Hi all,

Could you tell me when competing in handling classes, when swaping hands do you pass the dog behind you or in front of you?.

Thanking You
Doggys4ever

I always consider that the dog should be between you and the judge at all times so it would depend on just where abouts you change hands. Figure eights are possibly the most difficult, some are behind and some are in front! Had this debate in class the other week. Try plotting it out on a piece of paper and you will see what I mean.

John

I agree totally with you John.

In Junior Handling competitions the golden rule is that you should never come between your dog and the judge and it depends, what pattern you are performing and whereabouts the judge is standing as to where you change hands.

Both ways, either behind or in front can be achieved very fluidly with practice.

Although I do agree with Sierra, in breed classes and dependent on the abilities and conformation of the dog being handled, sometimes it is necessary to break this rule. Handling classes are a very different kettle of fish. They are aimed at proving to the judge that the handler is capable of keeping control and fluid movement of the dog in all circumstances.

The idea behind this is, I believe, so that anything that needs to be done to improve your dogs chances in the breed ring can be achieved quite automatically, so that all your concentration can be on how your dog looks not on how should I do this or that!!

By the way I speak as a mum who helped train her daughter to the exalted heights of UK Junior Handler of the Year. That same daughter is now handling dogs in breed classes, making up one champion and taking tickets on a number of others, for both myself and other owners.

I agree with you concerning the handling classes. I always taught changing hands; it would take a great exception for me to change hands in the ring, though. As far as Juniors, I've had several that have worked for me over the years, finishing champions of their own and winning group placements, etc. Junior Handling, at least from my point of view, is all on judging the Junior and their ability, hence the demand by Junior judges to see changes of hands, strange gaiting patterns, and situations that we would normally never encounter in the 'normal' class rings. It's good practice for the Juniors there, but if any one of my Juniors ever 'practiced' their junior tricks in the 'big-boys' ring, they'd have been on KP (kennel patrol) instead of helping in the ring for a long time. Just my opinion.

Simple answer is 'in front of you'. But my personal opinion is that, as a junior handling training tool, setting up the ring so that the handler has to switch sides with the dog is a good thing, but that in a normal dog show it indicates to me that the judge doesn't have a lot of experience judging or that he/she has no forethought to the flow of a dog/handler team. Most people cannot easily change hands/sides with the dog and maintain a fluid movement, making the movement then become jerky. Most of the professionals that I know simply continue through the pattern in order not to disrupt the dog's movement or attention on the belief that the judge will see what is necessary in the other parts of the pattern. The T-pattern is most infamous for changing of hands and, if you think about it, the judge will see side movement without the handler changing hands and jeopardizing poor movement by confusing the dog. Just my personal view.