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I am working on obedience with my 4 month old lab. I have taught sit, extended sit, and here. I am still trying to get her to sit right when I tell her to, but she does sit most of the time I command her but sometimes she does not obey. I am also tryin to teach her heel, but that is not going well at all. I am teaching on lead by having her sit and then commanding heel and walking her and commanding heel whenever she gets by my knee. But she does not understand she usually just keeps walkin in front of me and I am having to pull her back everytime. My first question is how should I correct her when she does not obey a command such as leaving sit before I command here. I praise her when she does sit right away, and when she doesnt I command sit and pull up and back on her collar. And my second question is what am I doing wrong with heel. Any insight would be great considering this is my first time to try to train a dog.

Are you using a choke chain? If not get one........if you are, be patient....4 mo's is very young to be teaching full enforcement type OB with the dog. At that age you should be passively teaching (more of an introduction to heeling). Quick pops (again, not to forceful with a dog this age) with a choke chain will get it's attention. I suggest you wait until 6 mo's or later to begin "formal" OB training.

I found its a lot easier to teach forwards/backwards heeling by putting the dog up against a wall, and using a choke chain like DIB said to keep them from lagging behind you, and a heeling stick or broom handle in your right hand as a barrier (think moving wall) to keep the dog from surging forward.

First of all use a barrier for heel back as GC described. I use a rattle stick for this and it is very effective. Second and most importantly from my opinion. 4 months is a little young for this strict obedience. Let a puppy be a puppy and you will have a much more compliant dog in the future. Lots of short marks, mostly fun, I wait until 5-6 months before formal obedience. JMO!

Also be careful with the retrieving at this age since they are usually losing their teeth around then and will have a sore mouth. You dont want lose any of their retrieving desire during this process. Good Luck and enjoy your pup.

Several things FWIW. I don't think 4 months is too young to teach obedience. I start off teaching it with treats and have recently used the clicker. Gradually introduce aversives like the choke chain or heeling stick depending on the dog. Most will become more independent and more easily distracted at 4 months. I suspect your timing is off a bit with your heel training. I wouldn't say heel when he's next to you. Heel is a command so you say it when he's out of position and then put him in the correct position and praise him.

It might go something like this: With a pup he's on lead with a flat collar. He gets out ahead and I say heel and change direction and pull him into position next to my knee. When he gets to the correct position its GOOD DOG and slip him a treat. Repeat this several sessions and he wants to be near your knee and may stay there off lead.

He gets a little older and he's more independent you might move up to a choke chain. Its still Heel when out of position and change direction. Now you'll give a pop on the chain and when he gets in position you still praise GOOD DOG and may or may not give a treat.If he's a real puller then you can try a pinch collar which is safer than the chain.

Remember to reward the correct behavior. The appropriate timing and conditioning to praise is just as important as corrections with the chain or stick.Good quality obedience training is easier to demonstrate than describe on the net so I'd suggest getting help. I would bet someone here is close to you. I would be glad to help as well.

Good luck,

Bill B

Bill...do you see any advantage to using the clicker..I have seen ob people use them but have never thought about using one myself.......


SouthernHuntr...I agree with B3...use a well fitted pinch collar before you use a choke chain.

I think the clicker is great for puppies and obedience but becomes less effective when you take it to the field. The clicker allows you precisely time a reward just like an e collar allows you to precisely time a correction.

Bill