I find it more of a pain than anything else when training and in the field, my dog wants to run into my leg and step on my foot when returning to heel. She just has so much drive in everything she does there is no slow returning to heel. Full out run all the time and she doesn't slow down in time to keep from running into me. Its particularly irritating when Im barefoot and working with her because she steps all over my foot. Anyone have a fix for my particular little problem?

Knee to the face a couple times


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My pup did it up until about 6 months. When she got within 5 or so feet of me I would jump in her path so she had to take a wider swing. I have her retrieve to my left side and heel. I knocked her ass over twice while jumping in,front of her and that's all it took. She now at 3 years old, takes a little wider swing than normal, but my feet and knees don't take any abuse any more.

I've had the above mentioned work on most dogs. There are a few that just don't care. Usually bug male labs. Had one that would run into ya n matter how hard you'd hit him back with a knee in the face er anything. He'd also charge so hard at the dummy he'd have a bloody mouth every time. He just didn't care.

Ive tried kneeing her off, didn't work. Maybe I need to do it harder lol. She ain't getting the hint. I'll have to try jumping at her too.

Really u can go back to heal from remote position and few good smacks on the inside and her ass will teach her to start swinging her ass around on the way back and then after long line u can just set whip down in front of u as she returns she will remember


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If your knee gets sore or it doesn't work, try standing behind an object (metal trash can) waist high. Make her go around the object then heel.

I'd recommend either commanding a remote front sit about 5 feet forward of you, dog sits, then command here/heel. Should teach the dog to slow on the approach. Also you can try standing with a fence, tree, etc behind you. It will also teach the dog to slow up as it comes to you and it'll be more careful/gentle

What bluesky said^^^^^

you could also use the platforms. dokken makes some. make her heel onto the plastic platform and make sure its set up far enough away from you. the remote sit before she gets to you will work too

Platforms turn into a crutch in the long run because you later have to reteach the same issue without the platform. Just do it right the first time.

Place you back to a wall n try that.

It is fairly obvious there two techniques to train a young dog. One
involves a "hammer" and making a dog do "things". The other requires
showing the dog what is expected and enforcing it.

In the long run, becoming a teacher is more effective.

Remote sit, here, heel as a young pup....extend distance.

Here is a young dog doing a lining drill. He's been trained to be
"two-sided". The cues for which side to heel on, delivering properly
and working under control are several of the goals besides just lining.



note: He is wearing an e-collar and I'm carrying a heeling stick.
The dog was corrected for "sloppy" work a few times. The
expectations were taught first......and corrections are clearly
meant to enforce the "taught" standards.

Put your back to a wall where he can't run around you.