Heal
There are a few ways to train your pup to stay by your side when going on walks.
I will explain a couple that I find most effective, ultimately you decide which one works for you. Remember not all dogs are the same, some are more stubborn than others, some learn faster and some slower.
You'll need to be patient, you might not always get immediate results, but don't blame your dog,
this is a two way contribution.
Like any new command, you'll want to find a quiet place to start.
Using a leash walk about 10 paces forward at the same time say his name and heal, gently steering him by your left leg, then change directions saying the command along with his name.
Whenever he obeys and walks beside you tell him how smart he is.
Eventually, when you say heal, he will recognize the command and by telling him how good he is, he will relate the command with doing a good thing.
Once he has perfected this, you can try letting go of the leash, but make sure he will not be in harms way should he forget what to do. Never train your dog in a busy park or near a busy street, you'll want to give him room for error. Also, when you are training your dog, no more than five minutes at a time, and after five minutes, have some play time. This will encourage him to want to learn because he knows, play time is coming after.
There are also products on
the market that can help you. Two of the more common ones are, the gentle leader™
and the Haltee™
Both are similar, they attach to the dogs muzzle and around his head, if the dog tugs, it will tighten around the muzzle. My major concern for these products is if they are used incorrectly, you can severely hurt your dog. They can be very affective, but please inform yourself as much as possible before using them.
