Advanced Heel Work Off Lead

At this level, your dog should already understand heel work and be confident working off lead. We are now looking for a much higher standard of heel work, where your dog can remain connected with you and maintain the correct position despite significant distractions.

Advanced heel work is about your dog choosing to stay with you, even when the environment is exciting and there are temptations around them.

Distractions can include:

• Heavily scented ground
• Dummies placed on the floor
• Toys or other tempting items that your dog must ignore
• Exciting working environments
• Shot

In the video tutorial, you will hear that we are also introducing shot as part of the environment. You will notice that Rose stops and acknowledges the shot, and this is acceptable.

What would not be acceptable is if Rose was to break from heel work, run towards the shot or then decide to pick up a dummy from the ground. The expectation is that she can notice distractions but remain under your control and continue working with you.

As with all advanced training, this needs to be proofed repeatedly. Take your heel work into different locations and environments, as sometimes the distraction is simply being somewhere new.

A dog that heels reliably in one place may not automatically understand the same expectations somewhere different. Continue to build this gradually, reward the correct choices and ensure your dog understands that your instructions remain the same wherever you are.

Remember, advanced heel work is not about perfection in a quiet environment — it is about creating a dog that can remain focused, controlled and connected with you wherever you train.