Off-Lead Heeling Prerequisites: Basic & Advanced Obedience, Precision Obedience lessons 1 - 4 The process of teaching the off-lead heel should not rushed.  You'll need to clear your practice area of any large debris the long line may catch on. 1.  Put your dog on his 50 ft. long line and his training tab.  Hold the long line at the point you would hold it when heeling with your 6 ft. leash.  Allow the rest of the line to drag out behind you. 2.  Give your dog the heel command and proceed forward as you normally would.  Warm the dog up with some heeling turns and sits - watch that you don't tangle in the extra line! 3.  When the dog is doing well, drop the line from your hand entirely and continue working heeling turns and sits, allowing the line to drag out behind the dog.   4.  Anytime the dog leaves the heel, immediately grab the long line at about 3 feet from the dog and RUN for 5 steps.   Drop the line again and continue with your turns and sits.   5.  You may want to keep your right hand at your waist - convincing the dog you're holding the leash there still, just as you would during heeling on a 6 ft. leash. 6.  If you have to correct more than 3 times in a 20 minute practice period, your dog is not quite ready - go back to throw chain training and figure-8 heeling until the dog is heeling perfectly on his 6 ft. leash. 7.  When you are no longer having to correct the dog, attach a light line (this should be made of strong, but nearly weightless material - heavy fishing line, drapery cord, clothes line rope, etc.) and continue practicing steps 1 - 5 above. 8.  When working on the light line, if you need to correct, do not grab the line - grab the dog's tab and give a pop & release correction for leaving the heel.  If the dog moves away from you as you try to correct, immediately step on the light line and give a 'sit' command.  If the dog doesn't sit, go to it and correctly sharply with the tab.  If at any time your dog tries to bolt, you have not done enough recall, throw chain, and distraction-proofing work. Final Notes:  Continue to practice working the off-lead heel, until your dog can do it in the fig-8 pattern, as well as around distractions and with varying speeds.   DO NOT rush this process.  If your dog gets lazy, defiant, or fearful during off-lead heeling training, you will have to go back to elementary heeling for a LONG time, to reteach and regain trust and respect from your dog.