I use the ‘with me’ command instead of ‘heel’ because I think ‘heel’ is a confusing command. At least it confuses me.
When we are in training class and are told to ‘heel’ our dog, my understanding is I want my dog to come and stand at the side of my leg.
When we start moving and I want my dog to stay with me, I think it’s confusing to say ‘heel,’ because I’ve just asked her to stand at my side using the same command.
So I started using ‘with me’ for that command. Delilah seems to understand it and is easily corrected with an “ACK, ut oh, or ut unh.”
I share this with you because Delilah had a another successful walk yesterday!
It was my Saturday for dog food so I ran errands all morning, met my friend Mindy for lunch and then came home to take our walk in the afternoon.
I let Delilah off-leash as soon as she exited the car and let her walk in. I leashed her near the top of the trail, where she used to run off and kept her with me for a couple of minutes, but let her go again as soon as we passed the danger point.
The next time we approached I called her to me and said, “With me.” I kept her focused on the treats in my hand and she stayed right with me.
When we left the park she walked out off-leash. Of course there also weren’t any other dogs or distractions to lead her astray.
Flash forward to today. Hubby joined us on our walk. I think I am more anxious when Hubby is there because I want to prove to him that positive reinforcement works.
She went into the park off-leash, she did run off to chase a squirrel but came right back, we walked the trails a couple of times and then took the dogs to the field to let them run.
This was the true test because you may remember the day that she ran off from me at the field and got herself stuck.
Hubby walked away from us then called Sampson and Delilah and in this manner we ran them back and forth a couple of times. I then decided to have them sit and walk away from them towards Hubby with the intent of calling them to me.
I got about half-way to Hubby and I heard Delilah tearing after me. I brought her back and sat her down and tried again, but again she came tearing back to me. I said to Hubby, while I want her to obey me, how can I be mad at her for wanting to be with me?
I know it’s important for her to listen to me but I think my focus right now needs to be on her returns, at least outside. I can work on her stays in the house.
Once the dogs were in the car I asked Hubby how he thought she did and he said, “She walked out to the car without the leash, so that’s pretty good. ”
As we pulled into the driveway I said, “She will have to go on leash to the house or she will run to the neighbor’s yard.”
Hubby said, “I don’t think she will.” At my raised eyebrows he said, “I’ll assume responsibility for her.”
He opened the door and she ran right to the neighbor’s yard.
I didn’t say a word.
Thanks for sharing. I just so happen to be working on heel right now and I like the ‘with me’ idea. – DogDaz
Oooh you’ll have to keep us posted on the heel and with me commands work, are you doing it formally or are you doing it yourself at home?
At home. I work one dog at a time. Sofie has the e-collar and Louise is clicker trained. Lulu liked ‘with me’ a lot today, since there were many treats involved.
This was a self fulfilling prophesy on your part. 🙂
LOL hey when you know your dog, you know your dog. 😉
I don’t think I would discipline Delilah for coming either. That is what you have been working for and you don’t want to undo that. You can clean the other up another time. As our trainer always reminds us, work on the big stuff and worry about the rest later. LOL about her running to the neighbor’s house.
I think for Delilah it is best to work this one thing at a time. When she has the come command down I will start working her with the stay, until then I think it’s important that she always return to me!
You have a pretty smart trainer there. 🙂
You know your dog!
😉
I agree about not wanting to confuse her by correcting her for wanting to come to you when she’s on a stay ~ with all the work you’re putting into teaching her to COME to you when she’s off leash! I think you’re doing GREAT!
Tall person uses ‘with me’. He also uses it with the little person when they are crossing a road 🙂
You didn’t mention Hubby’s reaction when Delilah ran into the neighbor’s yard – probably best that you didn’t say anything 🙂
it sounds like she is really getting the idea of things lately, that’s great 🙂 You guys have worked out a balance of freedom and obedience that gives her running time when she can deal, and leash when she might be too tempted to not listen. When Gwynn breaks a sit-stay to follow me, I just walk with him back to where he was supposed to sit, put him back in a sit, walk a shorter distance, turn back and reward, then walk a slightly longer distance before breaking the stay. I agree with the others, though – correction, yes, but now is definitely not hte time to tell her, “actually, no, i don’t want you to want to stick close”.
Your whole training plan with Delilah is so inspiring – I’ve actually copied your long-line training with Gwynn a bit. The parts of the park that I can’t trust him off-leash in (runs to beach to eat dead…. things… or to other people or dogs or creek or geese or garbage), he drags the long line (that I may or may not be holding, depending on how focused he is) and we work on loose-leash walking beside me, sit-stays, or the come command.
Delilah is doing great…I like the use of ‘with me’. I haven’t put words to Sage walking next to me, but it’s about the same effect.
Sounds like Delilah is really making progress. Kudos to you for sticking with it and not giving up on her!
lol!
Even if Delilah ran to the neighbors like you expected, I think it’s sweet that your husband thought/hoped she could go off leash. He was mistaken but it’s a mistake that shows how impressed he was with her behavior earlier. 🙂
I also like the phrase “with me.” One reason I like it is because “heel” is barked out like a command. There’s no way to make it sound gentle and fun. But “with me” can be sung out in a high voice and made to sound like you’re asking the dog to do something really fun instead of putting themselves under control at your side.
Tee Hee – was there some Mischief going on when you got home? 🙂
I’m very impressed at how well you’re doing off-leash – Mum says she doesn’t trust me right now, cos I get too easily distracted by Squirrels or basically anything else that moves – doh!! 🙂
Have fun,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂