Heelwork to music provides your dog with an opportunity to display its understanding and knowledge of training commands in an impressive choreographed routine.
Competitors taking part in any event licensed by The Kennel Club must familiarise themselves with The Kennel Club rules and regulations beforehand (regulation amendments as of 1 January can be found in the back of this booklet).
Heelwork to music competitions are held all over the country for each of the classes, giving you the opportunity to compete regularly and meet likeminded people.
Heelwork to music competitions
There are numerous heelwork to music competitions held annually by The Kennel Club's societies. Details of these competitions are published in Find a Show.
Heelwork to music at Crufts
One of the highlights of a heelwork to music (HTM) competitor's career is the opportunity to compete in front of an audience of thousands at Crufts.
Crufts hosts the finals of both heelwork to music and freestyle competitions each year. All advanced-level dogs and handlers can qualify for Crufts by entering one or more of a series of qualifying events held throughout the year.
All Crufts qualifying competitions are judged under the appropriate Kennel Club regulations in force at the time of the event. To be eligible to enter these classes, dogs must be eligible to compete in advanced classes. Both the competition organisers and The Kennel Club reserve the right to verify a dog's eligibility to compete.
Crufts also caters for heelwork to music's growing international following by hosting The Kennel Club Crufts international freestyle competition. The competition is open to one competitor from each country, including one from Great Britain.
Find out more about heelwork to music at Crufts.
Heelwork to Music Team GB
Each year The Kennel Club sends competitors to the World Championships or the European Open Championships to represent the UK. Learn more about joining Heelwork to Music Team GB.
Progressing in heelwork to music
Once you have gained more experience in competing, you may want to set your sights on moving into more advanced classes. To progress, you accumulate wins and/or points which are awarded for gaining a 4th place or above in a standard heelwork to music or freestyle class. Points are only awarded when a final score is over the minimum of 18.
Progression
| Points awarded | Progression requirements |
|---|---|
| 1st place - 10 points | Starters -> 14 points and a win or you may elect to progress at 20 points or continue in novice until you gain the win -> Novice |
| 2nd place - 6 points | Novice: 16 points and a win or 28 points -> Intermediate |
|
3rd place - 4 points |
Intermediate -> 2 wins -> Advanced |
|
4th place - 2 points |
After you progress, your points go back to zero |
Excellent Awards
When you win out of a class you are entitled to use the initials for that class after your dog's name on entry forms and in catalogues; only the most recent award is used. The initials for heelwork to music are HTM St, HTM N, HTM I and for freestyle the initials used are FS St, FS N, FS I. Gaining at least 24 points at advanced entitles you to use the initials HTM A or FS A.
If a 1st place has been won in starters or novice, or two 1st places at intermediate or advanced, when the required level of points have been gained, the dog will also be awarded an Excellent qualification and can use the title "Ex" after its class title, such as: HTM St Ex.
Points needed
To gain a heelwork to music Excellent Award, the dog must have attained the following:
- Starters: 14 points in starters including at least one 1st place
- Novice:16 points in novice including at least one 1st place
- Intermediate: at least two 1st places in intermediate
- Advanced: at least two 1st places in advanced
The following points are awarded in all of The Kennel Club's standard classes:
- 1st place: 10 points
- 2nd place: 6 points
- 3rd place: 4 points
- 4th place: 2 points
The following Excellent Awards can be obtained:
- Heelwork to music: HTM St Ex, HTM N Ex, HTM I Ex, HTM A Ex
- Freestyle: FS St Ex, FS N Ex, FS I Ex, FS A Ex
How to claim
Competitors wishing to claim the award to can apply online via the Heelwork to Music Excellent claim form. Please submit your form to the Awards department via this email address: Awards (The Kennel Club) All award applications can take up to 6 weeks to process. Please do not contact the Awards department prior to this date as this may delay your application.
How can I speed up my application?
- When entering information onto the award application form, please ensure you are entering in chronological order
- Any amendments to an application must be made by the registered owner
- We recommend keeping a record/copy of all points gained
- A useful tip would be to also keep a record of points gained after submitting your Heelwork to Music Excellent application in case you are asked to resubmit
Heelwork to Music Warrant Award
Requirements
The requirements for the three levels of warrant, Bronze, Silver, and Gold are:
Bronze 100 points
Silver 200 points
Gold 400 points
The following titles may be used after the name of the dog on competition entries and in catalogues:
Heelwork to Music
Bronze HTMW(B)
Silver HTMW(S)
Gold HTMW(G)
Freestyle
Bronze FSW(B)
Silver FSW(S)
Gold FSW(G)
Points awarded
Points will be awarded at any level as long as a minimum score of 18 is achieved. Places must have been awarded by the competition organiser.
1st place 20 points
2nd place 19 points
3rd place 18 points
4th place 17 points
5th place 16 points
6th place 15 points
7th place 14 points
8th place 13 points
9th place 12 points
10th place 11 points
5 points will also be awarded to any unplaced routines that have achieved a qualifying score or above.
How to claim
Complete the Heelwork to Music Warrant Claim Form and submit your form to the Awards department via this email address:
Awards (The Kennel Club)
All award applications can take up to 6 weeks to process. Please do not contact the Awards department prior to this date as this may delay your application.
How can I speed up my application?
- When entering information onto the award application form, please ensure you are entering in chronological order
- Any amendments to an application must be made by the registered owner
- We recommend keeping a record/copy of all points gained
- A useful tip would be to also keep a record of points gained after submitting your Heelwork to Music Warrant application in case you are asked to resubmit
Heelwork to Music Liaison Council
The newly formed Heelwork to Music Liaison Council, replacing the previous working party, acts as the official link between The Kennel Club and the heelwork to music community.
The Council has been created to give a voice to grassroots participants and will play an essential role in reviewing the regulations for licenced heelwork to music competitions and advising the Kennel Club on any changes that may be needed.
What is the Heelwork to Music Liaison Council?
The Heelwork to Music Liaison Council is a dedicated group shaping the future of heelwork to music. The Liaison Council is a vital voice for the community, made up of 7 representatives, approved for a three-year term, who actively participate in heelwork to music.
Representatives are usually elected for a period of three years and the current term of office of all Kennel Club Liaison Council representatives ends on 31 December 2025. However, due to the current term of office having been extended the next term will only be for two years, in order to bring this back in alignment with Committee elections. Please note that the first term of office for the Heelwork to Music Council will be for 2 years (January 2026 – December 2027).
The Council is a dynamic team that bridges the gap between competitors, judges, organisers, and The Kennel Club. Its insights will help ensure that grassroots voices are heard, influencing decisions and driving positive change.
From reviewing regulations to advising on strategic direction, the council plays a crucial role in protecting, promoting and progressing the world of heelwork to music to enable these to continue and to flourish.
Becoming a Liaison Council representative
Liaison Council representatives are usually approved for a period of three years but due to the current term of office having been extended for the existing Liaison Councils across all disciplines, the next term will only be for two years. Therefore, this application is to apply to become a representative for the next term of office (January 2026 – December 2027).
Heelwork to Music Liaison Council meetings and Agendas
- Will be updated soon
Heelwork to Music Liaison Council Representatives
- Will be updated soon
Next steps - judging
Once you have competed, you might like to start judging. Learn more about becoming a heelwork to music judge.