heelwork

Heelwork is a dog training discipline in which a dog is taught to walk closely beside the handler, usually on the left side, with the dog's shoulder aligned with the handler's leg and the head facing forward. The dog maintains a prescribed distance and pace, regardless of turns or changes in direction. Heelwork is a core component of many obedience programs, police and military work, and competitive sports such as formal obedience trials and IPO.

Training typically relies on positive reinforcement and shaping. In early stages, a lure or the handler's hand guides the dog into the heel position, and rewards are given for correct alignment. Cues such as "heel" or "close" accompany the behavior, with gradual removal of guides as reliability increases. Practice covers varying speeds, halts, turns, and direction changes, and the distance to the leg is standardized by the governing program.

In competition, heelwork requires precise timing, smooth transitions, and consistent focus, including heel at different gaits, changes of direction, and stationary positions. In everyday use, heelwork enhances control, safety, and responsiveness in busy environments, and is often trained to generalize across surfaces, distances, and distractions.

Common challenges include drifting from the leg, lag, and looking away. Solutions emphasize resets to the correct position, increased reinforcement for correct behavior, and targeted drills. Beginners may use a shorter leash or harness, and most programs advocate reward-based methods over punishment.