Ellie got her first Obedience First at a companion show today, out of 8 dogs!! I was thrilled to bits, and astounded, as she hadn't done her sitting at heel at all well, so I hadn't even expected a place! She also got 4th of 7 in the next class up, which included doing her newly learned retrieve. I failed to throw it far enough in spite of 2 attempts and the judge had to kick it away, but she fetched it back beautifully!!

Just one question - when you leave the dog for the recall, I always used to turn right when I faced them. But last show I went to, the judge said the dog had come back crooked, and my friend said it was because I had turned right, and if I turned left, the dog would be in line, as I had left her on my left. This made sense to me and I tried it today, but was told that the turn should always be to the right if not stated otherwise. If so, how do you get in line with your dog? Shuffle after turning and before calling? Or walk slanting left as you leave her, so that when you turn right you are opposite again??

First mega congrats on the 1st & the 4th The 1st steps on the obedience ladder

In the recall as in all the exercises you have to follow the Ring Steward's(& in some cases the Judge's) instructions So if the instruction is Halt- About Turn that is what you do & about turn is turning to the right 180 degrees. BTW) there is nothing to stop you lining yourself up with your dog as you turn-well at least not when I judge ;) It helps it you practice walking straight lines without your dog by focusing on something & walking towards it, doing it on sand between two posts & then objects further apart. It helps you walk straight in the heelwork too, you would be surprised the number of more experienced handlers who cannot walk straight in the higher classes

TBH if I am judging Novice or a lower class I ask for the instruction to be Halt-Turn & Face Your Dog. This allows the handler to choose & if they turn left they don't get marked for it. there's enough to remember when you are just starting out. Most judges I suspect will want an about turn(ie turn to the right) so you do have to listen to the instructions. I always have a copy of the round on my table so the handlers are left in no doubt as to what has been set as the test

Edited to add I practice lots of slightly angled recalls as I'm one of the world's worse for walking absolutely straight without my dog :D

The recalls in the higher classes are totally different of course

Congratulations Lucy :D

I have always turned left about when leaving my dog and turning to face her, never thought about it until you brought it up, never been docked for it either.

I do lots of angled recalls too, especially helpful if you can't throw the retreive article in a straight line. :D  I always try and throw it slightly to the left as the dog does a right turn on picking it up, that way she is straighter when she returns to me.

I was judging in a ring next to a Pre B's the other week & anyone who did a left about got docked LOL I just had lots of 'B' handlers who couldn't walk straight !!

Well done!!!

The first time I did an obedience show other than at a companion show I lost half a point for turning left instead of right when told to do about turn for the recall. Before then I never knew it mattered. I played hell with the instructor at the training club next time LOL.

Thanks all! There's just so much to remember in obedience! In breed as long as you keep the dog between you and the judge that's about it really (well, and get the dog to stand, don't let it bite the judge etc! ) We got docked loads 2 weeks ago for her sitting over on a hip instead of dead straight on her bum too - no idea that was a fault either!!

Huge Congrats to you both :-)

A good day was had, well done!!