To start this command, have your dog off the lead. Click and treat when he comes within a metre of you – don’t worry about the distance (to much at this stage). Move away from him and he should follow, he should become closer each time.

Raise the odds – rather than just coming to you, we want him on the left of you.  Click and treat if he comes on your left hand side (again, don’t worry about distance – we have moved the criteria, remember we can’t polish two things at the same time!)

Raise the odds again – only click and treat when he comes to your left but closer – this will happen quite fast as he will be watching for the click. 

Click whilst he is at your side and then throw the treat out, he should then move out for this.  He then has to learn he must come back to you for the next click, he should return to you, click and treat. After a few repetitions, he should be doing his utmost to stay near you, each time you move away or get him to move away, he should come straight back.

Raise the odds again – he should now have a good idea of the position.  When he comes to your side, move away one pace, if he is still there click and reward.  Repeat this exercise until you are confident you can move onto two steps, then three etc. any setbacks go back to what you know he can achieve and build up again.

Raise the odds again and build up the amount of steps before clicking and treating (4 steps, then 10, then 15 and back to 3) vary the interval. 

When you are happy, you can now introduce the command "heel". 

Heelwork (Close)

 Different handlers use different commands for general heelwork and close heelwork so it’s entirely up to you.  I use “heel” for general and “close” for spot on heelwork.

 This is where the target stick is very useful!  Our first aim is to get the dog to touch our leg.  Point the target stick close across your leg, when the dog makes contact with the stick, click and treat.  Work this up then remove the target stick and concentrate on him making contact with your leg.

 When you are happy that he is making contact with your leg for the click and treat, move away from him.  He should come straight to your leg (if not, reintroduce the target stick).  After a few repetitions of this, your dog should be quite insistent to maintain in close contact with you.

If your dog breaks contact when you start to move, reintroduce the target stick.  Once you are happy he is walking with close contact, introduce the command “Close”.

 Leave

To teach the leave, place a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand. Your dog may paw, sniff or mouth your hand, keep the treat covered. As soon as he takes a step back from it, click, open your hand with the treat and let him take it. 

 Work this up and you will find he will sit back from the treat very quickly.  When you are happy with this, place the treat uncovered on the floor.  If he moves towards it, cover with your hand, if he stays away or steps back – click and treat.

 As soon as you are happy with the behaviour, introduce the command “leave”.