The "heel" command

In my experience, jerking or pulling on a dog that has a strong urge to pull is just adding fuel to the fire. I agree that you should try and find a trainer that does not advocate the use of a prong collar on a dog. I would check the APDT website to see if you can find a qualified trainer in your area.

Now as for the heel. A method that I have found to work with dogs is to rapidly change directions when the dog starts pulling. If he is walking along in a nice heel, then continue the walk in the same direction. If he is pulling speed up a little so you are not yanking on him, and then change direction 180 degrees. The dog soon learns that only when he is walking under control, does he get to move towards something. You want to do this with a flat buckle collar or a Gentle Leader. HTH

I guess I am going to be the mean - but truthful answer. If your trainer told you to use a prong collar and to yank - GET A NEW TRAINER ASAP! There are so many better training methods out there that will make training your 1 year old dog an enjoyable process. SORRY, But yanking and using prong collars will make a dog fearful of you (his Daddy) and will make him want to escape.... which is probably why he is looking away from you. You live in Cherokee Shelter area - see if you can find Jim and ask him for a good trainer referral in your area.... or you can go to APDT or CPDT and get a list of trainers in your area that are certified through them. You can also go to Dr. Ian Dunbers website and get information about training.. he is the founder of the association of dog trainers and wrote the book for all professional trainers.
My dog used to pull alot..... I use the Gentle Leader Harness and stop or walk in the opposite direction when he started pulling.....now he walks fine. I also do not use the Heel all the time - Only when we are in a busy area or dangerous area or just practicing.... I also let him explore. Good Luck - if you were here - i would bring you to St. Huberts - they have some great walking classes that are fun to take. Good Luck!

Yanking really doesn,t work. A dogs brain natually says "pull" in the other direction. That's why they are so good at pulling sleds and carts etc. If you must pull do it to the side not back. Also either stop the walk or quickley turn in the other direction with a Uh oh! or NO!. He will soon learn that he won't get where he wants to go if he pulls. Have a yummy treat in your right hand. IF he stays at your side for even a second, feed him that treat asap with your left hand down low by the seam of your left leg. When I first started training my puller I was switching directions so fast and so much I got dizzy and the neighbors probably thought I was drinking. Dogs only do something when there is something in it for them. If there isn't something in it for them why should they do it? A great book my trainer suggested to me was The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. I got it on Amazon.com for $17.00 and it was so worth it. I can now walk by ex puller with a regular collar and she heels great.

Do it at the same time, or else Harley won't associate the "heel" with the yank.

the heel command should be given at the same moment the correction is given. This is so that he associates a tight leash with the correction and command to return to your side and remain in heel position.

your prong collar is it a large one or the smaller ones. I take my dogs to stillwater dog training. I once used the large prong but Mary stated the smaller ones worked better and are so much easyer to take off. (true) its all about timing. the sec he steps in front of you, you must stop him. his head should be at your leg. (so when you turn he can turn with you) as soon as you tell him heel pull the prong. as Mary says MAKE IT FUN. give him lots of praise when he does it right.

Try using the gentle leader, I think you will find it more effective in controlling him......Dennis

It is all in the timing. Try giving him a strong growl when unhappy with the action as well as a yank. Your prong collar is only for a correctionso if he is pulling on it then he gets used to it. A growl is like a sibling from the liter. He will look in question as to what did I do worng then proceed in teaching heel. Commands need to be added after the behavior is what you want. Hope this helps.