HEELWORK

TRAINING

COURSES

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THROUGHOUT

THE UK

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NEAR YOU

• Introduction

• Traditional

• Largely positive

• Totally positive

• Spaniels

HEELWORK

We are regularly contacted by people who are tired of being dragged around like a ball and chain by their dog.  They have often been given several conflicting methods for resolving the problem, by different people. None of which seem to work.   This is perhaps more frequently the case for heelwork than for any other dog training skill. 

Choice: There are a number of different ‘approaches’  to teaching heelwork. Most methods work well if applied correctly and for long enough. Some methods take longer than others,  and some are best suited to dogs without any pre-existing problems, or to dogs of a particular temperament.

Confusion: Many dog owners would like to be firmer with their dogs than they would admit, but worry that their dog might suffer in the process of training, or even that others will think them cruel. Some dog owners may try firmer methods but feel guilty and uncomfortable doing so.  Some try to train heelwork by very positive methods, but fail to understand the principles of timing, management and stepped training that this entails, to be effective outdoors

• Introduction

• Heelwork

• Hunting

• Recall

• Retrieve

• Sit/stay

TRAINING

• Graded training

• Retriever awards

• Spaniel awards

• HPR awards

• Training courses

Considering different methods

Knowing what is appropriate is very difficult for an inexperienced trainer.  Correcting poor heelwork in an older dog that has worn a lead a lot, without correct management of his ‘on lead behaviour’ often requires a different approach compared with training heelwork in a younger puppy that has had little experience of a lead.     There are a number of different considerations to take into account when choosing a method that fits both you and your dog, but what are these methods and how do they differ?

Note:  When to commence heelwork training  -  the spaniel controversy!

You may have heard that working spaniels should not be taught to walk to heel until the end of the training programme.  Click here to read more.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT GRADE ONE TRAINING COURSES

Different methods of heelwork training

One way of categorising heel-training techniques is by how positive/forceful they are.   Positive in this context refers the to absence of corrections/punishments/aversives  -  your dog should feel 'happy' about his training whatever method you use. Click here  to read more about some of the scientific principles which lie behind successful dog training.  In the box below are some different techniques, sorted according to how the extent to which they rely on force and aversives.  Click on the links for more information

Forceful/aggressive (not recommended)

• Strong lead checks using choke chain

• Heeling sticks (USA)

Moderate traditional

• About Turn Heel: About turn with extra force on the turn

• Lead Checks: Light, sideways lead checks with a slip lead

• Swinging Switch: Using a visual barrier for positioning the dog

Largely positive (link not yet live)

• Gentle About Turn Heel: About turn with a soft rope slip lead, slow start and build up speed

• Wait For It!:  Standing still unless the dog is in the heel position, only moving forwards when the dog is at heel

Totally positive (link not yet live)

• Free shaping the heel position with a clicker – off lead

Note:  Forceful and aggressive methods:

Choke chains have never been favoured much by the gundog training community,  but were once very popular amongst pet dog owners.  Aggressively snapping a hard metal chain against a dogs soft throat is likely to be painful and may possibly cause soft tissue damage,  though hard evidence of this is difficult to come by.  In the USA where somewhat more forceful methods are popular amongst gundog trainers there are a number of different collars in common use, including prong collars and pinch collars.   Heeling sticks may also be used.  These are similar to a riding crop and the stick is used to tap the dog across the chest if he steps in front of the handler,  or to swat him on the rump if he fails to sit promptly.  Heeling sticks have never been used in the UK and aggressively forceful techniques have largely fallen from favour here.   The Gundog Club does not recommend any of these methods.

IT'S NOT A COMPETITION