Hi All
As you have been so helpful with my other questions i have another for you. I am in the process of training my shepherd pup, at class we have been taught to end the recall with a 'finish' command where pup recalls to the front of you in a sit , then goes behind you from the right hand side and ends up in a sit on the left hand side, i have been practicising this and Breeze is very good. However last night i went to watch a gsd specific training club and they taught it completely differently, the recall was the same but after that she said 'heel' and the dog didn't go behind her it just went straight to the left and turned round to facing the right way in a heel position.

When i was chatting to the trainer at the end of the session i showed her how i had been doing it, i was explaining that eventually i would like to compete in obedience with pup and she said that i had been taught the wrong way and that i had to retrain it as it would lose me marks if i competed.

So, have i been doing it wrong??? its no big deal if i have as i will simply just retrain it but i am not sure.
Hope that all makes sense, thanks in advance

not much help but ive always used the way that you've been taught, but my training class is a small informal one. we dont compete to competitive level so not sure if its right or wrong then.

I have never competed in obedience but was taught by someone who had and was taught both ways I think its whatever way you feel comfortable with, certainly watching the obedience at crufts they do it both ways.

Thanks Suzi , i have just been watching some obedience videos on you tube and have seen it done both ways so maybe its a personal preference thing?? I am sure there are some trainers on here that can enlighten me.

Thanks Clairey, thats what i was beginning to think too, can't decide which way is easier yet though ;-)

> So, have i been doing it wrong??? its no big deal if i have as i will simply just retrain it but i am not sure.

Both are correct & allowable under KC rules. The left finish originates from Germany & can be "more tidy"if  taught carefully & correctly. I personally teach both, however I never train it as part of the recall or retrieve or scent. I train it was a totally separate exercise.

If you intend to do competitive obedience, it's best to train all exercises broken down into the"constituent parts"

Thats great , thank you Moonmaiden . Yes i am teaching it seperately just tagging it on to the recall at the mo but i understand what you mean. Any tips on making it look tidier( both ways)? At the mo i am luring her behind me then getting her to sit on my left, is that correct or should she be standing on my left??

I am keen to get it right and make it as easier as poss for her as she is still so young.

I would teach this as a"static"exercise.

Lure her into a close present position, step back on your right leg & at the same time lure her forward & slightly to the right so she starts to go round behind you. Swap the lure into your left hand behind your back & step forward on your right leg so that your feet are back the start position, lure her into the sitting heel position & reward her as soon as she sits.

I would not tag this on to the end of any exercise. Instead after the present you do an about turn so that you are standing on your dogs right side(your dog will then be in the heel position)doing this way reduces the possibility of teaching your dog to anticipate going to heel.

To teach the"German"or left heel. it is basically the opposite.

With your dog in the present position. Step back on your left leg & lure your dog forward & slightly to the left. Then step forward to your start position & lure your dog into the heel position. You do need to teach your your to do quite a "tight" left about turn before teaching the left heel.

Like all turns the left about turn should be taught as a stand alone static position

The above is of course just my way of teaching the heel exercise

That was a brilliant explanation moonmaiden, even I understood it and I am terrible at getting my lefts and my rights confused, my poor dog will never get far in obedience with me

LOLOLOLOL

I compete in obedience and you can do whatever finish you want to. All my dogs have learnt both types of finish.