Can anyone please help me. I just purchase the best dog I have ever had to be a waterfowl and upland hunter. He is a 11 month old labradoodle, is is very very well behaved, he knows all his basic commands by voice, and wistle, sit, stay, come, fetch, get um up... The only one I am having trouble with is to heal. I have purchase most all of Richard A Wolters books, very good books, however they never spend much time on how to teach a dog to Heal,, Can anyone please give me a method on a sure fired way to teach a dog to HEAL?

Thanks,

cybermoser

Nice looking pup!

Well it seems like you've got the basics down sit,stay,fetch.
If you can teach those you can teach heal. Hes at a great age still very willing and excited to learn.

Iam working with non hunting hyper house lab(2yrs) right now!
It only took her a couple days to catch on, very smart just never been worked with.
Anyways, this what we do
Take a slip lead, make sure its in the proper spot(under the jawbone placed right against the base of the skull ). It doesn't have to be choking them. Get the dog in position at what ever side you prefer have them sit to begin, start walking(give the HEAL command) keeping the dog snug to your side. As you walk hold your arm out keeping the lead straight up in the air, when he starts to stray give the heal command along with a quick pop up on the lead. Remember heal should be with the dogs head at your heal not leading infront or lagging behind. I walk our dogs up in down our driveway its nice and long, stopping every 50ft or so, command sit when you stop. It should only take a cpouple times and your dog should be able to read you and sit when you stop.
Repeat Repeat Repeat.
Take about 15 mins everyday
Before long your dog will be healing to you with out any commands
Also if you'd like add a whistle, use everytime you stop to get the sit on whistle trick down.

Hope this helps, its just the way we do it. Works for us.
Look around take advise from many people and find the method you like the best for your dog!
Enjoy that pup

I like to do this also, but only when the dog gets into the advance stages of heal (when he know what he's supposed to be doing and following your lead). I'll walk at a brisk pace with the dog at heal, then slow down a little.....just keep changing you pace. Also, I'll zig zag and go in circles, etc. I do this simply because when out in the field you don't walk in straight lines all of the time. If your dog will heal the whole time while doing these things then you know for sure that your dog fully understand the heal command.

Easy heel,

Get a pinch collar, a good metal one or leather one, no pointed studs though. Keep the leash short. Keep the collar up way high almost around his ears. The dog will soon learn what heel means or he gets pinched. You don't have to shout, pull, jerk the lead, nothing. Just keep your arm nice and steady, let him pinch himself.

I use a pinch collar with a short chain ( about 6"- 12")and a old broom handle.
Atach the end of the chain to the broom handle .
Take the dog out and put the collar on it.
Hold the chain end of the broom handle at dogs head level say heal ,as you slowly walk .
DO NOT drag the dog.
If the dog trys to go ahead of you ,ajust the low end to stop it and keep it in the propper healing area.
In a few training secions it should have it down .
My lab needs a refresher every once in a while ( after playing with the neices)

If you want excellnet training video that will help you check out Ultimate Obedience (Obediience training made easy). The trainer does excelent job of showing how to train heel.