Why do I have all my clients (and my own dogs) heel most of the time on leash? Here are my top 3 reasons:

🐾 1. It’s Brain Work Dogs spend about 90% of their day doing whatever they want — lounging, sniffing, exploring. What they need on their walks is bonding, leadership, and mental stimulation. The best way to truly wear out a dog isn’t through their legs — it’s through their brain.

A walk full of structure and focused heel work challenges your dog mentally, strengthens your relationship, and gives them purpose. After a loose, unstructured walk, most dogs come home still wired and needing more. But after a walk full of brain work? They come home calm, content, and ready for a nap.

🛑 2. Safety for You and Others This one’s personal. I’ve had clients suffer serious injuries from being pulled or tripping over their dogs — including broken femurs, fractured ribs, and dislocated shoulders. It’s not just frustrating — it’s dangerous. Heel work helps prevent those accidents and gives you control in unpredictable situations.

🛍️ 3. It Gives You Freedom Want to bring your dog to stores, farmers markets, or crowded public areas? A dog that can heel calmly at your side opens up the world to you both. No pulling, weaving, or chaos — just a confident, responsive dog who can go anywhere.

🌳 Worried Your Dog Won’t Get to “Be a Dog”? Don’t Be. We get this concern a lot — and we hear you! Our goal isn’t to turn your dog into a military robot. Dogs absolutely should get time to sniff, potty, and explore — we just call that part of the walk free time.

As you're walking in heel and feeling proud of your dog, you’ll often come across the perfect grassy patch, their favorite tree, or just a great moment to let them relax. That’s when we say “free” — this word releases them to explore, sniff, and enjoy being a dog.

🟢 No pulling is the only rule. 🕒 Free breaks can be 30 seconds or 10 minutes — it’s totally up to you. 🚶‍♀️ And when you’re ready to move on, we put them back into heel, because we know how valuable that structure is.

Heel isn’t about control for control’s sake — it’s about building a better walk and a better bond.

👉 Want to learn how to make walks easier, calmer, and actually enjoyable? Let’s train.