Course Details
Do you find yourself constantly reminding your dog to look at you and pay attention? Does your dog struggle to maintain focus when heeling for longer periods of time? Do you struggle to keep your dog engaged when working around distractions? Around a judge? Do you feel like you are begging your dog to heel with you?
In this workshop we will teach our dog to voluntarily choose us when heeling. When the dog decides to ignore the environment it’s empowering and we have full commitment and focus. The dog makes the decision to let go of the environment and choose us. No more nagging, begging, frustration or conflict.
In this workshop you will learn how to teach your dog to take the initiative and choose you. We will start in the quiet environment and then add distractions. Whether you are just starting to teach our dog how to heel or your dog has been competing for years the material in this course will help you teach your dog to choose you on their own.
Do you feel like you’re constantly reminding your dog to look at you, pay attention, or stay connected while heeling? Do you find yourself begging your dog to heel with you—especially when the environment gets distracting, the heeling gets longer, or a judge is watching?
Great heeling isn’t about constantly reminding your dog to stay engaged. It’s about teaching your dog that choosing you is rewarding.
In this workshop, we’ll teach your dog to voluntarily offer engagement while heeling. Rather than asking, nagging, or reminding your dog to pay attention, we’ll create a dog who learns to take the initiative and choose connection with you—even when the environment is interesting.
You’ll learn how to:
• Teach your dog to actively choose you instead of simply ignoring distractions.
• Create voluntary engagement that your dog offers without constant prompting.
• Build sustained connection for longer periods of heeling.
• Gradually introduce distractions while maintaining your dog’s desire to work with you.
• Replace nagging, begging, frustration, and conflict with cooperation and choice.
Petra’s precise yet positive approach will give you practical ways to build this skill while protecting your dog’s attitude and enthusiasm for heeling. Whether you’re just beginning to teach your dog to heel or you’ve been competing for years, these strategies will help you create a dog who doesn’t just respond to your requests for engagement—they learn to offer it.
Watch the Trailer:
Coming Soon!
Lecture Publish Date: Sunday November 8th
Video Submissions Due Date: Sunday November 15th @ 12pm noon PT
Feedback & Questions Video Publish Date: Wednesday November 18th
Instructor: Petra FordI have been training and competing for several decades in a variety of sports including Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Nosework, Agility and Rally. My first love has always been competition obedience. I have been fortunate to win the AKC National Obedience Championship four times with three different dogs. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)
