Hi I'm new here and would like to know what a german turn is. Heard it being bantered about in dog traning.
thanks
mitch

It is a term used in agility: 

270° - A turn over a series of jumps made to the left or right through 270° such that the eventual exit direction from the jumps will actually be to the right or left. Also known as a German turn.

Learn something every day - thought it was a BIRD :)

There's also the German Left about turn

Basically this is were the handler turns left & the dog goes right instead of both handler & dog turning tthe same way. I think it would get penalized in competition, but looks good in demonstrations

And then there is what some people call the German Finish but I can never remember whether this is the go round behind (right) or the twist and sit (left)

Its the heel to the left one

it is useful to teach both tho'

in obedience,english finish goes present front,around the back to your side. & the german/continental finish,is present then dog moves back legs so it swivels to left hand side. most people prefer this as in english finish the dog is out of sight for some of it!

When did this continental finish start to become popular? I have very little interest in competition obedience, but to the outsider this particular finish looks very awkward and ugly. The finish where the dog goes round the back of the handlers appears much more smooth and professional.
:)

HI JG

When the dog does a smooth swing (without hitting handler in the face) it looks very smart as it is done in one movement.  I do teach both though as it helps prevent anticipation

As I say, I know nothing about the technicalities of it, but from what I saw of the obedience competition at Crufts, the 'old-fashioned' finish was much more attractive to watch.
Just an 'outsider's' opinion!
:)

i think its easier to get a straight sit with the german,with the english the dog sometimes ends up sitting well behind. i mainley prefer it though as i can keep my eyes on the little blighters!

It is easier for smaller breeds like Border Collies & means that there is less chance of the dog losing points for going wide behind.

It has to be taught correctly though. My dogs seem to prefer the left heel as they don't lose sight of my face as my current dogs are both face watchers

As for recent I taught my first BC to do this as recently as 1970 ;) so I suppose it is fairly recent given I started training in 1958

The continental finish also isn't very good for the big dogs to do!  I prefer mine to go round the back.  It looks so much nicer!

The german about turn is used in Schutzhund; instead of turning right and your dog coming around your left hand side you turn left and the dog comes round you.  You cannot use it as an alternative to the "regular" about turn in obedience or WT competitions though in the UK.

Well it's not in the obedience rules n regs hat it can't be used, but I would think it would be penalized tho'