Teaching your puppy to heel may feel silly when they are only 10 pounds. But, you will thank yourself for it when they are larger and not pulling your arm off on a walk! Your friends and family will be grateful for your pup’s leash manners, too.
You can start teaching your pup to heel (walking by your side) on a walk. Bring training treats with you, and keep a treat in your hand at your side. Keep the treat where you want your dog to walk. Call “heel” as you lower your treat/arm to their level. Every few steps that they keep their nose at the treat and walk next to you, reward them with the treat. Continue to call out the “heel” command as you place your hand to your side. As they continue to follow this, wait longer and longer to reward them in between. Once you feel that they are getting better at this, you can begin to use the command without a treat.