Nicole Sprague IAABC-ADT

The Components of the Fine Tuned Heel with Ambrosia the SDIT 🦮

Not in order or importance, but instead just where they show up in our video! Ambrosia is still in training so does get many rewards throughout the video while we are building her reinforcement history!

1. Relaxed body and happy tail: The MOST important when it comes to any training, we want our dogs happy, relaxed, and having fun! Dogs that are tense or showing stress signals are telling us they are uncomfortable and are less likely to be successful with our training in obedience commands

2. Rear End Awareness: good rear end awareness helps our dogs be able to swing into our heel and stay in position more easily while navigating obstacles

3. Auto Check Ins: without focus we have nothing! We want our dogs to engage with us on their own, that way we’re not just begging for their attention!

4. Can Find Heel Position On Their Own: Essential for heeling! How can we expect our dogs to stay in a heel if they can’t find the position on their own in the first place?

5. Slack In The Leash: By giving them that extra leash length they can prove to us they know what they’re doing on their own, and that it isn’t just the leash keeping them next to us! If there’s slack in the leash it’s showing that they are doing it all on their own!

6. Stops When We Stop: Not only does this show they’re paying attention to us, but also helps prevent forging ahead, tripping on our dogs, or them just getting in the way! We can add auto sits to our stops, but for me I’m just happy with stopping when I do and we adjust expectations for each team!
.
#dogtrainingadventures #leashmanners #heelwork #servicedogintraining #servicedog #servicedogtrainer #finetunedheel #heeltraining #intrainingdog #dogsofboston #dogtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #trainingadventures #dogtrainerlife #rewardyourdog #forcefreedogtraining #welltraineddog #wellbehaveddog #trainingdoneright #dogtrainingtips #dogtrainingadvice #dogtrainingisfun #doglife #goldenmountaindoodle #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedogsofmassachusetts #target #publicaccesstraining #setthemupforsuccess #rplusdogs