Dog Sports - Heelwork to Music

CSJ & Heelwork to Music

About Heelwork to Music (HTW)

Heelwork to music is similar to musical canine freestyle - officially recognised by the Kennel Club. The sport has evolved since the early 1990s when obedience handler Mary Ray first demonstrated the sport at Crufts. Rugby Dog Club held the first show in 1996 and now this show is one of the highlights of the sporting year.

In 2005 Crufts held the first HTM competition at Crufts, won by Tina Humphrey and her blue merle Border Collie, Bluecroft My Blue Heaven (a rescue dog from a council dog pound). Rugby Dog Training Club hosts the official Crufts Semi Final Competition where advanced handlers who have competed at qualifying events throughout the year, compete for the first ten places and the chance to compete at Crufts.

The sport has two divisions:

1. Heelwork to Music - handlers have to work with dogs at heel for 65% of the routine. There are eight official heelwork positions. Heelwork routines emphasise the partnership of handler and dog walking/moving at heel and choreographing the heelwork to the music
2. Freestyle - 65% of a routine is freestyle. Only 35% can be heelwork. Freestyle routines focus on the partnership with handler and dog to interpret music using moves and linked behaviours. Canine Freestyle GB and Paws N Music Association are the two main Heelwork to Music clubs.

Kate Nicholas says ...

" We have been feeding CSJ for about two years now when our fellow flyball team mate (Susan Mcdermott) became a CSJ Stockist. Since using CSJ our feed bills have been greatly reduced as well as getting a better product for our money. This has been greatly reflected by the overall condition of the entire kennel with all dogs having a gleam to their coats even the golden oldies. Before feeding CSJ we had problems with some of our dogs being fussy eaters, this has since changed and all ten dogs can’t get enough of CSJ. - Kate Nicholas "

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Meet some CSJ Handlers

Kate Nicholas

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Steph Rendall

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