Blue Heeler Training Tips

Exercise

• If you have a blue heeler, plan to exercise with it -- a lot. Heelers are working dogs. They were bred with the energy to keep cattle in line. They crave physical activity and a job to keep their intelligent minds active. If you don't help your heeler get the exercise it needs, it may become destructive and develop bad habits, and it won't be as easy to train. Take your heeler for at least two walks every day, both for physical exercise and to give your heeler a chance to experience the world outside the fence. Play games such as fetch and tug of war, or go jogging, swimming or hiking with your dog.

Boundaries

• Blue heelers are independent thinkers and can be stubborn. They need a strong leader or they will take over the house. To establish yourself as leader you need to give your dog rules to follow. For example, don't allow your blue heeler on the bed or in the dining room. Require it to sit and wait at the door rather than rushing out. You can choose whichever rules best fit your needs, but don't let your heeler get away with anything and everything, or it will walk all over you. Enforce the rules consistently every day. Remember that blue heelers are intelligent, and if you let them break a rule once, they will manage to do it again...and again.

Positive Reinforcement

• Don't try to use negative corrections or punishments on your blue heelers. Because of their roots as working dogs, they expect to be treated as partners, and punishment can cause distrust and fear. Your blue heeler will become less willing to listen to you, making it difficult to train and possibly leading to bad habits as well as aggression. Respect to your blue heeler companion by using positive reinforcement training techniques. Correct mistakes by interrupting the behavior and then rewarding your heeler for paying attention. For example, if you catch your heeler snoozing on the sofa, clap and tell it to get down. Reward it as soon as it does. Gradually require your blue heeler to stay off of the furniture for longer and longer periods before getting its reward.

Basic Commands

• Your blue heeler needs to know a minimum of five commands. These are sit, down, stay, come and leave it. Use treats to coax your dog into performing each command. Say the verbal command as you show your heeler the treat and reward it for obeying correctly. Some commands, such as sit and down, may need to be taught in baby steps. For example, reward your heeler for dipping its tail end toward the floor even slightly when you first start teaching sit. Later, reward it for getting closer to a full sit, and then only when it actually sits on the floor. Be excited and happy; make training a game with the treats and with your praise. This will keep your heeler interested and eager to learn.

Socialization

• Blue heelers should, ideally, be socialized as young puppies. They are friendly but can sometimes be untrusting of or shy around strangers. Introduce your blue heeler to different people -- and other animals -- in as many different situations as possible. The more your heeler experiences as a puppy, the more confident it will be as an adult. A confident blue heeler doesn't feel the need to respond to new situations with aggression. Expose your blue heeler to different sights, sounds, smells, people, modes of transportation and environments to socialize it.