Why does a dog heel on the left? A Complete Guide

It’s a fair question: Why do we ask our dogs to heel on our left side?

For that matter, why do we do so many things to the left?

Why do we mount a horse from the left side?

The reason is basically the same. We have our dog’s heel to our left because this is a right handed world.

Going back in time to the olden days, back when the real men wore swords, it was necessary to mount horses from the left side for safety purposes. (For both the horses sake as well as the riders.) With the sword hanging on the left side (for right handed riders), it was simply easier, and more comfortable to mount from the left. Consequently, all of the tack produced for horses has always been made to be buckled, put on and taken off from the left, too. When it comes to dogs, a similar logic has traditionally been applied.

When working with a dog it is assumed that the handler would want their right hand (typically the stronger, more dominant hand,) free. By using the left hand to hold the leash, this leaves the handler’s right side unimpeded. So the dog is traditionally heeled /walked on the left. There is at least one other reason for heeling a dog on the left hand side. In the hunting world, Gun dogs are traditionally heeled on the left… this is most likely done so that the ejecting shells and cartridge casings won’t hit the dog in the head when the gun is actually fired.

Today owners often teach their dogs to heel on either side, which is an owner’s prerogative. This is easier to accomplish after you’ve got the left side heel, down pat…

Many dog activities rely on training a dog from the left because the trainer or owner needs to keep the right hand free to signal. Many herding and hunting dog trainers train their dogs from the left because they need to have their right hands free for using equipment, like firing guns, throwing bumpers and/or giving hand signals.

So many people in the world are right handed (approximately 80 percent) that training dogs from the left has simply become the standard way of training. It’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just the usual way of doing things. Dogs probably don’t care which side is used.

I’ve been known to walk the dog on the opposite side of the road, in order to keep them on my left, but also to keep them as far away as possible from approaching traffic.

On the other hand, dogs do seem to be right-pawed or left-pawed themselves.

How To Determine Paw Dominance:

Fill a Kong toy with peanut butter or another food your dog loves. Place the Kong on the floor for your dog. Record which paw your dog uses to touch the toy first — and continue tracking which paw the dog uses until he has made a total of 100 touches on the Kong. (Don’t record touches with both paws at the same time.) Dogs that use their left paw 64 times (or more) are left-pawed; dogs that use their right paw 64 times or more are right-pawed. If your dog has fewer than 64 uses of either paw then he is ambidextrous.

You may already have some idea of whether your dog is left or right-pawed. Does he always paw at you with one particular paw? Does he try to pick things up with one of his paws? These can be tip-offs that he favors one of his paws over the other.

If you’re not hunting with your dog, there is really no solid reason why your dog “needs” to heel on the left. It just happens to be a de facto training standard now, mostly due to the fact that the majority of people are right handed.

I hope this answers a few questions…. Or at the very least, makes you think of new questions.

I’m the “Alpha Dog’s” wife… Life Partner and Co-owner of Adventure Dog Ranch, The Vacation Destination for Dogs!

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By AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Christie Canfield

Teaching your puppy or older dog to heel can be easy and fun. Use this directed shaping technique to help your dog learn to love to walk beside you.

Get a lot of yummy treats, cut up into small pieces. Start inside the house and walk around a spacious room or up and down a hallway.

Call your dog’s name and point to the side that you want him to walk on (whichever side you choose but left is in the traditional heel side).

As soon as your dog comes alongside you, use a clicker or say “yes,” then reward. Do this a couple of times, then stop calling him and pointing your side and allow your dog to willingly come up beside you. Mark and reward for each time your dog comes into position.

Pretty soon, you will need to increase your pace, turn, or zig-zag in an effort to “lose” him so he can find his position again.

As he gets better and better at this, start adding eye contact (“Look” or “Watch Me”).

Handy Tips:

“Heel” is traditionally on your left side for obedience and rally competitions.

Hold your treat hand at your chest. This will prevent luring (dog just following the food) and jumping while walking if your treat hand is just out of reach.

Be sure to treat with the hand next to your dog to prevent him from crossing in front of you to get the treat.

Always tell your dog when he is correct with a click or a “yes.”

Need some help training your dog? While you may not be able to attend in-person training classes during COVID-19, we are here to help you virtually through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from behavioral issues to CGC prep to getting started in dog sports. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook

Why dogs heel on Left side