The answer
Middle is the dog standing or sitting between the handler's legs, facing forward; the 'security heel' is walking with the dog held there. Three dogs have it on film. For Akira, Kelton added it outside the advertised program because she already liked going to middle: 'security heel is when you heal in the middle', useful 'if there's, like, a lot of stuff going on', as in a busy store. For Savage, a protection dog, Christian frames it as a 'security stand': if he stops in a store with people around, the dog sits in the middle and watches; if he walks, he squeezes the dog with his knees and it walks between; if he backs up, it sits without being told. Later it becomes the place the dog barks and defends from.
Thor shows how it can start. He already stood between people's legs, so Kelton put it on cue - 'it's something they already want to do it then it's really easy to like put it on cue' - and taught him to enter from the front and come back out through the middle, so the leash does not get caught round the handler's leg.
Stated on film: what middle is, where it is used, and the ease of cueing a habit the dog already has. Not on film: a step-by-step teaching sequence, or its use by families after go-home.
What to do
If your dog already likes standing between your legs, ask your trainer about putting it on cue. Use it where it helps - a crowded aisle, a checkout line - with the dog sitting in the middle while you stand (watch 59:04; watch 21:38).
What the trainers say
to finish up with like a what i it's called a security heel so security heel is when you heal
included in your program but i don't really care because it's just fun she likes being in middle
And then I got to teach her a security heel, which is where she heels in the middle.
It's nice if there's, like, a lot of stuff going on.
so if I'm standing he should sit and he watches in the middle so it's like a
squeeze him with my knees and have him walk between which I like I think it's
defense, sometimes we'll have him go between the legs and do some barking and defending,
he already wanted to do it so then it's like it's something they already want to do it then it's
him to come through the front back out through the middle Thor middle good because then the
How it looks, dog by dog
Akira
Added because she already went to middle 'for no reason', and taught to enter from the front and stay. By the end of her program she heels in the middle through a hardware store; Kelton says he has started teaching it to more dogs though it is not advertised.
On film
anyway she goes there for no reason um so it's like i've actually i've started teaching more of
She stays in the middle and walks with me, which is cool.
Savage
The protection version: a security stand with auto-sit when the handler stops and backs up, walking between the knees at the handler's pace, practised in a Cabela's store; later the base for barking and defending.
On film
security stand right so like if I was standing in the store and like people
fun there you go good boy if I back up then he goes back to a sit without me
Thor
A habit put on cue: Thor stood between people's legs in the kitchen, so Kelton named it. In training he enters from the front and comes back out through the middle, so the leash does not wrap.
On film
all right let's put it on command let's put it on cue so that you can just ask him to do it he
leash doesn't get caught around my leg pro tip good boy good boy yeah Thor middle good boy
Why it works
Stated purpose: a controlled, watchful position in crowds and, for a protection dog, a defensive base. Inferred: the handler's legs bound the dog on both sides, which makes position easy to hold in tight spaces.
Questions owners ask
Is middle part of the normal program?
For Akira, Kelton said it was not included or advertised, but he had started teaching it to more dogs who already liked going there.
On film
the dogs that even though we don't advertise it um just because i think it's fun and if they
Why enter from the front?
So the leash doesn't get caught around your leg.
On film
leash doesn't get caught around my leg pro tip good boy good boy yeah Thor middle good boy
The lesson
The goal
Teach middle standing and moving, entered from the front.
Learn first
The drill
Savage's stand: stop and he sits in the middle; walk and squeeze with the knees so he walks between; back up and he sits again (watch 21:38).
Watch out for
- Entering from the side so the leash wraps
Check yourself
Why is middle easier to teach to a dog who already stands between your legs?