POSITION OF PROTECTION DOG WHEN WALKING

[jimwells]

I HAVE JUST AQUIRED A WONDERFULL DOG FROM A PERSON WHO WAS ON THERE WAY TO HAVE DOG DESTROYED DUE TO LEVEL OF AGGRESSION,AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF WORKING WITH DOG I HAVE GAINED ENOUGH TRUST TO BEGIN WORKING WITH HIM AND MAKE HIM PART OF MY HOME. I AM NOT A TRAINER BY PROFESSION HAVE ONLY BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF TRAINING HOWEVER, IN JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF WORKING WITH DOG WE HAVE LEARNRD A LOT FROM EACH OTHER. MY QUESTION IS WHEN TRAINING THIS GREAT DOG TO WALK WITH ME I HAVE NOTICED HE HAS BEEN TRAINED TO WALK WITH HIS HEAD JUST IN FRONT OF MY LEFT LEG. I DONT WANT TO MOVE HIM BACK TO THE NORMAL POSITION THE HEEL IS TAUGHT AS I FEEL LIKE HES IN THAT POSITION FOR THE ABILITY TO SEE LEFT AND RIGHT,AND NOT BE BLOCKED BY MY LEG AS HE WOULD BE IN THE NORMAL HEEL POSITION. HOWEVER HE DOES NEED SOME TWEEKING ON NOT GOING TO FAR AHEAD. WOULD THE TRAINING BE THE SAME AS HEEL ONLY ALLOWING HIM TO MOVE TO THE HEAD IN FRONT OF MY LEG INSTEAD OF BEHIND MY HEEL? I HAVE ALSO NOTICED HE DOESN'T SIT WHEN STOPED BUT STANDS LEGS APART HEAD UP AND WATCHING EVERTHING. HE IS MORE THAN WILLING TO SIT WHEN GIVEN COMAND, DOG IS ROTTIE GERMAN SHEPPARD MIX,HAS SPENT LAST 2. YEARS AS GUARD DOG.

[ChrisNJudy]

Hello,

Thank you for the message, it sounds like you got a nice dog there.
In regards to your question about the heel, you really should work on putting him in the correct heeling position. Reason being, if he is in front of you to start is going to be a lot easier for him to lunge at someone and less easy for you to control. If he is starting put in front of you, you lost already. Just start at phase one and work through the phases and you should have no problem correcting his position.
To your second point about the halt, typically you Want him to sit when you stop so you have more control either at an intersection or in front of people or dogs, etc.
The whole idea with the heel, is so that you can have the most control in the most difficult of situations and highest distraction areas.
Just be patient and don't skip steps and you will him doing a correct heal.

He can walk infront of you while you are just on a casual walk and not in heel if you want.

I hope that helps!
Chris

[abndogos]

The way your dog is heeling is competition heeling, where the dogs shoulder should be lined up to your left leg. So, it depends on what you are having your dog heel for. The heeling taught on here is to teach the dog to realize that you the owner are in control, that his/her feet must always be behind yours.