canine freestyle moves database
heel work…left about turn
There are two types of left about (180 degree) turns:
1 The Conventional Left About Turn … the handler does a left about turn while the dog does a right about turn behind the handler.
2 The Pivot Left About Turn … both handler and dog pivot left together to achieve the left about turn.
Conventional Left About Turn Teach
Initially handlers have more trouble with this than the dog because of how the lead is handled.
The following description is only for the left heel left about turn. Initially this is taught on lead. The principle can be applied to any heel position.
In the stationary position:
· Have the dog in the left hand heel position and get his attention.
· If the leash is in your left hand, pass the loop of the lead to your right hand.
The remainder of the lead should be hanging in front of you.
· Ask the dog to “wait” (to keep him stationary while you move).
· Without any forward motion, turn left into your dog to face the side of the dog.
The lead will now hang on your right hand side.
· Behind your back, pass the loop of the lead to your left hand.
· Turn left again and take a step forwards.
This now completes your left about turn.
· As you move forward, cue the dog to “heel”.
The dog will do a right about turn behind you and come into heel position.
· Reward
Practice this until both you and the dog have confidence in the move.
Then practice this by taking one step forwards, executing the left about turn and taking another step forwards.
Never allow the dog to lag. If the dog lags you are moving too fast for the dog.
You can get the dog to move faster around you by tossing a treat forwards after the left about turn. Do this in training. Make sure you do not develop the learned behavior of lagging = tossed treat.
Pivot Left About Turn Teach
In canine freestyle this can look very elegant but it has to be smart and precise.
The left-about turn is a sharp, smart 180 degree left turn. It is not a curved U-turn. The handler does not walk in a left curve around the dog. The dog, in heel position, turns with the handler adjusting his body to be square with the handler at all times, thus remaining in heel position throughout the 180 degree turn.
If trialing is a consideration, it is useful to always use the same footwork when executing turns. A suggestion for handlers with big dogs is to turn with the left foot first and for handlers with small dogs to turn with the right foot first. For the small dogs, the right foot turning left cannot step on the dog. Whatever you decide, use consistent footwork in your turns during teaching. This consistency will aid the dog. Practice the footwork without the dog until it is automatic, ie you don’t have to think about it. For canine freestyle, footwork is not important.
A prerequisite for the left about turn is that the dog understands heel position and can do a 90 degree left turn.
Stationary Pivot Left About Turn
Initially the left about turn is taught in the stationary position. It is 2 x 90 degree left turns executed smoothly as one movement.
With the dog in heel position, get his attention and slowly turn left on the spot until you have executed the full 180 degree turn. Ensure with each movement the dog maintains the heel position.
If the dog cannot maintain the heel position, you are moving too fast for the dog. Perhaps return to teaching the heel position to make this behavior more solid.
Over time, as the dog gains confidence in this movement you can increase the speed of the left about turn until you get it to the point you want. Then you are ready to try it on the move.
Moving Pivot Left About Turn
Start slowly and start with one step
Make sure you have the dog’s attention, take one step forward and start executing the pivot left about turn. Make sure the dog is with you all the way. If the dog cannot maintain the heel position reduce your criteria: move slower or go back to teaching heel position and left turns.
As the dog gains confidence in this movement you can execute the one step and the pivot left about turn faster.
Then gradually increase the number of steps you take before executing the left about turn.
Always set the dog up for success.
If at any time the heel work deteriorates, go back a few steps.
Left About Turn Using the Squaring Movement
There is another type of left about turn teach that is not very common.
Here the dog does a left about turn but does not pivot. On the left about turn the dog goes past the handler, does a tight left about turn and ends up in heel position.
This is taught using the “squaring technique”.
Stand with the dog on your left hand side and get the dog’s attention.
Tell the dog to “wait” (just to keep him still while you move)
Step forwards and left about turn 1800 to face the dog.
Place your left leg behind you as far as you can.
Using a hand target lure the dog to move forwards up to your left foot.
Turn the dog in towards you. (This is the dog’s left about turn).
Bring your left foot and dog up to your right foot.
The dog should result in heel position.
Practice this stationary.
When the dog can do this in the stationary position, try one step forward and left about turn.
Allow plenty of time for the dog to learn this movement. Make sure the dog never lags.
To ensure the dog never lags, after executing the left about turn release the dog and toss a treat forwards.
Make sure you do not build the behavior chain of lagging = tossed treat.