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"From the wildly popular class comes the series...."

HEELING
IN A
BOTTLE

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HEELING
IN A
BOTTLE
Applications

AVAILABLE NOW !!

Through Amazon and

Barnes & Noble

Heeling In A Bottle

AVAILABLE NOW !!

Through Amazon and

Barnes & Noble

Heeling In A Bottle

Applications

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FUTURE RELEASE !!

Heeling In A Bottle

The

Heeling Square

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FUTURE RELEASE !!

THE

HEELING ELEMENT

BREAKDOWN

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Cone Fun!!

Sample of
Heeling In A Bottle

Learn the two maneuvers first, then try the drill

Way 53

PIVOT 180 RIGHT

MANEUVER

Use: This is the most used pivot/turn in obedience exercises; used while heeling, it is the footwork for the about turn. As a pivot, it is used in Utility for the Scent Article exercise twice and for the number two glove in the Directed Retrieve exercise. 

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Objective: Handler/dog simultaneously pivots 180 degrees (half turn) to the right.

 

How to Perform Footwork

  1. Handler standing with feet together and prepared to move to the right.

  2. Handler performs Right “T” footwork.

  3. Handler performs Right “V” footwork.

  4. Handler moves left foot even with right foot.

Way 57

PIVOT 270 RIGHT

MANEUVER

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Use: This is an excellent “screwdriver” maneuver to help tighten up wide and off-balanced about turns. Used while heeling, it will be an about turn followed immediately by a right turn.

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Objective: Handler/dog simultaneously pivots 270 degrees (three-quarter turn) to the right.

How to Perform Footwork

  1. Handler standing with feet together and prepared to move to the right.

  2. Handler performs Right “T” footwork.

  3. Handler performs Right “V” footwork.

  4. Handler performs Right “T” footwork.

  5. Handler moves right foot even with left foot.

Way 58

 “THE SCREWDRIVER” (RIGHT)

DRILL

 

A drill that provides the handler and dog the opportunity to perform 4 Pivot 270 Right maneuvers and 3 Pivot 180 Right maneuvers. This is an excellent drill to help tighten up wide about turns.

How to Perform Drill

Target use: Set 1 target (X) 20 feet from cone 2. Set 1 target (X) in middle of drill, 10 feet between cones 1 and 3.

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  1. Setup – Handler/dog sitting in heel position on outside target.

  2. Handler/dog heels forward to center target > Performs Pivot 270 Right  > Heels forward to cone 1 > Performs Pivot 180 Right (about turn) > Heels forward to center target > Performs Pivot 270 Right.

  3. Repeat exercise for cones 2 and 3.

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Advanced Version – Perform drill with dog off leash.

Here is Bonnie performing "The Screwdriver" in 2014. This is what the Advanced Abstract version looks like.

Sample

Cone/Target Setup

40 x 50 Ring     Cones Used: 12     Targets Used: 4

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  1. Place target 1, 3 feet from bottom of ring and 20 feet from right side of ring.

  2. Place cone 1, 5 feet from bottom of ring and 10 feet from right side of ring.

  3. Create a 10-foot diameter circle made with cones 1-4, placed according to diagram.

  4. Place cone 6, 5 feet from top of ring and 10 feet from right side of ring.

  5. Create a 10-foot diameter circle made with cones 5-8, placed according to diagram.

  6. Place target 2 in exact center of 10-foot circle, 5 feet from cones 5, 6, 7 and 8.

  7. Place target 3, 5 feet from top of ring and 3 feet from left side of ring.

  8. Place cone 9, 15 feet from top of ring and 1 foot from left side of ring. Place cone 10, 5 feet parallel to cone 9.

  9. Place cone 11, 20 feet vertical from cone 9. Place cone 12, 5 feet parallel to cone to cone 11.

  10. Place target 4, 5 feet from bottom of ring and 3 feet from left side of ring.

Way 20

SLOW PACE APPLICATIONS

​Application Pattern

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Let’s go Huge…. These application drills were the inspiration for the Heeling In A Bottle Applications book. It follows the application formula perfectly: Maneuver + Drill + Heeling Pattern.

Heeling
In A
Bottle
Applications

How to Perform Drill

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  1. Setup - Handler/dog sitting in heel position on target 1, facing right side of ring.

  2. Handler issues dog verbal “Back” command > Perform Revolve Left.

  3. Handler/dog heels forward to cone 1 > Perform 1 ¼ rotation of Left Circle to cone 2.

  4. Handler/dog heels to cone 5.

  5. Handler/dog performs Spiral Left > End spiral on target 2 facing target 3.

  6. Handler/dog heels diagonally to target 3.

  7. Handler issues dog verbal “Back” command > Perform 1 ¼ rotations Revolve Left.

  8. Handler/dog heels forward to cones 9 and 10 > Transition to Slow Pace.

  9. Handler/dog heels at Slow Pace to cones 11 and 12 > Transition to normal pace.

  10. Handler/dog heels forward to target 4 > Perform Halt to end drill.

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Method
to my
MADNESS

Cone
CRAZY!!

Welcome to Heeling In A Bottle!

Heeling In A Bottle is a book of maneuvers, adjustments, and fun cone drills that pertain to the seven parts of heeling, figure eights, and fronts. Heeling In A Bottle was designed to be fun, motivating, improve heeling with maneuvering skills, and give you some new ideas to train with (101 ideas, to be exact).

The goal of Heeling In A Bottle is for the dogs to build mobility, learn to adjust the hindquarters, bend the spine, and gain balance, all while teaching the dog heeling elements. The easy instructions and diagrams for each maneuver and cone drill will aid the beginning handler while still challenging the experienced competitor.

Heeling In A Bottle is made up of 50 maneuvers and adjustments that are divided into six groups that cover several important aspects of heeling. They include Find Heel adjustments, Heel Position adjustments, Circle maneuvers, Pivot/Turn maneuvers, Lateral Heeling adjustments, and Front adjustments.

The heeling elements that the maneuvers, adjustments, and cone drills target are slow/normal/fast pace, halt, and right/left/about turns. They also target figure eight and front training.

Each of the maneuvers and adjustments is paired with 51 fun cone drills to further train and reinforce the maneuvers and adjustments. Every cone drill pattern can be created with just 12 cones or less.

My intention is to help you to get your dog to work those hindquarters and bend that spine. I intend to twist you and your dog up like a pretzel and spin you like a top! The desired result will be that your dog has improved their heeling skills and fronts after performing the 101 maneuvers, adjustments, and cone drills in Heeling In A Bottle!

Heeling In A Bottle is great for competitive obedience handlers, rally, obedience and heeling instructors looking for innovative training ideas, or anyone who wants a fun activity for their dog. It is a wonderful addition to your training regimen.

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Welcome to Heeling In A Bottle Applications!

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Welcome back to Heeling In A Bottle!

You and your dog learned 50 maneuvers and adjustments in the first book along with some fun cone drills. Now what else can you do with these maneuvers?

How about applying them into 75 very creative maneuver heeling patterns that vary in size and levels of difficulty. All the patterns have endless training opportunities for improving the heeling elements: the normal, slow, and fast pace; the left, right, and about turn; and the halt.

There are small, easy patterns that are broken down to help the beginning handler or dog to learn how to insert the maneuvers into heeling patterns. There are medium-size square patterns that allow the handler and dog to hone in on performing fantastic turns and correcting problems that occur with turns. The fun and intricate drill patterns that will twirl you and your dog every which way. The large maneuver heeling patterns that will challenge the most advanced teams. And finally, the huge, over-the-top “Everything But the Kitchen Sink” maneuver heeling patterns.

The chapters focus on each heeling element:

  • Description of the heeling element.

  • Common problems and solutions for each heeling element.

  • How to use maneuvers as “fix-it maneuvers” to correct heeling problems.

  • What maneuvers to pair and improve each heeling element.

This book provides endless hours of fun and learning. There are 75 illustrated heeling patterns with step-by-step directions, cone setup directions, and the advanced abstract version. I also included many illustrated diagrams for heeling step transitions, “The Dance” warm-up illustrations, quick reference maneuver diagrams, and step-by-step maneuver directions.

As always with Heeling In A Bottle, all the maneuvers and patterns promote your dog’s hindquarter control, mobility, balance, and learning to bend their spine. So “put on your dancing shoes”—you and your dog are about to be introduced to the fun progression warm-up drill “The Dance” that will take your dog’s hindquarter control to the next level with a lateral and backward heeling sequence followed by distance backward heeling.

“If you and your dog can perform all these ‘maneuver’ heeling patterns, think how much easier ‘regular’ obedience heeling patterns become.”

There are a lot of cones to set up and patterns to heel, so gather a group of friends or use the patterns in your heeling class, and “Let’s Heel!”

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- Enjoy! T. E. Brown

Meet the Pack!

"Bonnie"

July 9th, 2004 - March 10th, 2016

U-UD Texas Bluebonnet UDX, VER, GO, GN

Bonnie was Heeling In A Bottle!

"Peaches"

Texas Peach

April 14th, 2004 - January 20th, 2016

"Skye"

Catch'in Blue Skies over Texas

February 3rd, 2016 - Dec 30th, 2024

"Windy"

Xanadu's Catch'in a Wave of Tornadoes over Texas

October 10th, 2016

Gallery

Check out some handlers and pups having fun with Heeling In A Bottle!

Bio

Bonnie - 2012 UDX Title Day
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I have been training and competing in AKC Competition Obedience with Golden Retrievers since 2003 and trained and competed in UKC Competition Obedience as well. I’ve dabbled a bit in field work and tracking, but I always seem to come back to my first love, Competition Obedience.​I have been teaching Competition Obedience since 2012, along with my Golden Retriever Bonnie as my “test” dog to create the maneuvers and cone drills. I designed and held my first Heeling In A Bottle class in 2013, and it’s been a staple in my teaching regiment ever since.​Heeling In A Bottle has come a long way since then. It has changed and been tweaked constantly over the past decade until I felt it was ready to be published in book form.​I am so happy and pleased to share my new book Heeling In A Bottle with everyone.​ Enjoy!

CONTACT

For any inquiries, testimonials, or reviews, please contact me: T. E. Brown

info@heelinginabottle.com

Please allow 24 - 48 hours for a response. Looking forward to hearing from you!

© 2024 by T. M. Rhyne - Powered and secured by Wix

R E V I E W S

krh&dwh

"It’s obvious this book was written by someone who can definitely “walk the walk”!  From left turns, right turns, about turns to pivots – this book has it all when it comes to getting my dog to heel beside me!  The heeling “adjustments” sections are fantastic in getting my dog to sit in the correct position – next to me, without crowding or sitting too far from me! I really like the presentation of the materials with the “how to perform” and the illustrations.  I would highly recommend buying this book if you’re interested in getting your dog to heel and sit in the proper positions."

Dr. Amanda Flowers

“Heeling In A Bottle: 101 Ways To Train Heeling And Fronts With Maneuvers And Cone Drills” is by far the best dog training book that I have ever purchased! It’s great for dogs at all ages and levels of training! I have an 8 year old dog who is experienced in competition Obedience and Rally, as well as a 2 year old dog who has minimal training in these sports. Over the past couple of weeks in having this book, I’ve made incredible strides with both dogs. The maneuvers, adjustments, and cone drills have been an excellent approach for fine-tuning some of the minor heeling imperfections with my “seasoned” dog. Likewise, they have been a fun approach to introduce foundational heeling exercises with my “green” dog. For me, these approaches have made for a relaxing and stress-free training experience and we can perform all of them in the convenience of my own home. They are also easy to practice outside and in public settings. In addition, as an instructor at both a training club and in clients’ homes, incorporating some of these activities in my lessons has been a hit. For participants interested in competition sports, these maneuvers, adjustments, and drills are the perfect way to train heeling patterns the right way from the start (whether working with your puppy or adult dog). For clients who just want to build a better relationship with their puppy or dog, these activities are a fun way to build attention and strengthen the bond between handlers and their canine companion. This book is a must for everyone! There are so many activities that you won’t run out of things to do as a trainer and your dog won’t get bored with repeating the same exercise over and over again. I highly recommend it and have been telling everyone about it! Don’t hesitate to grab your copy too! You certainly won’t regret it!

HB

If you like to train your dog or are training obedience, rally or just training this is the book for you. There isn't another one that is like it - it is one of a kind and you want it! It sets out exercises and how to achieve them with your dog and all of it is geared toward having your dog understand what you want them to do without anything but fun. There are so many exercises here and they are unlike what you have tried to do before. This book is loaded with great information that you won't see anywhere else. You aren't paying for glossy pages and professional photographs - you are paying for excellent information. I highly recommend this book for your training bag!!!

Mishelle Lucas

I found the book Heeling in a Bottle easy to read and the diagrams easy to follow. The maneuvers and drills are all nicely illustrated. The book is packed with practical tips & tricks. Heeling in a Bottle is a great book for those interested in taking their dog training, especially heeling, to the next level. I will continue to use this book as a reference manual for many years to come.

Frank N. Stein

Easy to follow and very detailed drawings. Takes you through the basics for a new dog into more complicated patterns as you and your dog progress through the book. Would be good for a training club looking for new ideas for Novice classes.

John W Lewis

Many exercised to keep the dog engaged while practicing obedience and rally exercises

Susanne Dorsey

I have tried so many different classes and instructors in my journey to teach my dog to "heel". She is a pretty smart dog, but "heeling" has been a struggle. I think it’s because she’s just always in a hurry to get where she’s going 😊. I was really getting frustrated and then I enrolled my dog in “Heeling in A Bottle”. “Heeling in A Bottle” is by far the best class that I have taken with my dog to get her to understand "heeling" and quite frankly to teach me to understand how to teach her to "heel". I don’t have a typical performing dog like a Golden or Labrador Retriever, Sheltie, Poodle, Border Collie, Cairn Terrier, etc. I don’t even have a purebred dog. I have a ShihTzu, Bichon mix and she’s often the smallest dog in the class, even though she doesn’t think she is 😊.

She is a Registered Therapy Dog and when we go for Therapy Dog visits, we use the maneuvers from the class and the manual for tricks for the group we are visiting. Everyone loves it and they are so impressed. She was also able to get her Trick Dog Beginner and Trick Dog Intermediate Titles using the maneuvers we learned from "Heeling in A Bottle".

I can't say enough about this class and the instructors, Trish and Tommy. Obviously, not everyone who reads this can attend a class, so I highly recommend that you invest in this manual. Trish has done a tremendous job in making this manual easy to understand and follow. With the illustrations, you'll be able to recreate the class right in the comfort of your own home.

I am so excited to continue training my dog at home using the manual. Whether you want to train your dog for competition or just have a well-trained dog, this manual will be a great tool in your journey to train your dog.
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