What is heelwork and how do I teach my dog?
Teaching your dog to walk at heel – close to your side, matching your pace – is not essential, so long as you and your dog have established the habit of loose lead walking, but it is a skill that improves control and communication.
It’s especially useful in crowded areas, during competitions, or when you need precision on the lead.
How to do it
Start in a quiet space. With your dog on your left, hold a treat in your left hand at their nose level. Take a step forward, rewarding them for staying beside you. Gradually increase the number of steps before rewarding, keeping your pace steady and your cues consistent. Use a release word to signal when they can relax.
If they surge ahead or lag behind, stop and reset. Keep sessions short and upbeat, and avoid long, punishing drills – heelwork should feel like a team exercise, not a chore. Once they’re reliable in a quiet setting, start adding the command "heel" to replace or supplement the treat, and then move on to practising in more distracting environments.
Heelwork builds focus, strengthens your bond, and turns walks into a shared rhythm rather than a tug‑of‑war. It’s a skill that, once mastered, makes you and your dog look and feel like a well‑coordinated pair.