Attention is everything in heeling. If your dog does not watch you, there is no way he can know where you are and maintain the proper position. My first goal in teaching heeling is to get the dog's attention. It is the basic foundation on which all other training is built.

If you are already familiar with the breed, then I don't have to tell you that food is a tremendous attention-getter for Pembrokes. I am a veritable Pez dispenser of hotdogs, rollover, cheese or any kind of soft food that can be cut up into tiny pieces and swallowed quickly by a Corgi. When training the heeling exercise, I dispense all food from my left hand as it hangs naturally at my left side, just as it will in the ring. I have tried feeding my dogs from my right hand or dropping food from my mouth. Both methods work well for attention but both cause a Corgi to forge. Food dispensed from the left hand keeps most Pems in exactly the correct position, described by the American Kennel Club as "the area from the dog's head to shoulder must be in line with the handler's left hip." You can also use food in the left hand to train the swing finish, a very handy side benefit of training heeling in this manner.

Your first task with a beginning Pembroke is to get the dog to focus on your left hand. This takes ten seconds or less with our breed. Put the dog on your left side, generally in heel position. It doesn't matter if the dog is sitting or standing at this point. Show him the treat held between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. The hand should be hanging naturally at your left side. As soon as the dog looks at the treat, give it to him by bending your knees and putting it in his mouth. If the dog jumps up for the food, raise your hand out of his reach so that he is not successful in his attempt to get the food. Give it to him only if he stares at it and only if you put it in his mouth. Next, pair a word with the dog's focus on your left hand. I use the word "Ready" since I can later use this 'attention word' when a judge asks me, "Are you ready?" The instant your Corgi looks up at your left hand, say "Ready," then lower the food to your dog's mouth. The word "ready" quickly becomes a secondary reinforcer, taking on the same characteristics as the food reward. After a couple of sessions reinforcing attention in this manner (5-8 times per session), you can start to use the word "ready" as a command rather than pairing it with the reinforcer (food). When the dog is looking away, say "ready" and expect a quick head turn to focus on your left hand. Gradually extend the time between your "ready" command and the feeding of the dog to between 5-7 seconds. Remember, never let your dog take the food if he rears up to get it. Your dog will quickly learn that simply staring at your left hand brings the reinforcement.

Most breeds, if they are at all food motivated, learn this first task easily. The obvious benefit of this method with our short breed is that it not only teaches the dog to focus, but also puts a Corgi in good heel position from which to begin the heeling exercise. This is the hand position you will use in competition many months down the road so you will never need to change it.