The only time heel work is fun for me... which by association would mean the boys , is when we are at obedience class!! I think there is a direct correlation between my squeaky class voice and the sausage that both tickles their funny bones and their bellies!
When we are outside and there are outdoorsy distractions and fun things to do, its a constant battle of the wills!!! Moreso with Hudson than Pasco but a battle all the same!
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You see I always teach heelwork outside, never ever inside. If your dogs are distracted when doing heelwork outside what hope is there for the rest of the gundog training exercises.
Equally if I haven't got good heelwork outside I would not progress to any of the gundog training exercises . Everything has to start with good heelwork (and that is not actually the heelwork itself but the fact that your dog will listen and do what you ask when you ask it, not when he has finished sniffing or exploring whatever is under its nose).
I don't really enjoy heelwork, so Basil doesn't much either.
As a pet we tend to only use it for short bursts when needs be, like passing a horse, crossing a country lane etc. It is therefore not something we are good at for great lengths as i've never bothered to work on duration.
I find when we're training I have to give heelwork plenty of praise at the beginning of a session (and by heelwork I mean, no nose on the ground, at my side but not touching my leg and either level or less than a pace behine me - ie not obedience heelwork) but by the time we're mid session Basil naturally heels anyway as he awaits his next 'job', plus he likes to keep a keen eye on me in the hope of catching me attempting to put a blind out for later
Of course away from our local training grounds is a different matter entirely... I feel invisible sometimes on those sessions
I totally agree Jill. If the heelwork isn't right, then the dog isnt paying attention. Although gundogs don't need the degree af attention that comp ob dogs do. When I am training heelwork, I keep changing direction and changing pace to keep the dogs on their toes.
Sherry
All mine is currently outside whereupon Bert looks like he's on another planet (no change there then) and Barney like he's about to slit his wrists. But then the latter is sometimes true of me. So there's my answer, I really do need to start enjoying it!!!!
For me it's a mind set thing. When I first got Oslo I hated heelwork - mainly because I didn't know how to teach it properly, but also because I just didn't realise how vital it is when it comes to gundog work.
I could do it for short bursts with an armful of treats but as I found out that's just worth nothing when it comes to the real world. It's misery when you've got a dog swinging on the lead all day at a working test, or training class - even if he will just about perform for a short burst during an exercise.
So now my mind set is completely different. I tend to do most of my boys' exercise walking to heel - heel is now the 'norm'. They still have bursts of free play and toilet but the difference is they expect to be at heel, that's the default position - so they aren't always fighting and expecting to break away and play at any minute.
I also used to release him far to often if I was training him. I'd do an exercise or two and then rather than make him walk beside me at heel over to the next exercise I'd release him...again bad mistake. Still you live and learn!
My heelwork is by no means perfect but I enjoy teaching it far more now, because I know that by getting it right and not taking short cuts it'll save me masses of hassle in the future.
OK Becs, I see where you're coming from. So I'm thinking Musicals, I'm thinking country, I'm thinking OKLAHOMA!
With such stirring scores as 'Oh what a beautiful morning', 'The Farmer and the cowman' and 'The Surrey with the fringe on top', it's bound to get us jigging and jiving as one.
So without further ado I'd like to introduce:
The independent spirited farm girl that is Laurey Williams
AND
The mysterious and dangerous farm hand loner, Jud Fry
I shall play Laurey's aunt, Aunt Eller, a respected community leader (don't you know!). Perfect
Am I on the right track?
Love it Helen, Barney looks mortified and Bert just looks like, well Bert, bless him
I quite enjoy heelwork and the trainer was even talking this week about possible obedience competitions.... some pre beginner stuff that's between bronze and proper obedience??? I didn't really understand and just nodded politely 'cos I was trying to nobble her for any gundog training pearls of wisdom that she has
Anyhoo, I'm with what others above have said. Making it fandabbydosey funtime worked wonders for me. I do all the twists and turns stuff. Look like a total numpty while I'm strolling down the road and randomly doing the odd roll or twist, but Bracks loves it. Her loose lead walking has never been too bad, but it definitely improved when I started jazzing things up a bit.
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, is when we are at obedience class!! I think there is a direct correlation between my squeaky class voice and the sausage that both tickles their funny bones and their bellies!
. Everything has to start with good heelwork (and that is not actually the heelwork itself but the fact that your dog will listen and do what you ask when you ask it, not when he has finished sniffing or exploring whatever is under its nose).
