Hi all.. not sure if this is in the right category.  I would like to enter my young GSD into obedience next year, what I want to know is when he does a "present" does his body have to be touching mine?  May sound a daft question but when he does his recall, retrieve etc., he comes close to me but his body is not touching mine, as I have seen all the B.C`s do. the reason I ask is when I took him training last week (we had a new trainer) and I mentioned should he be sitting close to me she just said "ultimately" he will.  He is a big dog so it is quite difficult to get him in the position that the collies do.  I entered him in a couple of companion shows this summer and no-one mentioned it then.  Would we lose points if he was not sitting in the correct position.

Mine don't touch me when they come in ..... well one of them sometimes knocks me over when she comes in but thats never the aim :)

I have Malamutes as well as a BC and mine just sit a small way in front - never been docked in the ring for it afaik!

no he dosent have to touch you (some judges dont like them too close anyway) but he will have to be close perferably. how much of a gap is there?

though you prob wont lose too much even if he does sit back abit.

what i wouldnt do is worry about it,as it may slow up his sets, keep them happy & motivated & you wont go far wrong.

if a large dog sat a inch or two away under me (but was straight etc) it wouldnt lose anything,more than 4 inches away & i would mark it. In the lower classes quite lightly 1/4 or 1/2.

i see you are in the south, "through the leg" presents are popular there. dont worry if he wont do that! i dock that harder than sitting alittle back!

Yes many do seem to like them to be touching down here in the South but I would much rather see them nice and straight and just close without quite making contact.

The KC rules are quite clear in that the dog is required to sit in front of the handler therefore the head/legs/chest etc through the handler's legs is incorrect as are dogs that run in & bump the handler & are in contact with the handler This used to be called an "up the jumper"present.

The correct way is for your dog to sit straight in front of you close enough for you to reach the article in retrieve/scent & a similar distance in front for recall

Thanks for all your replies...What a relief .thank Goodness I havent got to retrain him !!  It must be a "South" thing as I have noticed that some dogs are so close that they are almost through their handlers legs!!  Bit awkward with a large breed. LOL

ok, just done a test! just did a recall with Flynn. His head touches me,his nopse is on my belly & he youches me along the under neath of his mouth & neck. his shoulders are milimeters off my legs,
(flynn works ticket)

some southern dogs ARE through the legs,cheast out the other side. i dont like it, & one of the reasons its done is to make sure the dig HAS to sit straight.also i think it makes the finish messier

Some people like it though!!!!

..and can be very painful for men with bigger dogs like Rotties :D :D :D

Daisy

How is the new baby Michelle? :)

wonderful! mad though!

Quite normal then LOLOL ;)