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Heelwork to Music (or HTM as it is called for short) is the newest canine competitive activity. The first competition under Kennel Club rules was held in 2002 and in 2005 there was the first HTM competition at Crufts.
I have been competing with Rooskie and we both thoroughly enjoy it. Which is not really surprising as HTM is particularly suited to the liveliness, intelligence and natural showmanship of the Papillon.
But almost any breed of dog can ernjoy Heelwork to Music.
There are a large number of moves in Heelwork to Music. But there is no need to teach the dog all of them. The handler can choose which of them to do. The great thing is that when competing and doing a routine at an Event there are no compulsory moves. This means that if a dog does not like one particular move or exercise then just miss it out. There is absolutely no need to struggle with something the dog finds difficult and perhaps upset the dog. No just miss out that particular move and concentrate on what your dog does best –– and let your dog show himself to his best advantage. In fact it is often a good idea to look for something which the dog does naturally and then put a command to it. And sometimes there can be happy accidents. I can give one example of a happy accident from my own little Rooskie.
One of Rooskie’s best moves is reversing around me or another object. But to do this I must be in the correct position and Rooskie must know exactly what he is meant to be reversing around. If he is not absolutely sure he goes into a series of back spins –– which actually look quite spectacular. And which have the added benefit that the judges and spectators do not know that it is really a mistake.
So I eventually worked out how to get him to do the two moves to command. But the point is that I did not teach him the back spin. It just happened.(Note. All this applies to competitions but not to Progress Awards where there are compulsory moves. But then the Progress Awards are quite different. They are to help in the learning process.)
But first of all what actually is Heelwork to Music? For the purposes of KC competitions HTM is divided into two sections –– Heelwork to Music and Freestyle. As the name suggests HTM is rather like Obedience heelwork although with some extra moves added. The dogs are not always in the conventional heel position. They can also move sideways and backwards and such moves as spins, circles, leg weaving and highs may be added. Moreover the handler is not always in the conventional Obedience position either as he or she may choose to do part of the routine sitting on the floor. And, unlike Obedience, the dogs are expected to work on the right hand side of the handler as well as the left. In HTM the greatest part of the routine should be done in the heel position or another close position.
Freestyle, on the other hand, almost comes under the heading of Anything Goes. Here the variety of freestyle moves are more important. Heelwork should be kept to a minimum although it is recognized that it is useful for linking up moves and also for helping the handler to make good use of the floor space. In Freestyle credit is given for the dog working at a distance from the handler.
In both HTM and Freestyle the music should complement the routine. Props and costume can enhance a routine. For example, for Singing in the Rain an umbrella can be used and the dog can jump over it and do circles around it. For a cowboy song such as I’ve got Spurs that Jingle, Jangle, Jingle a cowboy costume can be worn.
Bigger props can be used too. I have used a child’s play tunnel for Tunnel of Love sung by Doris Day and my Rooskie had great fun running through it and round it.
It is also important to use the music and keep in time to it.
But you do not need just to read about HTM. You can easily see it for yourself –– and you don’t need to travel to an Event (in HTM they are called Events and not shows) to do so. This is because many HTM Events are filmed and put on video or DVD.
There is a special reason for this. In HTM every routine is different as it is the handler who chooses the music and who works out the routine. This is quite different from any other canine activity where the handler is told what to do. For example in Obedience the handler has to follow the instructions of the steward. But in HTM it is the handler who decides exactly what to do. This uniqueness of routines has led to the above interesting development. Now many HTM Events are put on video or DVD. Some of these are professional productions, others amateur. So anyone not able to get to an Event can still see it. And for anyone wanting to learn more about HTM, the best way would be to get a few Event videos or DVDs.
In fact there is another use for this new technology. In America there are actually video competitions where the handler sends in a video of the dog’s routine. And in the UK, the Paws and Music Association is also offering video assessments for its Progress Awards.
HTM started in the early 1990s. In the UK it was pioneered and promoted by Mary Ray particularly with her demonstrations at Crufts. Then there was a kind of spontaneous combustion as it was also done in different parts of the world and today it is strong in Europe, North America, and Japan. Interest in HTM grew rapidly and competitions began to be held. Then the Kennel Club brought out regulations and in 2002 the first HTM Event was held under KC rules.
This means that HTM now has a similar structure to other canine activities and dogs can qualify through the classes from Starters to Advanced. In 2005 there was an HTM competition held at Crufts for the first time. This was for invited competitors only but it is planned to have a qualifying structure for this competition in future years.
But Events held under Kennel Club regulations are not the only HTM Events. Fun Days are also popular. Under KC regulations the dog must work off lead and food and toys may not be taken into the ring. For a Fun Day the rules are made by the society putting on the Event and some allow food and toys in the ring. Also, even at a KC regulation Event, the KC allows the club to put on extra classes and many choose to schedule an Absolute Beginners class.
Entering a Fun Day is an excellent way of getting started in HTM.
Kennel Club Good Citizen. Agility. Clicker Training. Bridge and Target.
How does one get started in HTM? First of all the dog should learn basic control and be able to work off the lead. Here a good dog class can be helpful. Note. I stress a good dog class. A bad dog class can do more harm than good.
There have been a lot of developments in dog training in the last few years. And not just in training. There has been a great deal of serious study in dog psychology and in the way the dog’s mind works. Many of these studies have been done by universities.
Unfortunately a lot of this new knowledge is not finding its way to the dog classes. Now many classes train for the Kennel Club Good Citizen tests and have stopped doing Obedience. There are many good things about the Good Citizen but the dog does not really start off lead work until the Gold –– and many clubs do not go past the Bronze. Which can cause problems for anyone wanting to take part in any kind of competition. For someone wanting to do competitive work the best thing might be to start at a good dog class and take the KCGC Bronze and then look for a good agility class. Most dogs enjoy elementary agility –– and elementary or fun agility is all that is needed for the control necessary for HTM.
Many of the older ideas and methods of training are now discredited –– particularly choke chains and the pack theory. Instead of the old idea of the handler dominating the dog emphasis is now on the dog learning to work out for itself what it is expected to do. And even to think creatively.
And how is this done? A lot of this kind of work was pioneered by Karen Pryor in the United States with her clicker training.
A clicker is a kind of small box –– about half the size of a matchbox. When the lid is pressed down it makes a very distinctive clicking sound. With clicker training, the instant the dog offers the correct behaviour the handler clicks. This special sound lets the dog know it has done the right thing and a reward is on the way. Usually a food reward but, depending on the dog, perhaps a game of tuggy.
Sometimes the older methods of Obedience training could result in a kind of suppressed dog which is not good for HTM but clicker training can result in a more confident dog. Many, many HTM trainers –– although not all –– use clicker training.
But clicker training does have one disadvantage. It can sometimes lead to over dependence on food and it can be difficult to wean the dog off food. One way of getting over this is the Jackpot system where the dog is given a substantial reward at the end of the routine.
Then came the Bridge and Target system. This is now being promoted by Kayce Cover with her Syn Alia Training Systems. The Bridge is a continuous signal which lets the dog know that it is doing the right thing and to keep going. The advantage of this is that food is not used nearly as much as with clicker training.
For the actual HTM a specialist class is not absolutely necessary. There are plenty of instructional books and videos available. And many of the leading trainers hold weekend courses.
Failing a specialist HTM class, it would be useful to work with a clicker trainer. Most clicker trainers teach ‘clicker tricks’ ––– which is actually HTM without the music. To find your nearest clicker trainer go to the web site of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and click on Find a Trainer. The web address is http://www.apdt.co.uk/
It would also be helpful to join some of the main HTM societies in the country. This would provide information and schedules for Events as well as information on where to get both instructional videos and Event videos. Some of the main societies are given below.
Paws and Music. --- http://www.paws-n-music.co.uk/
Canine Freestyle GB. ---- http://www.caninefreestylegb.com/
The Paws and Music Society run a series of Progress Awards. This system provides an excellent introduction to HTM. First of all it makes the handler concentrate on teaching a limited number of moves. And then at the assessment help and advice are given.
Some of the leading trainers of Canine Freestyle run regular courses and workshops. Details are given on their web site.
Another useful web site is that of Dog-ed-Scotland. This gives details of courses, workshops and Events in Scotland. The address is given below.
Dog Education, Scotland. --- http://www.dog-ed-scotland.co.uk/
Karen Pryor’s web site. ---- http://www.clickertraining.com/
Or a UK site. --- http://www.learningaboutdogs.com/
Kayce Cover’s site. ---- http://www.synalia.com/
Heelwork to Music is being done by a very wide range of breeds. In fact the organizers have been anxious to avoid a situation like that in Obedience which is dominated by one breed –– the border collie or working sheepdog.
Heelwork to Music is an activity which allows a dog to be itself and show off its own personality. And, as such, it is ideal for a Papillon. And Rooskie really enjoys it.
But always remember that Heelwork to Music is for every breed and everybody. There is a wide range of breeds taking part. Also dogs of all ages. Thirteen- year-old dogs have competed with the enthusiasm of youngsters. And as for handlers. To date the youngest has been a little girl of three who competed in a Fun Day. At the other end of the scale was a handler in her eighties.
And disabled handlers can compete too. There has been one very successdful handler who competed from a motorised wheel chair. And qualified out of Starters into Novice too!
Truly HTM is for any breed or any person.
Mary S. Moffat, 2005
To see photographs of Rooskie competing in Heelwork to Music Events click on
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