Direction of Movement
At any time the handler and dog can be moving in the same direction or in different directions, side-by-side or at distance.
The following describes simple movements, with the dog and handler moving together, that is, not separated by distance. For heelwork the dog should maintain precision of position.
Sideways movement is movement laterally to the left or the right. Also called side-pass left and side-pass right respectively.
To Pivot means to turn on a point.
Dogs can pivot their
... back feet around their front feet (the point). The front feet move only to adjust balance;
... front feet around their back feet (the point). The back feet move only to adjust balance.
Handlers turn either clockwise or anti-clockwise on the spot.
Position/
Orientation
Schematic
Direction of Movement
Heel
Orientation Right-to left
Common cue: "Heel"
Handler and dog move forwards.
Handler and dog move sideways left.
Handler and dog move sideways right.
Handler and dog move backwards.
Handler turns in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Heel Reversed
Orientation Left-to Left
Suggested cue: "Meet"
Handler moves forwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Side
Orientation Left-to right
Common cue: "Side"
Handler and dog move forwards.
Handler and dog move sideways left.
Handler and dog move sideways right.
Handler and dog move backwards.
Handler turns in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Side Reversed
Orientation Right-to right
Suggested cue: "Team"
Handler moves forwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Front
Orientation Face-to front
Common cue: "Front"
Handler moves forwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots left.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots right.
Front Reversed
Orientation Back-to front
Suggested cue: "Ahead"
Handler moves forwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots right.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots left.
Front, right-to
Orientation Right-to front
Suggested cue: "File" (Pro file)
Handler moves forwards, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves back.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Front, left-to
Orientation Left-to front
Suggested cue: "Pro" (Pro file)
Handler moves forwards, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Rear
Orientation Face-to back
Suggested cue: "Behind, Follow"
Handler moves forwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots left.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots right.
Rear Reversed
Orientation Back-to back
Suggested cue: "Tail, BB"
(BB - pronounced BeeBee)
Handler moves forwards, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots right.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog pivots left.
Rear, right-to
Orientation Right-to back
Suggested cue: "Ter" (Af ter)
Handler moves forwards, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves backwards.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Rear, left-to
Orientation Left-to back
Suggested cue: "Aft" (Aft er)
Handler moves forwards, dog moves sideways left.
Handler moves sideways left, dog moves back.
Handler moves sideways right, dog moves forwards.
Handler moves backwards, dog moves sideways right.
Handler moves in a clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves backwards.
Handler turns in an anti-clockwise circle on the spot, dog moves forwards.