Heelwork to Music – the rules, and how to calculate heelwork content

Lesley Brocklehurst

The current rule for the Heelwork to Music class is “Heelwork will be the substantial part of the routine”. Bearing in mind the definition of substantial is “the greater part” then clearly the routine should contain well over 50% of heelwork. The rule used by Paws N Music, first introduced August 2002, and adopted by one or two other societies more recently is “At least 60% heelwork and no more than 40% Freestyle”.

This rule will change from January 2007 to at least two thirds heelwork and no more than one third freestyle. This means that more heelwork than at present will be compulsory and all Kennel Club licensed shows will have to adopt this rule. In a freestyle routine the converse will be true with no more than one third heelwork.

The amount of Heelwork or Freestyle is measured by the time spent undertaking them – not by the number of moves. Therefore there are two fairly accurate ways of calculating whether your routine meets the rules for the division you are entering.

A. Using a Stop- Watch

Run through your routine with the music but without your dog. 

Press the start button every time you begin any heelwork moves/sequences and release it as you start freestyle moves. At the end you can read off the number of seconds spent doing heelwork. You will need to do this several times to check accuracy – all results should be close.

Next calculate two thirds of your music in seconds and compare it with your stop-watch results. For example for a 2 minute 54 second routine you will require 116 seconds of heelwork (174/3 x 2).

B. Counting the Beats

A more accurate but complicated way of calculating this is to record your music using musical notation or symbols. The following example represents 4 bars of 4/4 time i.e. 16 beats on each line. By highlighting all the beats where you are doing heelwork you can calculate the totals for each line or phrase.

Obviously the heelwork content of this section is below the required two thirds. However it is the overall result of your whole programme which matters not for each section. You can spread your freestyle moves throughout your routine or concentrate them in just one or two places. So, you need to record all your music to calculate the total beats for heelwork v. freestyle. Tedious, perhaps, but accuracy is necessary, especially if your programme is sailing close to the wind!

Whichever method is used its accuracy will of course depend on understanding what heelwork is as opposed to freestyle

HTM had its origins in obedience. The early routines were just that – heelwork, usually on the left, with turns, generally at normal pace, and with a few additional moves added such as spins, twists and weaves. Gradually people became more adventurous and inventive, especially with additional freestyle moves, and programme content became more varied. It was, however, several years before HTM and FS became separate classes. Today there are both similarities and differences in heelwork for HTM and for Obedience.

• The main differences are:
  In HTM there are several different, acceptable heelwork positions where the dog’s shoulder should be reasonably close to the handler’s leg.
• Handler and dog may move in any direction within these positions – in obedience there is no backing or sidestepping
• Different paces may be used – these are only used in Tests B and C in obedience
• The dog should move freely without impeding the handler (also true in obedience)
• The handler may use different footstep rhythms in HTM
• Freestyle moves can be included to help interpret and punctuate the music/lyrics/story – but limited, as discussed above
• In HTM there are no compulsory moves or exercises – we choose the pattern and content of the programme.

What remains essentially the same is the need for a consistent position relative to the handler’s leg (including straight lines and curves). There should be no surge forward, dropping behind, going wide or barging. The dog should maintain a consistent movement; and both should work together as a team.

Put very simply heelwork in HTM is where the dog and handler move as one, in any direction or pace with the dog’s shoulder in a consistent position relative to the handler’s leg. Whenever the dog moves out of this position for example to spin, weave, jump or to change into a different heelwork position, that is freestyle rather than heelwork. 

Popular freestyle moves, such as spins and twists, weaving, crawling or walking on hind legs are still freestyle, even if performed in a close heelwork position. So too are any moves at a distance or where the dog is in front, facing or opposed to the handler.

The first event where separate classes were held for HTM and freestyle was June 2000, hosted by PNM.

Also included were two other divisions – Dressage and Dances with Dogs, so providing handlers with four very different styles of working to music with a dog. Clear definitions and rules were laid out for each division which remain virtually the same today. PNM continue to offer all four divisions from Starters to Advanced at all their shows – five altogether this year, including one Starters and Novice only show in November.

The Blue Rule Book issued to all PNM members contains much helpful explanatory information about the four divisions. The Progress Award scheme continues to be a good introduction to our canine sport, a way of measuring progress with our dogs in a non-competitive way, a chance to have-a-go in a new division, and also a useful source of ideas when planning a new routine.

It is the responsibility of each competitor to choreograph a routine which meets the rules and requirements of the class entered. There should be a clear and obvious distinction between an HTM and a freestyle routine. Also important is that judges are fair and critical in their marking so we do not continue to have instances of freestyle routines winning HTM classes.

If, for example, an HTM programme contains only about 30% heelwork, then the heelwork elements for both content and accuracy should be marked out of 3.

The freestyle moves should only be marked out of 4 as 40% maximum for freestyle is the rule at the present time. The lack of heelwork should also affect the interpretation/choreography mark too. The variety of different heelwork positions, the range of heelwork moves within these positions, the quality and accuracy of the heelwork and the partnership between the dog and handler should all be recognized and marked accordingly. The rules for HTM classes should be assiduously followed by everyone so that uncertainties, misunderstandings and unfairness are eliminated.

n a freestyle routine, where competitors choose to include some heelwork, it must be similarly marked in proportion e.g. 70% freestyle and 30% heelwork. Should the heelwork content be greater than the class rule permits, then the judges should penalize appropriately.

© Paws N Music Association 2006