Angier K9 Field Notes

Walking and leash skills

A walk contains different jobs: moving in the same direction, passing a distraction, waiting and exploring. Start by identifying which job the handler is asking for. Then watch the cue, the help supplied, the dog’s response and the release.

The starting question

What does a useful walk look like beyond staying at heel?

Separate walking together, entering heel and staying in heel while moving. The recordings also explain when the dog is released to explore, so a walk is more than a continuous position exercise.

Watch the teaching in context

These starting points come from the linked concept sources. Watch the surrounding sequence as well as the explanation; a lesson example does not establish every dog’s outcome.

Source moment · 9:55

Bullet: when the trainer uses heel

The trainer explains using heel for a particular part of a walk and releasing the dog afterward.

Watch for: Listen for the reason for choosing heel, then look for the change between working position and release.

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Source moment · 24:15

King: two parts of heel

The owner lesson distinguishes coming into the heel position from maintaining it as the handler walks.

Watch for: Keep the entry and the moving position separate in your notes. They are different things to observe.

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Questions to explore

So how long should I heel him for?Should my dog heel for the whole walk?Why does his heel look fine and then fall apart as soon as we are actually walking?Why does my dog's heel fall apart when we walk?What exactly does each word mean?What is the difference between come and let's go?How many feet should the radius be?How do I stop my dog running off on walks?Do I need to teach a stay command?How does my dog know when he can stop?He was perfect for the trainer. Why is he ignoring me at home?Why does the training stop working when my dog gets home?What do I do instead, then? He pulls, or he lunges at other dogs.Should my dog heel for the whole walk?How do I practise the entry, exactly?Why does my dog's heel fall apart when we walk?

Browse the complete question shelf for walking and leash skills

Connect the ideas

Explore more footage by teaching concept

Keep a useful record

Which cue is being used, and what response ends that request?
What changes when the handler turns or the surroundings become busier?
When is the dog released, and what can the dog do then?

Compare two walks

Record the setting, handler, task and help before comparing two filmed examples.

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Have a question about the teaching, a new skill you want to explore, or something you noticed in a video? Join the official Angier K9 community for training discussions, educational resources and conversation with our trainers.

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A useful question includes the situation, what you observed and what you want to understand. If it relates to this library, include the page or video link and timestamp.

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