What is Heelwork?
In all class levels:
The short answer is training the dog to sit at your left side, to walk close to your left leg, in a consistent position, in public, in a marked out ring area, to a series of directions as pre-decided by the Judge with a sit at your left side at the end.
Other than in Introductory you cannot take toys or food into the ring with you if you are competing.
The (very!) long answer is set out below ...
The short answer is training the dog to sit at your left side, to walk close to your left leg, in a consistent position, in public, in a marked out ring area, to a series of directions as pre-decided by the Judge with a sit at your left side at the end.
Other than in Introductory you cannot take toys or food into the ring with you if you are competing.
The (very!) long answer is set out below ...
See video example of a whole Beginner round on 'Going Into The Ring'
See loads of photo and video examples of heelwork below
The eventual aim for anyone training heelwork would be for the dog to be close to/touching your left leg during all the heelwork.
There are various videos below showing examples of dogs doing heelwork at various class levels, although all these examples show dogs close to the leg; certainly in the lower classes if a dog does heelwork say 2" or so away from the left leg and consistently keeps to that constant position then that is OK too.
So never think you cannot do this if your dog is not glued to your left leg when you first start training.
There are various videos below showing examples of dogs doing heelwork at various class levels, although all these examples show dogs close to the leg; certainly in the lower classes if a dog does heelwork say 2" or so away from the left leg and consistently keeps to that constant position then that is OK too.
So never think you cannot do this if your dog is not glued to your left leg when you first start training.
- Heelwork takes up a major part of your time in the ring, and so it is very important to spend the time training this exercise.
- As you move up the classes the complexity and length of the heelwork extends and the closer type heelwork is more usual.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page for things you may
possibly lose points for during heelwork.
possibly lose points for during heelwork.
There are 3 different speeds of moving during heelwork tests (called 'pace') these are:
- Normal Pace - Introductory up to & including Championship C - this is your average heelwork walking speed that suits you and your dog.
- Slow Pace - From a halt in Class B or during continuous moving heelwork in Open C and Championship C - this is about half the speed of your Normal Pace heelwork.
- Fast Pace - From a halt in Class B or during continuous moving heelwork in Open C and Championship C - this is not marathon running speed, but should certainly show a very obvious increase in your pace and the dogs gait from Normal Pace heelwork.
Reward based training methods result in dogs loving heelwork (and indeed all the competition exercises), it certainly should never be a chore or boring time for the dog.
If you have heard from others that Heelwork/Obedience is 'boring' for the dog - then they have been to the wrong trainers or used the wrong training methods!
Look at the dogs in the video's below .. no bored dogs here - all keen and happy.
-> Punishment has no place in modern training for Competition Obedience <-
If you have heard from others that Heelwork/Obedience is 'boring' for the dog - then they have been to the wrong trainers or used the wrong training methods!
Look at the dogs in the video's below .. no bored dogs here - all keen and happy.
-> Punishment has no place in modern training for Competition Obedience <-
Introductory Heelwork ..
- You can carry a toy or a closed container of food during the class, and the toy may be give to the dog in between exercises with the food being given in a designated area.
- You can talk to and encourage your dog at all times in the test except during the stay exercise.
- Heelwork is on a lead only (ie no heelwork off lead) at Normal pace.
- There will be no turns during heelwork in this class, the heelwork is either straight line or large circle.
- The lead must be loose/slack at all times during the heelwork test.
- You should not touch your dog during the heelwork test - you will lose alot of marks if you do even occasionally touch your dog during the test.
What to Expect in the ring:
All heelwork exercises begin with the dog sitting beside you (on your left side) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to sit your dog beside you.
Whilst you are setting your dog up you might hear something like: 'Nice loose lead, plenty of encouragement to your dog, any checking or tightening of the lead will be penalised'
All heelwork exercises begin with the dog sitting beside you (on your left side) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to sit your dog beside you.
Whilst you are setting your dog up you might hear something like: 'Nice loose lead, plenty of encouragement to your dog, any checking or tightening of the lead will be penalised'
- Once the dog is sitting beside you, you will be asked by the steward 'Are you are ready handler' - always speak up if you are not ready to start (ie if your dog has moved) - clearly say 'No, not ready' and re-position or prepare your dog again - tell the steward when you are ready. Note that the sit beside you is part of the exercise and you can lose marks for crooked sit positions.
- 'Handler and dog - forward' (you move forward doing heelwork with your dog)
- 'Circle Right' or 'Circle Left'
- 'Halt' (you stop and the dog is to sit at your left side)
Pre-Beginner and Beginner Heelwork ..
- You cannot take toys or food into the ring with you from this level upwards.
- You can talk to and encourage your dog at all times in the test except during the stay exercise.
- Heelwork will be tested on the lead and also off the lead (heel free) at Normal pace.
- The lead must be loose/slack at all times during the on lead heelwork test.
- You should not touch your dog during the heelwork tests - you will lose alot of marks if you do even occasionally touch your dog during the test.
- Turns that maybe included are 90 degree to left ('left turn'), 90 degree to right ('right turn') or 180 to right ('about turn'), large circles and arcs can be included (judges choice on the day of what is included).
What to Expect in the ring:
Instruction will be as per Introductory section above but may also include new turns so once in moving heelwork you may hear instructions like:
Instruction will be as per Introductory section above but may also include new turns so once in moving heelwork you may hear instructions like:
- 'Right Turn', 'Left Turn' and' About Turn' (Pre-Beginners upwards - in varying patterns and varying amounts of turns at judges choice)
- 'Halt' (you stop and the dog is to sit at your left side)
Examples of 'Straights and Curves' for Introductory, and also turns for Pre-Beginner and Beginner type classes ..
Above video is Lyka (a rescue dog), showing that little dogs can do it too!! Video shows example of heelwork and one about turn.
Many thanks to Gill for permission to post this. |
Above video is Ed & Tootsie (rescue Greyhounds) showing example of heelwork and curves.
Many thanks to Gaynor for permission to post this. |
Example of Heelwork & 'Left Turn' for Pre-Beginner to Novice type classes ..
Above video is Rumba (Working Cocker) showing example of heelwork and Left Turn.
Many thanks to Caroline for permission to post this. |
Above video is Badger (Pembroke Corgi) showing example of heelwork curves and turns.
Many thanks to Emese for permission to post this. |
Novice Heelwork ...
- You can talk to and encourage your dog at all times in the test except during the stay exercise.
- Heelwork will be tested on the lead and also off the lead (heel free) at Normal pace.
- The lead must be loose/slack at all times during the on lead heelwork test.
- You should not touch your dog during the heelwork tests - you will lose alot of marks if you do even occasionally touch your dog during the test.
- Turns that maybe included are 90 degree to left ('left turn'), 90 degree to right ('right turn') or 180 to right ('about turn'), large circles, arcs and diagonal turns to the right can be included (judges choice on the day of what is included).
What to Expect in the ring:
Instruction and turns will be as per Beginner section above but may now include at Novice level upwards a new turn: Diagonal right turn so you may hear instructions like:
Instruction and turns will be as per Beginner section above but may now include at Novice level upwards a new turn: Diagonal right turn so you may hear instructions like:
- ''Diagonal Right Turn' (Novice upwards)
Example of Heelwork & 'Left Turn' for Novice upwards type classes ..
Above video is Alfie (Golden Retriever) showing example of heelwork with right, about & left turns.
Many thanks to Emma for permission to post this. |
Above video is Lundy & Tiva (German Shepherds) showing examples of heelwork circles & turns.
Many thanks to Denise for permission to post this. |
Class A Heelwork ..
You are now unable to talk to or encourage your dog whilst doing heelwork, only a simultaneous command and signal (and dogs name if you want to) can be used at the start of heelwork and each exercise, extra body signals, head, hand or finger movement during the exercises will now mean loss of points.
- You can talk to/praise your dog only between exercises
- Heelwork is heel free (off lead) only and at Normal pace
- You must not touch your dog during any part of the heelwork test
- Turns that maybe included are 90 degree to left ('left turn'), 90 degree to right ('right turn') or 180 to right ('about turn'), large circles, arcs and diagonal turns to the right or left can be included
- New turn for Class A is the diagonal left turn
- All ring steward instructions are as per above sections
Class B Heelwork ..
You are unable to talk to your dog whilst under test, only one command OR signal (and dogs name if you want to) can be used at the start of each heelwork pace and each exercise (except for sendaway), extra body signals, head, hand or finger movement during the exercises will mean loss of points.
- You can talk to/praise your dog only between exercises.
- Heelwork is heel free at Normal, Slow & Fast pace.
- There are now two new paces of heelwork: slow and fast, each pace starts from a halt.
- You must not touch your dog during any part of the heelwork test
- Turns in slow and normal pace may be 90 degree to left ('left turn'), 90 degree to right ('right turn') or 180 to right ('about turn'), 180 to left ('left about turn'), large or medium circles, arcs and diagonal turns to the right or left can be included
- Turns in fast pace may be 90 degree to left ('left turn'), 90 degree to right ('right turn') or 180 to right ('about turn'), large or medium circles and arcs can be included
- All ring steward instructions are as per above sections.
The new turn in slow & normal pace is a left about turn (upon instruction to 'left about turn' you would turn to your left until you return on the same track you just came from)
(see these turns in the videos below).
(see these turns in the videos below).
Example of Heelwork for Class B upwards type classes ..
Above is Tangle (Flat-Coated Retriever) and showing example of Fast & Slow pace heelwork.
Many thanks to Caroline for permission to post this. |
Above video is Strudel (Stafford X Poodle) showing example of heelwork in Class B.
Many thanks to Caroline Y for permission to post this. |
Class Open C & Championship C Heelwork ..
You are unable to talk to your dog whilst under test, only a command OR signal (and dogs name if you want to) can be used at the start of each exercise (except for sendaway), extra body signals, head, hand or finger movement during the exercises will mean loss of points.
- You can talk to/praise your dog only between exercises.
- Heelwork is heel free at Normal, Slow & Fast pace, usually each pace flows from one to another without a halt (although judge can put in halts at their choice - if a halt is in the heelwork, then a command can be used to move off into the instructed pace)
- Turns are as per Class B above, with the new additions in slow and normal pace of: multiple turns to left or right (but not exceeding 360 degree and must go in one directions only), figures of eight and weaving (including use of poles/markers) can be included - during the normal pace a stand, sit and down position whilst moving shall be done (see 'What is ASSD' page for more information)
- All ring steward instructions are as per above sections.
- 'Double about turn' (you will turn to the right and continue turning until you return to the direction you first started the turn). This is doing the About Turn twice.
- 'Double left about turn' (you will turn to the left and continue turning until you return to the direction you first started the turn). This is doing the Left About Turn twice.
Overview of all turns required from basic up to multiple turns ..
Examples of right direction turns; Right turn, Diagonal Right, About turn, About turn Right turn and Double About.
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Examples of left direction turns; Left turn, Diagonal Left, Left About, Left About Left and Double Left About.
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Photos Showing a Variety of Different Breeds doing Heelwork at Shows ..
What You Might Lose Points for During Heelwork (excluding class C ASSD) ..
The aim of the game is to do heelwork with the dog consistently at your left side, keeping the same position throughout the round, even on turns and halts.
- It is very important to understand that each round is individually designed by the judge. Therefore every round you do will probably be different, the order of exercises might be different, although it is often usual to do Heel on lead, then Recall, then Heel Free in the lower classes.
- Equally important is that every judge scores a round differently. Some judges mark very high, some mark very low. This means that sometimes you might lose 10 points on a round and still win, yet on another day under a different judge losing 10 points would not even gain you a rosette.
- Every judge has their own idea of a 'perfect' round and they judge according to their opinions/ideas.
- Under one judge you might lose 2 points over the whole round and yet at another show and a different judge you might lose 10 points - this is the name of the game, you need to be able to cope with the highs and lows of judging opinions and how you and your dog perform from one show to another.
- All judges marks are 'graduated' according to the severity of the fault. So a turn might be marked 1/4 of a point if a minor fault occurred or substantially more if a major fault occurred. All the individual faults marks are added together to give the overall score for the heelwork exercise.
- NEVER get upset with your dog - you ALWAYS take the best dog home with you.
Straight Heelwork - you might lose for ..Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking Sitting Beside you - you may lose:
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Turns - you might lose for ..Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking Before, During or After a Turn - you may lose:
If you ask a judge politely they will often let you see your scoresheet, below are some common abbreviations used (if judge uses a clicker there will only be a total mark):
CS = Crooked Sit W = Wide WW = Wide Working FWD = Forward P or PSTN = Position L = Lag (dropping back from position) Crb = Crabbing LT = Left turn issue RT = Right turn issue Abt = About turn issue Against any of the above there will be lines or marks which are added up to make the final score. |
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