Need more training help? Check out my FREE and Low-Cost Training Resources 👇: 🦮 Service Dog 101 Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/service-dog-101 🐕🦺 Behavior Interruptions & Alerts Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/bia 👉🏽 Sign Up For my FREE Dog Training Foundations Mini-Course: www.doggyu.com/ 🎉 JOIN the DOGGY•U Community! (150+ Exclusive Training Videos!) patreon.com/doggyu
I've found when my service dog gets nervous (usually a reactive pet somewhere that spooks us) my dog reverts back to what she knows in her training in that she'll offer the "fancier" position and stay fully focused on looking at me, its really helpful in navigating that situation, and also proves to employees that my dog is a legit SD
I've mentioned before how I'm legally blind and have trained my own guide dog. Obviously he does not work in a heel. But yes, the eye contact can indeed be used as management to keep your dog aware of what it's doing, thus preventing it from sniffing around. I started teaching my boy his "working position" already at about six months old. Not to have him actually guide me, but to set him up to know that when he's in this position he won't sniff the ground or anything else, won't stop to investigatre things etc. he was also quite the little forager as a pup which was a PAIN to deal with, but the upside is that he learned an interruptor cue early on! Which could then easily be used to help train our version of a working heel he can still do an obedience style heel for a short while, and if he is unsure or something is bothering him in a situation he will often take a step back and look up at me for guidance, which I of course still reinforce.
Thank you for this video! I know most of this, but I was having a bit of trouble teaching my prospect to natural heel! This video helped me pinpoint the mistake I am making, not marking enough for her walking naturally. So simple. Thanks sweets.
Yeah that fancy obedience heel looks so pretty but it wouldn’t serve me well since I need my sd to watch where he’s going not watch me so he can keep me safe/upright.
Heeling is a major staple in all areas of dog training. Right now we’re working hard on the head up variety for AKC Rally and regular Obedience competitions.
Thank you! I feel dogs much liked horses can work without having to having an show/ring Obedience style. I teach 2 major commands "watch me", "stay with me". Although, i understand some people like head up heel. I feel its not natural, causes them to be unbalanced if you have them working outside a control show ring setting.
great point about how looking up at the handler is management and that head forward awareness of the handler is also trained!! thank you for sharing!! the clips of whip going along tail wagging are the cutest ❤️❤️
Wow! This is great human, as well as doggy, training Laura. Now I hope I can do a better job of teaching Super Sophie, my service dog “in training”, the best way to heel. It’s been a struggle, especially since I use a walker a lot of the time, because Sophie always wants to be up next to the front wheels. She gets super exasperated with me when I pull her back to heel next to me, and then she pulls my arm about out of the socket trying to get back up to the wheels. Even when I reward her with treats for heeling in the correct place, she still gives me “attitude”. Sophie is a year old … I’m figuring she is probably expressing some “teenage angst” 🤣 I love all your super informative videos Laura … please keep up the great work❣️ From: June🤠 & Sophie🦮 💜🇨🇱
Hey June! Stay tuned for Friday's video (Thursday night for Patreon folks)! I have a new training tool that I think *may* be helpful to use with limited dexterity and a rollator!
Thank you! I hear all the time when in public how my sd is distracted since she isn't doing an obedience heel. I try to explain, but it is never received by the person. Think I will refer them to this video from now on! Lol
I am training lobo and I did not even realize there were two styles. He was trained into service dog healing. We are still working with basic obedience.
I've trained my pup both styles of heeling. If my arm goes up, he will do an obedience heel. If it is down, he will heel and watch his surroundings. I dissociate/zone out often and I have bad eyesight, I'm not visually impaired or blind, I just refuse to wear my glasses. I'd rather want my service dog to watch our surroundings so we can keep each other safe. If he is looking at me he would probably run into something... He's smart but he is still a clumsy puppy.
Awesome! Would you mind doing a short video on relaxation/break walks versus working walks? How do you decide when to have the dog in heel versus sniffing about? Is a dog that's sniffing enthusiastically at other canine messages in the grass too distracted to also be on duty for alerts or psychiatric services? A lot of the tasks I'm training are constant, not specific moments like retrieving an object or closing a drawer, so I'm not sure how to help my dog delineate working time versus relaxation time. (We have great romping playtime in a fenced area but that doesn't seem like enough break time in the day.) Taking a dog on a sniffari for fun is a lovely way to relax together, but I'd love to hear how you set parameters for your off duty walks, what kind of behaviors you expect and any guidance you have about that. For example, if a friend comes along on the walk, should I let them hold the leash? What about greeting people and dogs when off duty? Etc. Thanks as always for amazing content! Your work is very much making a difference for people like me!! ❤
I mostly only heel my dog in public spaces that require her to be next to me to navigate spaces and potentially task. Most of the rest of our life together is on a 10 ft. lead or off leash. Heeling just isn't a ton of fun for her, so we only do it when required. I expect very little on my off-duty walks: don't drag me on the leash (I accept a little tension but not dragging), don't bother anyone around us ... that's pretty much it. I still ask her to respond to cues as needed. For your specific examples - sometimes my husband has CoolWhip on leash and I have my old man Jake when we're walking together. I don't generally have my dog greet other dogs on leash ever, but occasionally I will cue them to say hi to a human. They can absolutely say hi, play with, interact with friends and family I hike with. However, if I was struggling with issues of attention, being able to listen to cues, a hyper-greeter type situation, I'd likely have different "rules" about sniffy walks. It really depends a lot on the dog :) I have videos planned out through the end of the year, believe it or not! But I expect I'll touch on this a bit once I get my puppy so stay tuned! :)
What do you think is good as a basic heel for environment management for companion dogs? (example, the pet parents are passing another dog and just need their dog close to them)
Hey doggyu I need your help! My roommates dogs keep getting out they refuse to do anything about them their puppy is basically like ours however I want to do some training with her to stop her from getting out. If she keeps getting out the neighbors will call the pound. Please anything will help I cannot board up the fence dogs keep digging. Please help me with training-also puppy isn't very treat or play motivated
I laughed when you were talking about Service Dogs, and eye-contact. My vision is so bad, I can’t make eye contact without being up in people’s business. 🤣 🤣 So I’ve never made eye contact. Question though. When you train your dogs, you throw food for them to eat, and reset. I was wondering if you have an alternative to the throwing of food on the ground. Is there a way to reset them while I feed them from my hand? If yes, what does this look like? Thank you.
Ha! I get that. I used to train guide dogs, and we didn't train for eye contact for obvious reasons. Regarding throwing food, yes. There is a way to reset without throwing it on the ground, but I'd ask why? Many people are worried that tossing food will cause more scavenging, but, when eating food is on cue, I have never seen it cause an increase in scavenging, and actually quite the opposite. It teaches them to ignore food that they have not been cued to eat. If it's for a different reason, get a tupperwear tub and toss the food into the tub. Hope that helps!
I don’t do well with eye contact. I just use the focus and look at me cue when she gets distracted. I am confused now. Should I try to train Freja on the service dog heel? I’ve been trying to train her on navigating and guiding. I do need Freja to switch positions.
IMO I think there is a balance with the focus walk. I don’t think it needs to be constant, but frequently, look around and checking in. With the traditional SD face forward and not checking in with handler is not the best method either.
I don’t believe I said the dog should never check in, nor did I show examples of dogs that never checked in. But what most handlers miss is that they ONLY reinforce when the dog is looking up at them and that can cause a myriad of issues.
@@DoggyU sorry, let me clarify. I was not saying that you said the dogs should never check in. I was explaining that in traditional SD training and watching SD in action. Most do not check in, and always eyes forward. From what I’ve seen of ur vids, I see a balanced approach which is how we do SD and reg dog training.
@@DoggyU so I can use that pivoting exercise to train the crowd control task or orbiting.I started training Freja on intelligent disobedience. How many tasks does a service dog need to know in order to work in public or be considered tasking? What do you recommend? I start training Freja at the airport. I have a hard time keeping my feet still since I am naturally awkward and not coordinated.I am struggling to teach Freja how to crawl.
@@DoggyU Should I train Freja in both service dogs heel styles? Which style is acceptable during the PAT? I trying to train Freja on and off duty behavior.
I recommend video taping your training sessions so you can observe your reinforcement mechanics and make adjustments as needed. I also really like starting to train heel with stationary heeling exercises to teach positioning using a pivot bowl like shown in this video. Then you can show the dog the reinforcement zone. Using peanut butter on a spoon might also be a helpful delivery strategy. Work on marking in position, and then being sure to feed in position, even if it means the dog has to adjust back into position. Hope that helps!
They can absolutely work on either side! That is personal preference or need. I primarily work my dog on my left because I'm right handed and have worked guide dogs on my left my whole life, but some train right side for sure! It's advantageous to train both in most cases.
@@DoggyU Do you have in person service dog training classes? If you do how much are they?? I enjoy watching your videos and they’ve helped e out a lot but I prefer in person classes
@@terrier_service_dog I don't privately train anymore (outside of a few clients I'm finishing up) and don't plan on having private training clients in the future. My goal over the next few years is to video the raising and training of my new puppy, and then create more free and low cost resources. :)
It's so annoying my training organization asking for increased focused healing ar each grade I'm like wtf my dogs need to look where they are going CB ASD guide work mt adit now is reluctant to Walk ahead he actually trying to hide behind me they train middle and focused healing and sit as default stress and reactivity management positions supper frustrating
If your dog is truly afraid of everyone and everything, it may be the kind things to do to decide that they would do best as a helpful at-home service dog. Concurrently, looking to some of the youtube channels that work with confidence building and helping dogs with fear would be where I would start. It's all about listening to the dog and helping them feel more comfortable and growing their confidence.
@@Techrideretc.6793 i would say, not necessarily, and that it would depend a lot on the dog. Example: I trained for a half marathon and my cattle dog thought it was very boring. It just wasn't fun for him.
Here is my answer before I watch the video: YOU try to walk around in that position with any length of time. It is cruel and no different from the exaggerated Big Lick gaits in horses. It is abuse, pure and simple for more than a short time.
Need more training help?
Check out my FREE and Low-Cost Training Resources 👇:
🦮 Service Dog 101 Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/service-dog-101
🐕🦺 Behavior Interruptions & Alerts Course: courses.doggyu.com/p/bia
👉🏽 Sign Up For my FREE Dog Training Foundations Mini-Course: www.doggyu.com/
🎉 JOIN the DOGGY•U Community! (150+ Exclusive Training Videos!) patreon.com/doggyu
consider yourself positively reinforced
Hahah thank you! 🍪
I've found when my service dog gets nervous (usually a reactive pet somewhere that spooks us) my dog reverts back to what she knows in her training in that she'll offer the "fancier" position and stay fully focused on looking at me, its really helpful in navigating that situation, and also proves to employees that my dog is a legit SD
I've mentioned before how I'm legally blind and have trained my own guide dog. Obviously he does not work in a heel. But yes, the eye contact can indeed be used as management to keep your dog aware of what it's doing, thus preventing it from sniffing around. I started teaching my boy his "working position" already at about six months old. Not to have him actually guide me, but to set him up to know that when he's in this position he won't sniff the ground or anything else, won't stop to investigatre things etc. he was also quite the little forager as a pup which was a PAIN to deal with, but the upside is that he learned an interruptor cue early on! Which could then easily be used to help train our version of a working heel he can still do an obedience style heel for a short while, and if he is unsure or something is bothering him in a situation he will often take a step back and look up at me for guidance, which I of course still reinforce.
Thank you for this video! I know most of this, but I was having a bit of trouble teaching my prospect to natural heel! This video helped me pinpoint the mistake I am making, not marking enough for her walking naturally. So simple. Thanks sweets.
So glad this gave you a little tidbit that you could run with in your training! Happy Training!
Yeah that fancy obedience heel looks so pretty but it wouldn’t serve me well since I need my sd to watch where he’s going not watch me so he can keep me safe/upright.
Nailed it! 🔨
Thank your for addressing this. 🎉
Heeling is a major staple in all areas of dog training. Right now we’re working hard on the head up variety for AKC Rally and regular Obedience competitions.
Thank you so much for this video very informative I LOVED this!!!
So glad it was helpful!
Thank you! I feel dogs much liked horses can work without having to having an show/ring Obedience style. I teach 2 major commands "watch me", "stay with me". Although, i understand some people like head up heel. I feel its not natural, causes them to be unbalanced if you have them working outside a control show ring setting.
Yep! All depends on function!
great point about how looking up at the handler is management and that head forward awareness of the handler is also trained!! thank you for sharing!! the clips of whip going along tail wagging are the cutest ❤️❤️
She's the cutest little lemur when she's not a tiny terror
@@DoggyU🤣
Thank you so much for helping us navigate how to best support and train our dogs, so they can support us❤
😊😊😊
Wow! This is great human, as well as doggy, training Laura. Now I hope I can do a better job of teaching Super Sophie, my service dog “in training”, the best way to heel. It’s been a struggle, especially since I use a walker a lot of the time, because Sophie always wants to be up next to the front wheels. She gets super exasperated with me when I pull her back to heel next to me, and then she pulls my arm about out of the socket trying to get back up to the wheels. Even when I reward her with treats for heeling in the correct place, she still gives me “attitude”. Sophie is a year old … I’m figuring she is probably expressing some “teenage angst” 🤣 I love all your super informative videos Laura … please keep up the great work❣️ From: June🤠 & Sophie🦮 💜🇨🇱
Hey June! Stay tuned for Friday's video (Thursday night for Patreon folks)! I have a new training tool that I think *may* be helpful to use with limited dexterity and a rollator!
Thank you! I hear all the time when in public how my sd is distracted since she isn't doing an obedience heel. I try to explain, but it is never received by the person. Think I will refer them to this video from now on! Lol
Yes this was helpful 😊
I’m so glad! 😃
I am training lobo and I did not even realize there were two styles. He was trained into service dog healing. We are still working with basic obedience.
Thank you for braking this all down❤❤❤
Glad it was helpful!
I've trained my pup both styles of heeling. If my arm goes up, he will do an obedience heel. If it is down, he will heel and watch his surroundings. I dissociate/zone out often and I have bad eyesight, I'm not visually impaired or blind, I just refuse to wear my glasses. I'd rather want my service dog to watch our surroundings so we can keep each other safe. If he is looking at me he would probably run into something... He's smart but he is still a clumsy puppy.
This so interesting. Thanks for another great video.
You're welcome!
Great video!! ❤
Thanks Izzy!
Awesome! Would you mind doing a short video on relaxation/break walks versus working walks? How do you decide when to have the dog in heel versus sniffing about? Is a dog that's sniffing enthusiastically at other canine messages in the grass too distracted to also be on duty for alerts or psychiatric services? A lot of the tasks I'm training are constant, not specific moments like retrieving an object or closing a drawer, so I'm not sure how to help my dog delineate working time versus relaxation time. (We have great romping playtime in a fenced area but that doesn't seem like enough break time in the day.) Taking a dog on a sniffari for fun is a lovely way to relax together, but I'd love to hear how you set parameters for your off duty walks, what kind of behaviors you expect and any guidance you have about that. For example, if a friend comes along on the walk, should I let them hold the leash? What about greeting people and dogs when off duty? Etc.
Thanks as always for amazing content! Your work is very much making a difference for people like me!! ❤
I mostly only heel my dog in public spaces that require her to be next to me to navigate spaces and potentially task. Most of the rest of our life together is on a 10 ft. lead or off leash. Heeling just isn't a ton of fun for her, so we only do it when required. I expect very little on my off-duty walks: don't drag me on the leash (I accept a little tension but not dragging), don't bother anyone around us ... that's pretty much it. I still ask her to respond to cues as needed. For your specific examples - sometimes my husband has CoolWhip on leash and I have my old man Jake when we're walking together. I don't generally have my dog greet other dogs on leash ever, but occasionally I will cue them to say hi to a human. They can absolutely say hi, play with, interact with friends and family I hike with. However, if I was struggling with issues of attention, being able to listen to cues, a hyper-greeter type situation, I'd likely have different "rules" about sniffy walks. It really depends a lot on the dog :)
I have videos planned out through the end of the year, believe it or not! But I expect I'll touch on this a bit once I get my puppy so stay tuned! :)
Great clip. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great topic and looking forward to seeing what you have to say.
What do you think is good as a basic heel for environment management for companion dogs? (example, the pet parents are passing another dog and just need their dog close to them)
Hand touch, switching to opposite side of the oncoming dog, or eye contact would work well for that for close and short term management.
Boop
🤗
❤
Hey doggyu I need your help! My roommates dogs keep getting out they refuse to do anything about them their puppy is basically like ours however I want to do some training with her to stop her from getting out. If she keeps getting out the neighbors will call the pound. Please anything will help I cannot board up the fence dogs keep digging. Please help me with training-also puppy isn't very treat or play motivated
I laughed when you were talking about Service Dogs, and eye-contact. My vision is so bad, I can’t make eye contact without being up in people’s business. 🤣 🤣 So I’ve never made eye contact.
Question though. When you train your dogs, you throw food for them to eat, and reset. I was wondering if you have an alternative to the throwing of food on the ground. Is there a way to reset them while I feed them from my hand? If yes, what does this look like?
Thank you.
Ha! I get that. I used to train guide dogs, and we didn't train for eye contact for obvious reasons.
Regarding throwing food, yes. There is a way to reset without throwing it on the ground, but I'd ask why? Many people are worried that tossing food will cause more scavenging, but, when eating food is on cue, I have never seen it cause an increase in scavenging, and actually quite the opposite. It teaches them to ignore food that they have not been cued to eat.
If it's for a different reason, get a tupperwear tub and toss the food into the tub.
Hope that helps!
I don’t do well with eye contact. I just use the focus and look at me cue when she gets distracted. I am confused now. Should I try to train Freja on the service dog heel? I’ve been trying to train her on navigating and guiding. I do need Freja to switch positions.
Nobody's going to mention that she said NEW PUPPY!?!😃
Hehehe 🤭
IMO I think there is a balance with the focus walk. I don’t think it needs to be constant, but frequently, look around and checking in. With the traditional SD face forward and not checking in with handler is not the best method either.
I don’t believe I said the dog should never check in, nor did I show examples of dogs that never checked in. But what most handlers miss is that they ONLY reinforce when the dog is looking up at them and that can cause a myriad of issues.
@@DoggyU sorry, let me clarify. I was not saying that you said the dogs should never check in. I was explaining that in traditional SD training and watching SD in action. Most do not check in, and always eyes forward. From what I’ve seen of ur vids, I see a balanced approach which is how we do SD and reg dog training.
The number of times my dog has run into something because she was paying me too much attention while heeling 😅
🤣🤣🤣
Hey Laura! Does that pivoting exercise work with trying to task train crowd control or orbiting?
It can be a component to better body awareness which is helpful for teaching any skill where the dog has to navigate our personal space.
@@DoggyU so I can use that pivoting exercise to train the crowd control task or orbiting.I started training Freja on intelligent disobedience. How many tasks does a service dog need to know in order to work in public or be considered tasking? What do you recommend? I start training Freja at the airport. I have a hard time keeping my feet still since I am naturally awkward and not coordinated.I am struggling to teach Freja how to crawl.
@@DoggyU Should I train Freja in both service dogs heel styles? Which style is acceptable during the PAT? I trying to train Freja on and off duty behavior.
I have such a hard time teaching heal because my dog is 5lb and when I bend down to give her a treat she gets of of position
I recommend video taping your training sessions so you can observe your reinforcement mechanics and make adjustments as needed. I also really like starting to train heel with stationary heeling exercises to teach positioning using a pivot bowl like shown in this video. Then you can show the dog the reinforcement zone. Using peanut butter on a spoon might also be a helpful delivery strategy. Work on marking in position, and then being sure to feed in position, even if it means the dog has to adjust back into position. Hope that helps!
My sd works on my right side bc if she’s on my left side I get unbalanced bc I’m right handed and I suck with doing stuff on my left side
They can absolutely work on either side! That is personal preference or need. I primarily work my dog on my left because I'm right handed and have worked guide dogs on my left my whole life, but some train right side for sure! It's advantageous to train both in most cases.
@@DoggyU Do you have in person service dog training classes? If you do how much are they?? I enjoy watching your videos and they’ve helped e out a lot but I prefer in person classes
@@terrier_service_dog I don't privately train anymore (outside of a few clients I'm finishing up) and don't plan on having private training clients in the future. My goal over the next few years is to video the raising and training of my new puppy, and then create more free and low cost resources. :)
@@DoggyU ohh ok!
It's so annoying my training organization asking for increased focused healing ar each grade I'm like wtf my dogs need to look where they are going CB ASD guide work mt adit now is reluctant to Walk ahead he actually trying to hide behind me they train middle and focused healing and sit as default stress and reactivity management positions supper frustrating
My small 11lbs dog is almost afraid of everyone and everything and I have 0$ I honestly don’t know what to do
Oh I’m sorry your dog is so fearful. I know there’s lots of videos on UA-cam from various people about fearful dogs and helping them. Best of luck
If your dog is truly afraid of everyone and everything, it may be the kind things to do to decide that they would do best as a helpful at-home service dog. Concurrently, looking to some of the youtube channels that work with confidence building and helping dogs with fear would be where I would start. It's all about listening to the dog and helping them feel more comfortable and growing their confidence.
@@DoggyU I have a question is jogging with your dog confidence building and gaining a stronger bond?
@@Techrideretc.6793 i would say, not necessarily, and that it would depend a lot on the dog. Example: I trained for a half marathon and my cattle dog thought it was very boring. It just wasn't fun for him.
@@DoggyU I try to make it sound fun and exciting 🤷🏼♀️
Here is my answer before I watch the video: YOU try to walk around in that position with any length of time. It is cruel and no different from the exaggerated Big Lick gaits in horses. It is abuse, pure and simple for more than a short time.