Forging while heeling

[rottnkidd]

Hi All - I could use some tips on slowing my eager girl down. She's famous for forging! I know it's better then lagging, but it's still troublesome. Also, if we're working a heeling pattern at home, and she's heeling along near-perfect, then starts bumping into me, what's the best way to correct that? Now the attention is good, but not almost bumping me off my feet! Doesn't make for a very graceful presentation Thank you for any tips!
kathy

[mferg]

Left turn. Left turn. Left turn. Left turn. Keep changing the pace and direction. I've also started heeling in reverse and spinning tight left circles to keep the dog in position. An inadvertant step on the toes going into the left turn doesn't hurt, either. Makes them pay a bit more attention.

Also, how are you rewarding the dog? I've seen some people reward with the right hand, so the dog gets closer to that hand and consequently forges.

[rottnkidd]

Thanks Marlene! I forgot about the left turns! duh
We've been out of school for close to a yr now due to a family situation, however, we're registered to repeat the Novice class in March. I'll start implementing the left turns asap, and let you know how we're progressing. And to answer your question about treating? Beginning with the basic Obed, mostly all of the treating came from the right hand! It wasn't until the Novice
class that treating with the left came into the picture. This will
take some undoing, but I don't think it will be too difficult. My girl aims to please:D Thanks again!
kathy

[Carina43]

Another good little trick is to have short sessions where you only reward/treat for perfect heel-sits. Walk six steps, sit, treat. Walk two steps, sit, treat. Walk ten steps, sit, treat.

This will also keep her paying attention to her position! :)

[BostonRott]

Constant bumping can be a way of "laziness" too. Is the dog looking at you while bumping, or looking ahead? If not looking directly at you, the bumping forms a way for the dog to know where you are, to be able to check position, but to do it the lazy way. Lots of direction changes and stepping "out" away from the dog, laterally, requring the dog to really work to stay with you. :)

[MrsBoats]

Constant bumping can be a way of "laziness" too.

My trainer calls that "Heel by Feel"

[rottnkidd]

Thanks Carina, Boston and MrsBoats! I'll work on these areas and update our progress!
kathy

[BostonRott]

Hahahaha "Heel by feel," I like that!! :) We make the analogy to the drunk drivers who "drive by braille" .......... bounce off one guard rail, across the road, into the next......yep, still on the road, keep driving. Yes, we're a tad twisted, but what do you want from a group of cops and a medic??

[MrsBoats]

BostonRott...the Coast Guard has that too. Drunken boaters bouncing off of rocks, bouys and other boats. I guess that version can be called "Boat by bump" **shrug**

We're just as twisted too!! :D