In this dog training tutorial I answer the question ”how do you train your dog to heel even when there are distractions?’ using video examples.
Teach your dog to be calm and listen in new environments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLyiQODnR1s
The calm settle on a mat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1olzgidMw
Heelwork tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfQhpr47HLI
Game for beginning heelwork with a puppy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45lk4_tud9Y
Focusing on arousal when in the heel position:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrWInQlDv3s
Proactive heelwork and loose leash walking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwOMIbtoWkk
#dogtraining #heelwork #heel
Hi everyone in this video i’m going to Be answering the question how do you get Your dog to do heel work even when They’re high level distractions say for Example you’re in a city and there’s Lots of stuff going on in the Environment skateboards going by people Passing or you’re at a park and dogs are Loose and playing or barking and kids Are throwing balls and your dog wants to Join in or you’re at the beach and your Dog really would like to jump in the Ocean or chase the seagulls how do you Get your dog to want to do heel work With all this stuff going on in the Environment so i was asked this Yesterday as a comment and i thought it Would be a great Idea to make a video of my answer and It’s not so much about each behavior you Have to then go and proof and generalize And work on all these different Distractions with each behavior it’s More that you teach your dog the concept Of wanting to train with you wanting to Play with you in these distraction Distracting environments the first step To teaching your dog to do stuff for you Is seeing if you can get your dog to Want to play with you in the Environments that are distracting for Your dog so if you wanted if you have a Dog that wants to play with you then You have all the power in the world so i
Would first begin with the easiest Behaviors in these distracting Environments but also even before Getting to the easy behaviors i do Actually have a video um And i’ll link it in the description Below of just going to these Environments and just working on a Settle so you’re teaching your dog to Relax and settle and get treats and just Simply do nothing while these things are Going on when you can get a dog that can Relax in an environment where there’s The sea the the birds the enticing dogs And the children playing and your dog Can just relax on a mat Wow it’s going to be so easy to get your Dog to want to work with you in these Distracting environments so first Beginning with just relaxing on a mat Then doing little behaviors maybe you Ask for a little bit of attention you Play attention games go back to the mat And the video below you can you can Check that out so you’re basically Teaching your dog that they can just Relax and ignore these distractions out And about And check out the video that says calm Settle Because that is how to teach your dog to Relax on the mat and i’ll link that Below and so You’re basically teaching your dog to be
Okay with all these things going on even If you’re not training so there is the Possibility if you have a dog that’s Really driven for food or toys that as Soon as you’re working for food or toys The toy trumps or the food trumps Everything else in the environment and You have a hundred percent of your dog’s Attention there are some dogs that are Like that But as soon as the toy goes away then Their interest is diverted or perhaps You have a dog that has an interest in Novelty toys so if they see another dog Playing with a toy that might uh Distract your dog away from uh From working with you so it’s really Important um If you want reliable behavior uh to work On the distractions so that they they Aren’t these extreme things for your dog To have to um Come back to have to ignore in order to Work to work for you so it’s more about Say if you had a dog that was really Worried about dogs um if you’re asking Them to do heel work for something they Want and they have this worry about Something in the environment there’s This conflict so i suggest working On counter conditioning and teaching Your dog to trust you that these things In the environment aren’t going to Bother them
While they’re not working doing just a Settle and getting to look around and Then when your dog’s comfortable then You can add uh the behaviors of asking For heel work or or tricks or any sorts Of behaviors that you wish to do with Your dog in public here’s a very simple Plan for success whatever behaviors you Want to do in public you work on them in Your house and build that reinforcement History 100 percent of the dog’s Interest is in earning the reinforcement That you have and nothing is distracting Them so you’re building and conditioning Your dog to hear the cue and a hundred Percent want to do the behavior and What’s going to happen is the queue is Going to start to become secondary Reinforcement and the dog is going to go Yes i love hearing that and the behavior Is going to start to become a secondary Reinforcer and The dog is going to want to do the Behavior where if you try to train the Behaviors in distracting environments The conditioning is going to be watered Down and muddy it’s going to be hard to Know if the dog is A hundred percent wanting to do that Behavior or if they’re conflicted or Stressed so the reinforcement isn’t as Powerful as it would be if you’re in a Non-distracting environment so i really Suggest building those behaviors in your
House that’s why you always see me with My dogs in my living room or my training Room working on those behaviors and Building them to be strong proofing with Distractions inside the house before Then moving outside so one big uh secret To getting your dog to ignore Distractions outside the house is Creating a distraction in your house That’s hard for them so a bowl of food They ignore the bowl of food and then They’re released to the bowl of food or They never get the bowl of food work With toy distractions work with people Family members that they have to ignore That are maybe talking to them going hi Bobby puppy puppy or whatever you want In the house so you’re building that Concept of ignore the distraction uh Earns the reinforcement another Wonderful thing is if you have a Distraction you can bring say for Example the bowl of food that was in Your living room when you place it into The park and you start doing the same Game that you did at home i promise you That a lot of dogs will forget about the Other stuff in the environment and start Really concentrating on leaving the The thing that they worked on at home so That can actually build your dog’s Attention on you by bringing the Distraction from home to the park for Them to focus on rather than
The other distractions in the Environment for duration behaviors or Complex behaviors i suggest adding a lot Of criteria when you’re in your house And then when you go to the park you ask For just a little bit just the beginning Of the behavior go back to basics when You’re at the park and what it’s going To teach your dog is that when they’re Out and about things get easier and more Fun and then you build on that so if you Want to go back to building duration you Can do that in your living room and then Go back to the park and add on it or go Back to the city streets and add on it Here’s footage of epic my chihuahua when She was a puppy and you can see we’re Working on exercises that we worked on In our home in our yard before then Bringing them to the park and you can See her motivation and interest in Wanting to work because she already Knows the behaviors from when she worked On them in a non-distracting environment Let’s go Good Let’s go Let’s Go good A puppy [Music] [Music] If you have a dog that’s not even taking Treats or playing with toys outside you
Can be working on all these behaviors And proofing inside your house and at The same time going on outings with your Dog to Get them used to being out and about and Just relaxing out and about and then Doing very basic things like paying Attention to you or playing attention Games out and about and just some loose Leash walking out and about and sniffing Around out and about and getting used to Being out without fixating on Distraction distractions in the Environment so that is the plan you work On the behaviors at home build their Strength build your dogs uh build them To be secondary reinforcers do some Proofing and then work on the things That your dog is distracted by either They’re excited or they’re worried about And you’re teaching your dog to be Confident and calm and be able to listen To you around these distractions and Then you combine the two so you can work On any behaviors you wish to get your Dog to want to do them out and about i Hope this video was helpful for your Training if you’d like to support my Work don’t forget to like this video Leave me a comment as it’s highly Reinforcing and subscribe to this Channel for more free professional dog Training videos that show you how you Can train your dog without the use of
Physical or psychological intimidation See you later