The About Turn Footwork - Obedience Heeling
The about turn is done in all obedience heeling exercises and is problematic for many dogs and handlers. As the about turn is executed dogs often loose focus and lag or swing wide. Both of these faults cost dog/handler team points. The amount of points deducted depends on the severity of the fault.
To avoid deductions the handler must perfect the footwork for the about turn. Good footwork makes the heeling not only smoother but helps the dog to perform this heeling turn easily.
The handlers footwork and body movement must become second nature when heeling before we can expect to perform a properly executed about turn where the dog and handler turn smoothly as a team. This means that the footwork must be practiced by the handler before doing it with the dog. And then practiced with the dog.
Also note, your dog must be paying attention when executing the about turn.
If your footwork is wide, this will cause the dog to get behind and lag. Dogs that have not learned how to do a tight turn often go wide. See the videos on using FitPaws discs to help teach the dog how to do tight turns.
Good footwork can make your heeling much smoother!
Heeling Footwork
Step 1: As you are heeling at a brisk pace you will step out on your right foot placing it in the 2’oclock position
Step 2: put your left foot in a T position with your right
Step 3: put your right foot heel to heel with your left.
Step 4: Take a half step with your right foot as you complete the turn allowing the dg an extra second to catch up with you since they must take extra steps being on the outside of the turn. This helps to avoid the lag often seen in the about turn. Then GO.
To avoid deductions the handler must perfect the footwork for the about turn. Good footwork makes the heeling not only smoother but helps the dog to perform this heeling turn easily.
The handlers footwork and body movement must become second nature when heeling before we can expect to perform a properly executed about turn where the dog and handler turn smoothly as a team. This means that the footwork must be practiced by the handler before doing it with the dog. And then practiced with the dog.
Also note, your dog must be paying attention when executing the about turn.
If your footwork is wide, this will cause the dog to get behind and lag. Dogs that have not learned how to do a tight turn often go wide. See the videos on using FitPaws discs to help teach the dog how to do tight turns.
Good footwork can make your heeling much smoother!
Heeling Footwork
Step 1: As you are heeling at a brisk pace you will step out on your right foot placing it in the 2’oclock position
Step 2: put your left foot in a T position with your right
Step 3: put your right foot heel to heel with your left.
Step 4: Take a half step with your right foot as you complete the turn allowing the dg an extra second to catch up with you since they must take extra steps being on the outside of the turn. This helps to avoid the lag often seen in the about turn. Then GO.
