canine freestyle moves database
Teaching position using a pivot platform
other heel positions
Teaching any heel position is simply a matter of
….. where you place yourself around the pivot platform;
….. giving the dog enough room to stand comfortably on the pot in relation to the part of your body you want targeted;
….. clicking the dog for position;
….. placement of the reward.
Free shaping the dog to find position is best, but luring into position may give you faster results.
The following is not as detailed as the description for left and right side heel positions because the fundamentals are the same, that is, take a long time for the dog to understand the position and build on it bit by bit. Don’t shortcut any steps.
If you have spent a huge amount of time on left and right side heel positions, these are what the dog will offer when you initially start teaching a new position.
If possible, free shape as much as you can. Ideally have the dog pivot himself into each of the following positions.
The following video clips all show luring the dog into position. To develop each position:
· Train one position at a time.
· Move around the pot for the dog to find the position. ***
· Fade the lure.
· Get the dog moving fluently in position in both directions around the perch.
· Put your cue on the behavior.
· Fade the pivot platform.
· Move in different directions.
· Add duration.
*** Be careful when moving backwards around the pot. You don’t want to fall over, and you need to maintain your correct position to enable the dog
to find his correct position.
Disclaimer: The term “heel positions” is used loosely to mean some part of your body that the dog targets with a part of his body and as you move
in various directions the dog maintains position.
Not all positions are recognized as “heel” positions in organizations that do Heel-work To Music.
1 left-to left
This teaches the dog to put himself into the heel-reversed position. This is similar to 'heel', but in reverse.
Stand with your left foot against the pot, same as for left hand heel position.
When the dog is on the pot his front paws are in line with your feet.
If you have been working on left hand heel position on the pivot platform the dog will most likely offer that. Using a food lure turn the dog’s head to his right so that the back legs pivot clockwise. When the dog is in correct position click then treat. If you can get the dog’s left shoulder to make contact with your left leg, even better. This gives the dog clear information of what you want.
When you teat, offer the treat from behind you, because you don’t want the dog to get off the platform to get the treat or to lean back so that he can see where the treat is coming from.
If you have a large dog he may have a tendency to “wrap” himself around you instead of being “parallel” to you. “Wrap” refers to having the dog’s hips in front of you while the head is looking behind your back if that is where the treats are coming from. When this happens try to not click this. Adjust the back legs so that the dog is in correct position for clicking.
Left-to Left
Left-to Left with wrap
2 Right-to left
This teaches the dog to put himself into heel position.
Stand with your left foot against the pot.
When the dog is on the pot his front paws are in line with your feet.
Once the dog understands how to place himself into this position, inch your way forwards around the pot. The dog will adjust his front paws to remain balanced on the pot and pivot his back feet to maintain position.
Teaching this position is described in detail on the
teaching position using a pivot platform heel position page.
3 Left-to front
“Centred” means the handler’s feet are aligned in the middle of the dog’s body between his front and back legs. This centred alignment looks best for freestyle.
Place your feet so that the little toe of your left foot is the part of your feet that is closest to the perch. For a large dog you will not be up against the perch.
Give the dog plenty of room to stand comfortably on the perch in front of you.
Your feet need to be centered between his front and back legs.
(a)… use a food lure to turn his head to pivot his back legs into position or….
(b)… free shape the position by allowing the dog to pivot clockwise around the perch and step into his path so he can contact your front.
Click when the left side of his body makes contact with the front of you.
Left-to Front
Front view of feet
Left-to Front
Rear view of feet
Left-to Front Front View
Left-to Front
4 right-to front
“Centred” means the handler’s feet are aligned in the middle of the dog’s body between his front and back legs. This centred alignment looks best for freestyle.
Place your feet so that the little toe of your right foot is the part of your feet that is closest to the perch. For a large dog you will not be up against the perch.
Give the dog plenty of room to stand comfortably on the perch in front of you.
Your feet need to be centered between his front and back legs.
(a)… use a food lure to turn his head to pivot his back legs into position or….
(b)… free shape the position by allowing the dog to pivot counter clockwise around the perch and step into his path so he can contact your front.
Click when the right side of his body makes contact with the front of you.
Right-to Front
Front view of feet
Right-to Front
Rear view of feet
Right-to Front
Right side view
Right-to Front
5 left-to back
The important point with this position, is to place yourself such that when the dog is squarely on the pot the left side of his body can comfortably make contact with the back of your legs
left-to Back Front View
Left-to Back Rear View
The pot needs to be slightly behind you and to your right so that your right heel is the part of your feet that is closest to the pot. If your right heel is touching the pot there may not be enough room for the dog to comfortably stand on it.
If free shaping the dog to pivot into position is taking too long, you can use a lure to turn the head such that the back legs pivot into position.
As the dog’s left side makes contact with the back of your legs, click, then treat.
Take a small step to your right around the pot and turn away from the dog to break the contact so that the dog has to find the correct position. Be sure to maintain correct position in relation to the pot.
Left-to Back
6 Right-to back
With this position, place yourself such that when the dog is squarely on the pot the right side of his body can comfortably make contact with the back of your legs.
Right-to Back Left Side View
Right-to Back Right Side View
The pot needs to be slightly behind you and to your left so that your left heel is the part of your feet that is the closest to the pot. If your left heel is touching the pot there may not be enough room for the dog to comfortably stand on it.
If free shaping the dog to pivot into position is taking too long, you can use a lure to turn the head such that the back legs pivot into position.
As the dog’s right side makes contact with the back of your legs, click, then treat.
Take a small step to your left around the pot and turn away from the dog to break the contact so that the dog has to find the correct position. Be sure to maintain correct position in relation to the pot.
Right-to Back
7 left-to right
This teaches the dog to put himself into the normal left side heel position.
Teaching this position is described in detail on the
teaching position using a pivot platform heel position page.
8 right-to right
This teaches the dog to put himself into the side-reversed position. This is similar to 'side', but in reverse.
As for right side heel position, place the right side of your right foot next to the pot so that when the dog is on the pot his front paws are in line with your feet.
If the dog offers right side heel position using a food lure turn the dog’s head to his left so that the back legs pivot counter clockwise. When the dog is in correct position click then treat. If you can get the dog’s right shoulder to make contact with your right leg, even better. This gives the dog clear information of what you want.
Leave enough room between your feet and the pot so that the dog can comfortably stand on the pot and touch his right side to your right side.
Initially move in small steps backwards around the perch moving away from the dog so he has to pivot his back legs CCW to find and maintain position.
If free shaping to pivot into this position is taking too long you can help him by turning his head so that the back legs will pivot him into the correct position.
Right-to Right
Turning head for position
Right-to Right
Moving around platform
Face-to Back
This position is tricky to free shape on the pivot platform.
You need a mirror to see what to click.
To assist the dog you can set up the environment with an x-pen, or chute, to guide the dog to come straight into position and stand behind you.
You still need to toss treats to reset the dog.
In this picture the dog is not standing straight, mainly because the handler is too close to the pivot platform thereby not giving the dog enough room to stand comfortably facing the back of the handler, hence the dog’s head is slightly to one side.
If the dog won’t stand straight, the sides of the x-pen, or chute, need to be narrowed to get the dog into correct position.
As the dog learns the position, you can widen the sides of the x-pen and eventually take it away.
Add the cue when the dog will always come in straight.
Eventually remove the pivot platform and cue the dog on the flat.
If he comes in from any angle and will stand straight, he understands the position. If not, more training is required on position.
