to start heeling?
My puppy is almost four months old. He’s pretty good at walking on a leash, but I can’t get him to heel!
I have watched DVDs and read training tips online, and it seems as though most people would tell you that it’s not good to try and discipline puppies in any way (aside from housebreaking, of course) before they’re six months old. I believe they have to be at least six months old to go to puppy kindergarten, too. Am I trying to teach him to heel too early? He gets it sometimes, but most of the time, he just strains at his leash and tries to dart ahead of me.
Best answer:
Answer by Pam
No. 12 – 16 wks is the best time to teach this.
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I don’t think it would be too young.. I don’t understand why people would say wait until six months of age… I would think the younger the better…. But anyways, On a TV show on animal planet, they were teaching a 2 month old tricks so i don’t think it would hurt your 4 month old.
No, I don’t think it is too young.
I would, however, be very gentle and make it fun and praise based.
I think you’ll find that puppies in general have the doggie version of ADD. Trying to teach your puppy the ‘heel’ command at 4 months of age is going to be difficult, if not impossible/unrealistic, simply because at this age he doesn’t exactly have the attention span required for something so complicated.
You have to build your dog up to that sort of thing by first teaching them how to sit – then to lay down – then to sit and stay regardless of where you move (by walking around the dog in a circle and making sure they don’t get up, etc).
Once they know the stay concept (and really.. it’s not really teaching them the word “Stay” but teaching them to remain in one position until you ask them to do something different.. “stay” is too categorical for me)
For instance – if you ask your dog to lay down.. the “stay” concept simply means he’ll lay down and remain attentive to you – regardless of where you are, what you are doing – until you “release” the command by whatever means necessary. (I use, “That’s all!”)
Either way – you need to take baby steps (or puppy steps, in this case) and build your dog up to these expectations rather than trying to force these complicated concepts on him all at once.
If the tugging on the leash is what is bothering you, when he tugs, distract his attention from whatever it is he’s pulling towards, then change direction and start over again.
The heel will need to come later after you’ve laid groundwork in the basics.
i would just practice with teaching him not to pull on the leash, and to respect cats and other people for now, as he is going to be far too inquistive and active to pay much attention to learning how to heel.
I don’t think it’s too early to give your dog the right idea.
Pulling me is still a problem with my 120lb dog, so I’m all for getting that under control ASAP
I believe that my using a retractable leash made it difficult for him to learn his limit, so I suggest not using one until he’s heeling for you.
The trainer I used said to train the dog not to pull you, you have to not let him move in the direction he’s trying to go. Don’t jerk or anything just stop & hold the leash still until the dog lets the tension up. If he never lets it up, then start to slowly move backwards, taking the dog further from his goal.
Have lots & lots of patience & make sure to be consistant.
Good Luck!
It’s never too young, but it will take about a year maybe less. Puppies like exploring and stuff. Curb the habbit of making the dog pull you with a sharp jerk of the lead and a very firm tone as you say “Heel!”Puppies take a long time too learn thhis so becareful not to hurt them when you jerk the leash. Give them a treat when they obey.
No dog is too young to start heeling
You have some right ideas and some you might reconsider. A puppy is ready to attend puppy obedience as soon as they have completed their shots and been vaccinated for kennel cough. Discipline makes me think of overkill, I think in terms of corrections. There’s nothing wrong in correcting a puppy, otherwise how are they supposed to learn? And while I don’t think there is a time a puppy is too young to learn, there is a time to understand they are still on the learning curve and a time to expect them to be more consistent. Obedience class and the help of a trainer will help you to know the difference.
There is absolutely no down side to obedience class. Every dog benefits from it, no matter how much YOU know about it or how good you are at it. So have fun at class
ADDED:
No 6 months is not too young to begin teaching heel, but it’s a little too soon to expect them to be consistent at it
the younger the better to teach anything. my dog is 7 weeks and is learning very well. will come, sit, walk on leash and stay next to your feet when walking. they tend to pick things up easier when they are younger just like children do
I don’t think he’s too young. Here (South Africa) we take our dogs to training when they’re 3 months old. By the time my dogs were 6 months they could sit, stay, come and (sort of) heel. When you say discipline I’m not sure what you mean – but you incentivise them only so it’s a positive experience for them.
Dogs like children love boundaries and especially love to be led, so teaching them things makes them feel like they are being led and therefore secure. I would start to teach him and see what happens.