Originally Posted by Quita

No! This was very helpful! Thank you! I was actually going to PM you to get some more detailed information about how you teach the heel. I'm basically using the same method that you are using.. but I'm doing this only at home (not in obedience class). It just really bothers me doing all the luring with food after starting Risa with Ivan's methods. I was just wondering if there is another "magical" (i.e., "easier") way to teach the heel. I just find that it's a very difficult thing to teach, and it takes such a long time to develop a good competition-level heel. Your post just confirms what I thought.. I just need to keep at it... baby steps.... Risa hasn't quite figured out finding the leg. She'll follow it into the intital position, but then when I begin walking she doesn't know to follow the leg. She's getting better with attention, but she'll frequently break her look once I begin moving. If she's highly, highly motivated for her tug, she WILL keep attention for a nice number of paces. I just need to be more patient and will keep working on this. The "finding the leg" and heel position hasn't quite "clicked" for her.. not yet..