Heelwork Maintenance: Lifelong Exercises for Gundogs

Once your gundog understands heelwork, the real work begins: maintaining it.

Heelwork isn't a "one and done" skill. Just like recall or steadiness, it fades without reinforcement—especially with young, fit working breeds.

This article shares field-tested exercises and tips for reinforcing heelwork from adolescence into adulthood, with distractions, distance, and real-world reliability in mind.

---

🧠 Why Heelwork Slips Over Time

Even trained gundogs can regress:

• Increased fitness leads to more pulling
• Less structured walking = less focus
• Handler attention fades as dogs "grow up"
• Environments become more exciting (fields, shoots, competitions)

That's why lifelong practice matters—especially for off-lead control.

---

🔁 Daily Reinforcement Principles

• Reward it regularly, not just during training sessions
• Notice small wins (like walking to heel across the car park)
• Mix in short structured heel drills during longer walks
• Always correct drift early—don't let sloppy heelwork slide

---

🔁 6 Core Maintenance Exercises

1. Lead–Off–Lead Transitions

Alternate 10 paces on lead, 10 paces off. Use a release word and whistle to bring them back in.

• Builds clean transitions
• Keeps dogs guessing
• Reinforces focus

---

2. Figure of Eight

Walk in a loose figure 8 using cones, tree trunks, or fence posts. Reward tight turns and consistent attention.

🔁 Enhances balance and steering

👃 Keeps dog mentally engaged

---

3. About Turns and Slow Downs

Practice sudden changes in direction and speed. Use your voice and body to maintain attention.

🦶 Avoids the "zombie plod"

🦮 Teaches adaptability and body cue reading

---

4. Heel–Sit–Heel Repeats

Walk 10 paces, sit. Wait 3 seconds. Move again. Reward after each set.

🧠 Adds impulse control

👁 Reinforces handler focus

---

5. "Walk Past Temptation" Drill

Place toys or dummies along your path. Walk by them at heel without retrieving.

🚫 Strengthens steadiness

✅ Ideal prep for shoot days and competitions

Tip: Try this with food bowls, pheasant wings, or tennis balls as distractions.

---

6. Stop-Start Steadiness Test

Walk briskly, then stop suddenly. Dog must sit or remain at heel without command.

🎯 Reinforces spatial awareness

🎯 Builds shoot-day steadiness

---

⚖️ Weekly Routine Example

Day	Session (5–10 mins)
Monday	Lead/off-lead transitions + recall
Wednesday	Walk past dummies + stop-starts
Friday	Figure 8s + slow pace variations
Weekend	Club training or field exposure

Rotate these drills to keep things fresh and test control in varied environments.

---

🧪 Proofing Heelwork in Real-Life Scenarios

Once drills are reliable, test them under pressure:

At the dog club

• Work around unfamiliar dogs
• Add group heelwork or shared retrieves

In new locations

• Practice heel on woodland trails, along fences, across stiles
• Use terrain to encourage natural positioning

On the shoot

• Heel to heel peg quietly
• Reinforce not chasing runners or flushing too early

A good gundog doesn't just walk to heel—it wants to. That only comes through repetition and trust.

---

🛠 Common Maintenance Problems (and Fixes)

Problem	Fix
Pulling on lead again	Reintroduce short on-lead sessions with turns and resets
Lagging behind	Use toys or voice encouragement to re-engage drive
Breaking position early	Practice heel–sit–heel drills with impulse control games
Losing heel off-lead	Pair with whistle and reset to short, enclosed environments

---

📣 FAQ

How often should I train heelwork once it's taught?

A few short sessions per week, and daily real-life reinforcement. Keep it part of your walk routine.

Should I use food or praise with adult dogs?

Use both. Mix it up. A well-timed "Good heel!" in the field can be just as effective as a biscuit.

My dog heels well solo, but loses focus around others?

Group training is essential. Join a local gundog club to simulate multi-dog conditions.

---

✅ Summary: Heelwork for Life

Teaching heelwork is one thing. Maintaining it takes:

• Variety
• Consistency
• Occasional "bootcamp" refreshers
• Rewarding correct behaviour in real life

Just like a trained muscle, heelwork needs reps to stay sharp. The better you maintain it, the more confident and enjoyable your dog becomes—in the field and beyond.