Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

tricollie, I have actually read, and found it to be true in my experience, that it's easier to start off without the leash when first teaching heel. With a pup, I'd take some yummy treats and in an open area with very little distractions, like in the living room, lure it along at my side. When it's walking at a sort of heel and focused on you, say "heel" and give it the treat and lots of praise. Lots of persistence as you said, and when the pup makes the connection that "heel" means walking at your side, it gets easier from there! Then you can gradually lengthen how far you walk before giving the treat and so on. Once you think the pup has that down pretty well, you gradually introduce the leash. I've read it's a lot easier to prevent pulling on the leash if they never develop the habit to begin with, and if your pup has the basic idea of heel before introducing the leash, it makes things much easier. Good luck with your pup!

I had a tricolor collie named Willie from the time I was 15 (1989) until he went to the bridge towards the end of 2001, the day after his 13th birthday. He was the world to me, and I still miss him very much.