Module 3: Heel Position Fundamentals
Heel position is the foundation of every successful rally team. Nearly every Rally station begins, ends, or transitions through heel position. Rather than teaching your dog simply loose lead walking, this module focuses on creating a dog that understands heel position criteria, enjoys being there, and can maintain it through movement, turns, pace changes, and distractions.
Lesson 1: Why Heel Position Matters
Many people think heel position means ”walk beside me”. In reality, heel position is a defined location relative to your body, and maintaining that position as you move. The dog should be at the handler’s left side straight in line with the direction the handler is facing. The area from the dog’s head to shoulder is to be in line with the handler’s left hip.
Characteristics of Good Heel Position
Your dog should:
Remain on your left side.
Keep their shoulder approximately even with your left leg.
Stay close without crowding or interfering. A judge can dock points every time your dog “bumps” you.
Trainer Tip
Think of heel position as a destination, not a command. Your dog should understand where the position is before you ask them to move into it.
Reflection
When your dog walks beside you, do they truly understand heel position, or are they simply following the food in your hand?
Homework
Observe your dog’s natural waling position during three short walks.
Write down:
Do they forge?
Do they lag?
Do they crowd?
Do they drift away?
Lesson 2: Finding Heel Position
Instead of placing your dog into position, we’ll teach them to discover it. Shaping creates a dog that actively chooses heel position rather than waiting to be guided there.
Training Exercise
Stand still, and allow your dog to offer behaviors.
Mark and immediately reward any movement toward heel position.
You can lure at the beginning to help show your dog what you are asking.
Gradually raise criteria until your dog is consistently offering the correct position.
Trainer Tip
Reward often!
Phasing out the reward too early can be confusing for your dog.
Reflection
Was your timing and inflection consistent?
Homework
Practice five short sessions of entering heel positions from different starting locations.
Lesson 3: Reward Placement
Not every reward has the same value to your dog. For some dogs, kibble is enough, while others are motivated by special treats or toys. Learning what motivates your dog allows you to create enthusiastic training sessions.
Training Exercise
Charger your marker:
Say “Yes!”
Deliver a treat.
Repeat several more times!
Do not use any commands or cues, just build the association.
Trainer Tip
The marker should happen before your deliver the treat.
Reflection
Was your timing and inflection consistent?
Homework
Record yourself rewarding your dog during heelwork.
Lesson 4: handler mechanics
Not every reward has the same value to your dog. For some dogs, kibble is enough, while others are motivated by special treats or toys. Learning what motivates your dog allows you to create enthusiastic training sessions.
Training Exercise
Charger your marker:
Say “Yes!”
Deliver a treat.
Repeat several more times!
Do not use any commands or cues, just build the association.
Trainer Tip
The marker should happen before your deliver the treat.
Reflection
Was your timing and inflection consistent?
Homework
Complete three sessions of charging your marker.
Lesson 5: Building duration
Not every reward has the same value to your dog. For some dogs, kibble is enough, while others are motivated by special treats or toys. Learning what motivates your dog allows you to create enthusiastic training sessions.
Training Exercise
Charger your marker:
Say “Yes!”
Deliver a treat.
Repeat several more times!
Do not use any commands or cues, just build the association.
Trainer Tip
The marker should happen before your deliver the treat.
Reflection
Was your timing and inflection consistent?
Homework
Complete three sessions of charging your marker.
Lesson 6: common heelwork problems
Not every reward has the same value to your dog. For some dogs, kibble is enough, while others are motivated by special treats or toys. Learning what motivates your dog allows you to create enthusiastic training sessions.
Training Exercise
Mark and reward every voluntary glance toward you.
Gradually increase duration before rewarding.
Trainer Tip
The marker should happen before your deliver the treat.
Reflection
Was your timing and inflection consistent?
Homework
Achieve five seconds of sustained attention.
Lesson 7: Proofing Hel position
Hand targeting teaches your dog to confidently move toward your hand. This skill is useful for position changes, fronts, finishes, and confidence building.
Training Exercise
Present your palm.
Mark the instant your dog’s nose touches your hand.
Reward immediately.
Homework
Build up to ten confident hand targets in a row.
Lesson 8: Putting Heelwork together
In this lesson, you’ll combine everything you’ve learned; how to enter heel position, walk with attention, maintain position, and reward intentionally.
Training Exercise
Move to a slightly different environment with few distractions.
Practice a skill or set of skills your dog is well versed in.
Gradually increase distractions throughout the next few sessions.
If your dog is unable to focus in a situation, take a step and distractions much more slowly.
Trainer Tip
A joyful heel position is always more valuable than a technically perfect one with an unenthusiastic dog.
Homework
Complete three one-minute heelwork sessions. Record one session and compare it to your first heelwork video from lesson 2. Write down three improvements and one goal for next week.
Module Review and Homework
Before Moving On
Your team should be able to:
Find heel position independently.
Maintain heel for 10-20 steps.
Stay engaged during movement.
Understand reward placement.
Work confidently in several locations.
Recover quickly from minor mistakes.
Reflection
Heeling is a lifelong skill, everything you will learn moving forward will build upon this skill. Take pride in your progress!
Looking ahead
In Module 4, you will begin learning how to read and execute AKC Rally stations. because you’ve invested time in building a strong heel position, you will be able to focus on understanding each sign instead of struggling to keep your dog in position.