One of the biggest mistakes people make when teaching their dogs obedience is putting a command to a behavior before the dog fully understands what they're being asked to do.
At Primal Canine, we prefer to build the behavior, create value in it, and develop a clear understanding before introducing the command.
In this training session with Mikey, we're doing exactly that by building value in the heel position while encouraging engagement with his handler.
Teaching the Position Before Naming the Behavior
Before Mikey learns the actual heel command, we want him to understand where he's supposed to be and why being there is rewarding.
For this exercise, we're using food rewards and a simple sequence that allows Mikey to move freely, return to his handler, and receive reinforcement for finding the correct position.
We start by tossing an indirect reward and using our "get it" marker, allowing Mikey to move away from us to collect the food.
Once he's collected his reward, we call his name and lure him back into the heel position.
When Mikey reaches the correct side, we reward him for being there. We also continue reinforcing his engagement, particularly when he offers eye contact.
After a few moments of rewarding the position and engagement, we release him with another indirect "get it" reward and repeat the process.
Why We Build Value in the Heel Position
Our objective isn't simply to get Mikey to stand next to us.
We want him to actively enjoy being in that position, understand where he should be, and recognize that engaging with his handler leads to good things.
By consistently rewarding the correct position, we're creating a positive association with being at the heel side.
By rewarding eye contact, we're also reinforcing engagement and teaching Mikey that paying attention to his handler is valuable.
These two behaviors work together to create a stronger foundation for future obedience.
Rather than constantly correcting a dog for being out of position, we can spend time teaching the dog why being in the correct position is worthwhile in the first place.
Using Indirect Rewards to Build Engagement
An important part of this exercise is the use of indirect rewards.
When we toss food away from the handler and release Mikey with "get it," we're giving him an opportunity to leave the heel position and then return to it.
This creates repeated opportunities for Mikey to practice finding the correct side instead of simply remaining there throughout the session.
It also keeps the exercise moving and engaging.
Each repetition allows us to reinforce several important behaviors:
Responding to his name.
Following the lure into the heel position.
Finding and maintaining the correct position.
Offering eye contact and engagement.
Understanding the release marker.
Over time, as Mikey becomes more comfortable and consistent, we can begin reducing the amount of help he needs to find the position.
Building Confidence Alongside Obedience
For Mikey, this type of training serves another important purpose.
Since arriving at Primal Canine for his Board and Train program, Mikey has needed additional time to build confidence and become comfortable working independently.
We've spent a considerable amount of time helping him become more comfortable in the training environment, encouraging engagement, and allowing him to work through new experiences at a pace that supports his progress.
Now that he's becoming more confident, we're able to start introducing more foundational obedience exercises.
This heel-position exercise gives Mikey a clear, repeatable task with plenty of opportunities for reinforcement.
We're not rushing him through the process. We're continuing to build on the confidence he's developed while giving him a better understanding of how to communicate and work with his handler.
How This Foundation Creates Better Walks
Eventually, we want Mikey to have an understanding of the heel command that translates into more enjoyable walks with his family.
A good heel starts with the dog understanding where to be in relation to the handler.
Once Mikey understands the position and consistently finds value in being there, we can begin adding movement, duration, and eventually the verbal command.
From there, we can continue developing the behavior around distractions and in different environments.
The goal is to have a dog that understands the expectations of the command rather than one that's constantly guessing where he's supposed to be.
This also gives Mikey's family another layer of communication when they're out walking him.
Building the Behavior Before Adding the Command
There's no need to rush into naming a behavior just because the dog can perform it a few times.
We want to see understanding and consistency before adding another layer of communication.
For now, Mikey's job is to learn that finding the heel position, remaining there, and engaging with his handler are all rewarding.
Once he's consistently offering those behaviors, we'll have a much stronger foundation for introducing the actual heel command.
Mikey continues to make steady progress, and it's great seeing him become more comfortable, engaged, and willing to work as his confidence develops.
At Primal Canine, we focus on building a clear foundation before increasing expectations.
Whether you're working with a young puppy, a fearful dog, or an older dog learning new obedience skills, the quality of the foundation plays an important role in the training that follows.
To learn more about our Board and Train programs, puppy training, and obedience training throughout Gilroy, San Jose, Morgan Hill, and the surrounding Bay Area, visit PrimalCanine.com.