Adjusting your starting position in agility also gives me advantages in training free heelwork!

I haven't done anything about it before because it really doesn't matter and I've been able to adapt as I like. For example, if she sits crookedly, I can adjust her with a gentle nose touch in my hand that I place over her head.

I've been thinking for a while that I should do something about that starting position, since I'm not happy with it and since we don't have any training facilities right now (no venue and still a lot of snow outside), I decided to teach her to back up between my legs today. Previously she's learned to walk forwards after taking up position between my legs, so this is just a small addition to what she already knows and the final piece needed to get that starting position exactly where I want it.

It didn't take long before Cobra understood what I wanted from her and she began to move backwards bit by bit.

The main idea behind this is, as mentioned, for the starting position in agility, but it also helps with rear end awareness. She can already back away from me, so here it was just a matter of transferring what she already knew to a different position with me, while she still did the same thing. Another advantage I get from teaching this now is that she's practising backing up with me, backing the same number of steps as me and following my movement backwards too. This is undoubtedly an advantage when she needs to learn to back up in heel position off-lead. Here I can fidget and move around as much as I like without it mattering, and when I'm happy with it I can transfer it to the side and into free heel position off-lead.

On the occasions when I'm not training with a mirror, I'm glad that I film (I film almost all my training), as it lets me see from a different angle afterwards and I notice that I shouldn't have clicked when she was on her way into her sit. I can't do anything about that, but at least I can be more aware of it next session, plus of course I should have a mirror as well.

If you'd like to dive deeper into free heel position and fine-tune the perfect position or start learning free heel position, then Free Heel Position – Online starts 27 March.

The course is suitable for all levels and there's no age limit. All the tasks are available from the start and you can begin working with exactly what YOU want!

More information and enrolment form can be found here: Free Heel Position – Online