Contact Heeling: A Foundation for Precision Obedience

I've spent my career helping thousands of dog owners and handlers transform their dogs' natural enthusiasm into ultimate partnership and performance. One of the key exercises we emphasize is contact heeling - the fundamental obedience exercise that lays the groundwork for advanced heeling styles like focus heeling and street heeling. It involves the dog maintaining close body contact with the handler while heeling, typically with the dog's shoulder touching the handler's leg.

The Importance of Contact Heeling

Contact heeling serves as a starting place for teaching synchronization and position. It sets the stage to more advanced heeling styles such as focus and street heeling. By establishing close physical contact, the dog learns to maintain spatial sync with the handler.

Mastering contact heeling takes patience and consistency, but it provides the vital foundation for developing advanced heel work. The tight positioning and focus learned to translate directly to focus heeling for obedience competitions and street heeling amid real-world distractions.

By incorporating contact heeling into your training routine, you can build a strong, precise heel position that will set your dog up for success in advanced obedience and real-world scenarios. 

**If you're interested in learning more, reach out directly, sign up for my programs, take one of my FREE webinars, or get my Free Heeling Book. Let's transform your dog's enthusiasm into a powerful partnership.