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Dog A-Z > B > Basic training > Heel
Practice in your home and garden first as there are fewer distractions for your dog than in the street.
• Put your dog on his lead. When he moves to your side say "heel" and then praise and/or treat him, so that he learns to associate the 'heel' command with his position next to you. Once he understands what this means you can try outside.
• Once in the street, command your dog to "heel". If he pulls, stand still immediately so that he has to stop, but do not say anything to him.
• Patiently wait until he comes back to your side, say "heel", praise and then walk on.
• If he continues to walk at your side, reinforce this by using the command "heel" again and then praise and/or treat.
Every time that he pulls you must stop. Your dog will soon learn that it is pointless to pull, as it will not get him anywhere and so should soon start to walk at your heel.
It is a natural, enjoyable behaviour for a dog to want to find out what is happening in his local area by sniffing the ground, lampposts and fences for scents left by other dogs. On walks you should allow him to have a sniff around, but only when you say so and not when he feels like it. When you are ready to let him do this, use a command such as "off you go", so that he can learn when he is allowed to do this. You could use this loose lead 'freedom' as a reward for when he has been performing well on the lead.