The Spaniel Annals

Kerrie’s heeling has been coming along quite well, but one bug-a-boo was her tendency to look around and/or drop her head on the about turn. I’ve found in problem-solving little isues like this that it’s always good to go back to foundations, and use foundational tools. Over and over again I’ve found the pockethand method used by Denise Fenzi to be a great tool in my toolbox. With this method, the hand becomes a target (as opposed to a lure hand) and can be helpful in so many ways–to teach position, reinforce position and help the dog in a new environment.

So for the about turn, I added in a hand touch to the pockethand right about we finish the about turn, which causes Kerrie to try to drive to that hand. The pockethand is of course a secondary reinforcer to the primary one of a food reward, but because of reinforcement “ripples,” it becomes highly reinforcing in itself. In the video below, you’ll see us practicing this at home with toys on the floor as distractors. I later tested the about turn outside, and then when we went to a fun match in a new location, I automatically added the hand touch back in to keep her successful:

I’m grateful for the tools I’ve learned over the years to be a better trainer. It’s always good to be open to new approaches that provide the dog with clarity, motivation and success!