Lyra is learning to sit automatically in heel position. I’m also starting to teach her a left hand finish.
In both cases, it’s helpful to have a hand taget; I ask Lyra to touch the side of her muzzle against the side of my hand. In this way, I can place her in perfect heel positon simply by holding my hand exactly where I want her muzzle.
Lyra rocks back in heel position, so I’m using the hand target to help her understand that when I halt I want a sit AND I want her muzzle on my hand. Since it’s not possible to rock back and keep her muzzle on my hand, I expect it will eliminate the rock back sit.
I can also use the hand target when we are heeling, and I want to give her a bit of help with keeping her steady and in the “pocket” next to my side. If I pull my hand in closer then she will come closer. If crowding ever becomes an issue, I will use the hand target to pull her away from me.
For now, I simply want to fix her rock back sits, and also to tighten up her heel position a little bit at a time.
I’m also using the hand target to help her learn a left hand finish and cleaner fronts.
Lyra is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5mgLBGx5Y
Here, cisu shows the finished product
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLrH94KqAYw
that’s fine for a Terv. But what would you use to accomplish these things with a small dog (about 14″)?
I do the same thing; bend when it’s time to stop and the dog is going to sit. My dogs learn this target early when they are no taller than 14″.
Would you show how you tained this…from the very beginning? Thanks
Eve aka Dillonsmom
OOPs sorry….went to the Cisu video and you link to the training of this. Thanks so much for your posts and your videos!!!!
Eve aka Dillonsmom