Clean Run Magazine - May 2008 - 18

Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style By Linda Mecklenburg © JT PAWPRINTS Side Cues Last month I began a series featuring the handling system I use with my own dogs and that I teach at Awesome Paws. I gave an overview of six basic cues (motion, shoulders, location, hands, verbal, and eye contact) and described how they are used as direction cues to give the dog information about where to go. This month I will describe how the six basic cues are used as side cues. Side cues give my dog information about where he should be in relation to me. Put simply, side cues tell him which side of my body to be on. Last month I described how six basic cues can each be used as direction cues. Similarly, each of the basic cues can be used as a side cue. When used as direction cues, each basic cue can be used to cue different behaviors, and when used simultaneously, the balance of the cues achieves the desired effect. When used as side cues, each basic cue tends to complement the others and have the same desired effect. The most important side cues are my eye contact, my shoulders, and my hand signals. It is difficult to isolate these three cues when used as side cues, but there is no need to because when used, they naturally coordinate and all cue the same side. While important as direction cues, motion, location, and verbal commands play much less of a role as side cues, although I did include them here for thoroughness. When I recall my dog he should come to my side and face the same direction that I am. Therefore, by cueing my dog to a certain side, I am giving him direction information at the same time. The presentation of my body should always indicate the flow of the course. If so, when I cue my dog to a certain side, particularly on a recall over an obstacle, it allows my dog to predict where he will be going next, and helps him prepare before the obstacle. Motion My line of motion cues my dog to where he should be relative to me, and gives him direction information. In general, he should not cross in front of me, crossing my line of motion, unless cued to do so. If my path converges toward my dog’s, that is a cue for him to turn away. Whether I am ahead of my dog or behind, when our paths meet determines whether he should cross my line of motion and thus whether a side change will occur. For my dog to know the direction he will be going and predict where I will be when our paths converge, I must establish a line of motion in the desired direction early enough for him to read it. If I do not want a change of sides, I must be ahead of my dog before our paths meet. My dog should not cross my line of 18 motion as long as I am ahead of him. If I do want a change of sides, I must be behind my dog when our paths meet. My dog should cross my line of motion if I am behind him. If my path is parallel to my dog’s and I decelerate, that is a cue for him to turn toward me. In this case I expect him to cross in front of me as I have not maintained my line of motion. Although my dog will naturally follow my direction of motion, he does not naturally know whether a side change should occur. This is a learned skill that starts with practicing the basic turns on the flat (particularly push and rear cross) and teaching my dog the difference. (See Push and Rear Cross in “Basic Turns,” February 2008). See Figure 1. Clean Run | May 08

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Clean Run Magazine - May 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - May 2008