Clean Run - April 2018 - 28

PRACTICALLY TRAINING:
Turn Cues-
Pull

This month we will explore the good, oldfashioned pull cue that everyone knows
and loves. I strongly encourage all handlers
to have a reliable pull cue. I consider it one
of my "big three" turn cues along with the
front cross and rear cross. Spend your time
perfecting these three turn cues and the
agility world is your oyster.
The pull turn cue is simply rotating away
from the dog and having the dog come
with you. There is no change of handler
side for the dog; he remains on the side
he started on. While the pull seems simple
enough, it is still a cue that we need precise criteria for. I encourage you to examine your current rules for your dog's pull
cue. If your dog could ask you some questions about this pull cue of yours, it might
sound something like this... Dog clears
his throat in an "ahem" fashion and begins:
"Well, thank you for finally asking for my
input; and yes, I do have several questions
about this darn pull cue:

* If you are pulling your shoulders one
way while you are running
another way am I supposed to travel
in the direction you are
moving or turn?
* How tight am I supposed to turn
when I see you start the cue?
* Just how far behind me do you
expect you can be and still have me
notice you have given a pull cue?"
If we answer these questions for your
dog, we will have a nice criteria list for
the pull cue.

What Does the Pull Cue Look Like?
Pull cues can look very different, depending on how tightly you need the

* Is this pull cue going to be given
with your feet or your shoulders
or both?
* If I'm supposed to stay out when
your arm is up and I'm supposed
to turn into you tightly when I get
a pull cue, what do I do when you
are giving the pull cue with your
arm out?
* How am I supposed to turn tightly
when I'm running as fast as I can and
then I get the cue late?
28

By Sandy Rogers, photos by
Laura Tsuk except where noted

dog to turn. You may need a pull cue
to keep your dog very close to you in
order to create a tight turn; this type of
pull is often called a "wrap" or a "post
turn." You may also use a pull cue when
you need your dog to go out and pick
up jumps on his own, like when you
are faced with a pinwheel or a 180 or
270 configuration.
For years I focused on doing pulls with
my shoulders, like the "I'm an airplane"
game we all played as kids, except
with my arms down by my side. Some
of my dogs could manage okay with it,
but some did not. Brink really hated it.
He expected super-clear cues and had
a barking meltdown if he did not get
them. He could not tolerate one half
of my body going one way and the
other half going the other. He needed
the top of my body (my shoulders) to
go the same way as the bottom of my
body (my hips and feet).
As a result I began to do my pull cues
with my feet, keeping my hips and
shoulders aligned and turning my entire body instead of just my shoulders.
In other words, doing the pull by taking
steps in a circle. This foot work is shown
in great detail in my Feet First DVD.

This handler's position is correct for both a 180
(dog takes both jumps) and for a "wrap" or "post turn"
pull cue (dog only takes the ﬁrst jump, turning tightly).
Her dog knows she wants the 180 (both jumps)
because she did not cue strong collection as her dog
approached the ﬁrst jump and her arm is raised
to indicate the second jump.

Brink also taught me to stand up
straight when I was giving the pull cue.
I learned bending forward was the
same as taking another step forward
and it would push him out instead of
pulling him in.
Clean Run | April 18

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - April 2018