10 Fundamental STEPS For a Focused HEEL!

What treats are you feeding your dog?

As a biologist training to be a k9.trainer

Teaching my almost5months bullypit not to lEash pull

this is the best video so far

I wish these videos would show the lesson with an untrained dog. What do you do when they dont follow your instructions?

I had watched this video quite a while ago and, as a beginner, didn't catch many of the nuances. Now, in rewatching with fresh eyes, having a bit more experience and having a dog where I am currently working on this behavior (focused heel), this all makes more sense and lets me know where my holes are in his training. "Learning how to learn". Extremely helpful.
These ten steps are going to be specifically incorporated into our training sessions with the end goal of being able to present a beautiful team when out and about. IMHO there is a time for the focused heel outside of competitive OB. Busy streets and stores, multiple high level distractions present, require the dog to be focused on you NOT the chaos around him.

Thank you

I needed this video

This is a super helpful video in preparing for AKC Novice competition and for just increasing engagement while walking. 💪🏼🐺

I loved everything about this, except one thing.
In step one you used the term ' sit down ' . That's a
major pet peeve of mine. LoL. It's either sit or down it
can't be both. Just sayin'. Great video though 👍🐾🐾👍

good job! awesome channel

Thank you for breaking it down!

Nate, I have two competition obedience dog. The older one, a Sheltie, is most of the way to her Obedience Trial Champion (Otch) title, and a puppy who is just starting out. The youngster has a nice, natural heel, recently finishing her Beginner Novice B title with a 198,5. I am putting both dogs on your focused heel position. Believe it or not, the older dog is in greater need of this training than my puppy. This is similar to how I started out my puppy in attention heeling. I will be following your method since it is so much like what helps my Sheltie thrive, and my training as an operant trainer. I love how you show each step. I really need that structure, as do my dogs.

whats the verbal command??

thank you so much for breaking this down step by step! i've been doing basic obedience since i brought my boy home (my first GSD) and want to move on to more focus based training once he's got the basics down. definitely going to be using this to help me train Quixote in the future!

I don't even have a dog or any pet for that matter but this is so cool like watching a wild Pokémon be trained irl

Excellent and this is what i wanted.❤️💛

I have a year old Schipperke. The breed is notoriously willful and hard to get focused. We’re taking Obedience / Agility classes now and your videos are very helpful. 💪🏼🐺

You are amazing

If “heel” is already verbal command to go into the position, do you repeat the command a second time when moving or should you simple lure into position and then give command for movement and only use command to get into position when this is solid?

❤❤❤❤❤ You're great at it.. I watch one video 😂 now I'm addicted
..

Would you do all of these steps at one time or would you do all of these steps in many different sessions

how long are the training sessions and how often, and how often can you add a new skill?

This is excellent, easy to follow, no BS. Thank you!

This is Priceless stuff. Thank you!

This is everything I’ve been needing! Thanks so much!

Your videos are fantastic!!!

Hi! How do I do step 6 with a much shorter dog?!

I have acquired Puppers GSD 🤟🏻💗

Question - don’t you find that by looking at your face, the dog will tend to crab as they’re heeling ?

What do you do when your dog stubbles with walking in the center position

Thank you so much for this excellent video; in 5 minutes, I could see the light bulb come on in my 2 year old lab's head, (and mine as well) and she said, "Oh THATS what you want me to do! " She has been through several obedience classes, but always with a lack of a good heel position (rear end pointing West while the front end was pointing North.) Balance work on a half ball didn't help. Good in agility, but as she is long and boxy, and lacks good hind end awareness, drops bars. The spiraling exercise, AFTER we really worked on engagement, definitely increased her hind end awareness; almost like a miracle. The engagement strengthened her trust in me; after all, it is hard to walk forward (or whatever) without looking forward. (I can only imagine that as a human, but it seems daunting.) That takes a LOT of trust, and that is what these exercises, and your training method, taught. Thank you. I feel more confident, but more importantly, my dog feels more confident. I subscribed. Am looking forward to subscribing to your Patreon.

Love the focus heel. Love teaching it to my clients who have dog reactivity problems with their dogs.

Love the videos. I have a 11wk old healer I got at 8wks after my hero died. Train every day. He knows center and walks with me and to get down when I take a knee and the basic sit, down and come and if I point and say touch he'll bump the object with his nose. I'll have to try this out since now he focuses on my hands every time I move them.

This is the most in depth, easy to understand, and effective video I have ever seen for focused heel training. I’m trying to train my medical alert SD the basics on my own so I only have to pay for the specialized alert and response training and videos like this help me out so freaking much. Thank you so much for this video and anyone questioning if it works.. IT DOES. FANTASTICALLY.

Great breakdown

Sometimes my dog will lose interest in the food or treat and stops caring to follow the food, how can I keep him engaged and following my hand?

can this be done with small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers? It would be a lot of bending down.

my dog learned this in one day. amazing ! thank you!

This video definitely help me understand the focus heel.. I am working on the focus heel. So far, I am using my hand as the physical cue for the heel.

At what age should I start with my puppy?

I don't believe in giving treats for training in the wild they just do it because they follow the Alfa mom and dad...BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL

I love this video!!! I can teach tricks well but wasn’t sure how to do obedience like this and we’re getting a big dog this time! You broke it down easy to understand !!

You are absolutely fabulous

thank you so much. recently my service dog is having to be re trained during the holidays due to people at my high school harassing her causing her to be reactive. and even though i’ve only done the first step (we’re taking baby steps) she is already succeeding so well. i cant thank you enough

Is it possible to train in mob, specially Rottweiler puppies

правда, самое лучшее - подробно, шаг за шагом. Спасибо! and really, the best training video. in detail, step by step. Thanks!

Amazing videos Nate. Keep it up. It's be the most full tool In my belt with my pup.

What if you dog is only 5 inches off the ground? Wouldn't that "focused head up" heel position be detrimental to the physical health of a smaller dog?

Hey Nate. I never thought I'd be able to accomplish this as an average pet owner but I did it! I do have a question though. When I see other dogs doing their focused heel online, they got the fancy legs going and it looks more poppy. How do the trainers get their dog to do that?