The down/stay and heeling are conflicting behaviors. When we teach a dog to heel, we teach the dog that when the handler moves, the dog moves with the handler. When we teach the down/stay, the puppy is expected to do just the opposite: stay still and not move when the handler moves. In order to best minimize confusion, it is helpful to teach one behavior separately, then teach the other behavior, and then finally merge the two together in a particular manner.
Step 1 – Teach the Down/Stay and Heeling Separately
All of the down/stay exercises should have been taught to the level described in Step 4 of Chapter 6 prior to teaching the heeling exercises.
Then the down/stay exercises should have been put on the back burner for a few training sessions while you teach heeling on the fence. These skills are discussed in Chapters 7 and 8.
Step 2 – Re-teach the Down/Stay
When heeling is fairly well taught at least on the fence, occasionally practice sits and down/stays in separate training sessions from the heeling. Initially, the dog may try to get up and follow you. Therefore, you’ll need to reduce criteria making it very easy for the dog to be successful. Go back to the basics of the down/stay by putting your dog on the cot, by barely moving your feet, and by only waiting a second or two before marking and rewarding.
You should be able to increase criteria fairly quickly. However, remember, you’ve added a new level of difficulty to the stay exercises just by teaching the dog to heel. Before you taught him to heel, the dog knew that all reinforcement came from staying put. Now, the dog needs to differentiate between when he needs to stay in place and when he needs to move with you.
Step 3 – Practice the Down/Stay and Heeling in Separate Exercises but on the Same Day
Practice working the heel exercises and the stay exercises in separate exercises until the dog is consistently successful at differentiating between when he’s performing which exercise. Consistent does not necessarily mean perfect. A few errors are normal and expected and shouldn’t hold you back.
Step 4 – Intermingle Practicing the Down/stay and Heeling in the Same Session When Heeling on the Fence
At this point, you can begin intermingling both the heeling and the stay exercises within the same training session. If the dog has trouble learning to distinguish between which exercise he is working on, reduce criteria for reward, and make it easier for the dog. Don’t alternate as often between moving and staying until the dog is ready for it.
When your dog is ready to alternate between the stay exercises and the moving exercises, start intermingling the two exercises by doing the following for the first one or two training sessions. Your dog will be ready to come off the fence when he has met the milestones listed at the beginning of Chapter 11: Stationary Exercises Off the Fence.
- Practice a few down/stay repetitions
- Say “okay” to release your dog.
- Go to the fence if you are still doing heel work on the fence. Remain in place if not.
- Say “right here” to get your dog to move from the front position into heel position.
- Practice a few repetitions of heeling.
- Say “okay” to release your dog.
- Move away from the fence if you are working on the fence.
- Play with your dog for a minute.
- Stand up straight and say “sit” to get your dog back in front of you.
- Have your dog go into a down again.
- Step away from your dog.
- Return.
- Mark and reward.
- Gradually increase criteria while working the down/stay.
- Release your dog with “okay”.
- Go back to the fence if you are still working on the fence.
- Cue your dog to “right here” again.
Step 5 – How to Intermingle Heeling and Stay Work When Heeling Comes Off the Fence
When first starting to intermingle the exercises, you will be about ready to come off the fence for heeling. See chapter 11 for milestones to be met before coming off the fence. Follow the instructions below once you come off the fence for intermingling the down work with the heeling off the fence work.
- Practice a few down/stay repetitions.
- Say “right here” to get your dog to move from the front position into heel position.
- Practice a few repetitions of heeling.
- Say “okay” to release your dog.
- Play with your dog for a minute.
- Stand up straight and say “sit” to get your dog back in front of you.
- Have your dog go into a down again.
- Step away from your dog.
- Return.
- Mark and reward.
- Gradually increase criteria while working the down/stay.
- Cue your dog to “right here” again.
- Practice your heeling exercises.
