Why Reward Placement Matters: When a dog receives reinforcement, they're likely to repeat not only the behavior they were doing, but also the position they were in and where they were looking when the reward arrived. In heeling, this means that if you feed your dog out in front or with their head turned, you're unintentionally reinforcing forging or crookedness. On the other hand, if you carefully place rewards right at your left pant seam, you help reinforce a dog that is in heel position, focused upward and back, engaged and aligned. Reward placement is shaping—without even asking for more effort.

Strategic Reward Delivery in Heel Position

Here are a few key tips for reward placement while heeling.

Feed in Position:

Place the treat exactly where you want the dog to be. For most teams, that means near the left leg, ideally at your pant seam; head straight up, encouraging a lifted and balanced posture; and consistently in the same spot to create a predictable target zone. This helps reinforce the muscle memory and spatial awareness needed for clean heeling.

Pause When You Feed:

If you're moving and want to reinforce, you should pause your forward motion. Feeding while in motion can cause the dog to drop their head while they chew and swallow. To keep your reinforcement loop clean without any additional behaviors, pause while you feed, then continue when the dog swallows and looks back up at you.

Using Reinforcement Cues for Clarity

Verbal markers tell your dog what they did correctly and how the reinforcement is coming. In heeling, clarity from your markers can make or break your communication. I like to use different markers for different types of rewards. For example:

"Yes" – A terminal marker that signals the dog to come to your hand for the reinforcement.

"Get it" – A cue to chase a tossed treat (great for movement or building enthusiasm).

"Good" – Deliver the treat to the dog's mouth in position.

"Bounce" – Jump straight up to get the treat under the armpit.

"Bee" – Reward will be placed behind the dog.

"Dish" – Take food from pre-placed dish.

"Tush" – Spin away and come up on the right side.

Here are a couple of example videos showing some of these reinforcement strategies.

Reinforcement Strategy: Balance, Variety, and Intent

The key to good heeling reinforcement isn't just placement or verbal markers—it's using both with purpose. 

A solid reinforcement strategy includes consistent reward delivery when building position, movement-based rewards to keep engagement high, variable reward placement (once the behavior is fluent) to build flexibility and resilience, and clear reinforcement cues so your dog always knows what to expect. 

Over time, your dog begins to anticipate not just the treat—but the position, the posture, and the rhythm of working with you.

Troubleshooting Common Heeling Issues with Reward Placement

Here's how strategic reward delivery can solve some common heeling challenges:

Forging – Toss the treat behind or feed slightly behind heel position

Lagging – Use high-value rewards and mark earlier, then feed in position or toss treats ahead

Crooked sits – Reward in position by moving your hand over and down to the dog's mouth

Wide turns – Reinforce tighter pivots by tossing the reward forward

Loss of engagement – Use movement, toys, or rapid treat delivery to bring focus back

Final Thoughts: Train with Intention

Heeling is one of those behaviors where the details really matter. By focusing on how, where, and when you deliver reinforcement, you can dramatically improve your dog's understanding, enthusiasm, and precision. So next time you train heeling, don't just think about what behavior to reinforce—think about where that reward lands and how you cue it. 

Your dog is always learning – even from the way you hand them a cookie.