HEELING
We are going to start doing what is known as pylon heeling. You will need to set up a pattern as follows with 8 pylons, flower pots, etc. (gallon milk/water jugs filled with sand/dirt work well). Inside pylon means the dog is on the inside of the turn (between you and the pylon). Outside pylon is the opposite – the dog is on the outside of the turn away from the pylon. You will only use treats on the outside pylon, this will keep your dog in position. At this point, you will also start using the commands “COME UP” and “GET BACK.”

SIT/STAY and DOWN/STAY
If your dog is steady, you may drop the lead and walk up to six feet away from him. Increase the length of time for the sit/stay to four minutes and the down/stay to five minutes. Corrections are the same as before. If your dog “breaks” go back to on lead work for a little while longer and a shorter stay period. Once your dog is off lead, you lose the immediate control, do NOT rush this – your dog must be steady o lead before you can drop your lead.

Start to pet and quietly praise your dog in the down/stay position. Do not allow him to move. This is a good place for him to be when a small child pets him. Help to cultivate a love for animals by having your dog under complete control for children to pet.

CONTINUE TO WORK ON ALL PREVIOUS EXERCISES. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE INVOLVING ATTENTION, EMOTIONAL CONTROL AND THE SIT/STAND FOR EXAMINATION. IT AT THIS POINT, YOU ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY, BACK UP TO A POINT WHERE THE DOG IS SUCCESSFUL AND BUILD AGAIN. THIS REDUCES FRUSTRATION FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR DOG, BUILDS YOUR DOG’S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU WANT, AND GIVES HIM SUCCESS.

EVERYDAY USE OF COMMANDS
Work actively on the down/stay at this point. If your dog is in the house, make him down/stay while you eat dinner. You may not want to have him there for the entire meal. If that is the case set a kitchen timer for a predetermined amount of time. But, something you feel you dog can successfully complete. If your dog seldom comes in the house, make sure that this is one of the times he gets to come in. If your dog stays outside down your dog to clean his pen or anything else you want to do outside which takes a little time to complete.

Pylon Pattern
In this exercise the “COME UP” and “GET BACK” commands will be a big help in keeping your dog in the correct position. “Come up” is used on the outside pylons and the “Get back” is used on the inside pylons. You will do a zig-zag pattern.

Begin with your dog in the sit position and give the heel command. Proceed toward the first pylon. Just before you reach the pylon, you show your dog a treat. After you make the turn, you give the treat. If the dog goes wide, use the treat and the come up command to entice him. As you proceed toward the second pylon, you will not show or give a treat. This turn requires the dog to be on the inside. Be sure you give your dog enough space to fit between you and the pylon. If the dog gets ahead of you at this point, use the appropriate correction and give the command “get back.” Continue through all the pylons and after the last one, continue to the other side where you will stop, with your dog sitting at your side. As your dog gets comfortable with this exercise and learns the come up and get back commands, you can vary your pace, do random stops and even turn and go in the opposite direction. Just remember which is inside and which is outside!

Think of ways to use the “come up” and “get back” commands in other activities - they are very useful!