A general change from the "focus" healing-

[Skip]

I was glad to hear from my training director's wife today that more and more of the german schH judges are getting away from looking for "focus" heeling (staring up at the handler's face). A lot of them (or so I've been told) didn't want to see it in the protection phase anyway, since the dog should be watching the helper in that phase. German judge Chritian Bole specically stated recently that he wants to see an attentive dog in the heel position, and will give full points for heeling whether the dog is looking at the handler or not. I always thought this "focus heeling" looked odd to me, and I never trained for it.

[jazzking1971]

I got my BH recently and we talked about the same thing. I hadn't done a lick of OB for 6wks before the trial (minus a short session before we took the field and the day before) and was worried but I figured I had already paid my money so why not.

The attention heeling wasn't where it was a weeks before and the judge remarked that it was nice I didn't train him like the other guys...LOL but I did and I thought it was going to be an issue. Oh well... schH1 here we come!

I used to think focus heeling was weird and then got used to it and thought it was cool.

[cerulean]

Very interesting , Skip, thanks for posting.

[jazzking1971]

The judge told me the dog is paying attention enough if he sits when I stop, turns when I turn, lays downs when I tell him.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by jazzking1971

I got my BH recently and we talked about the same thing. I hadn't done a lick of OB for 6wks before the trial (minus a short session before we took the field and the day before) and was worried but I figured I had already paid my money so why not.

thats nice !!!! did you trial in your region????

[spidey]

I'm glad to hear this as well - focus heeling looks painful and awkward and affects the dog's gait and neck movement. Dogs have peripheral vision, there's no reason not to allow them to use it.

[Obelix]

The over-acted stare at the handlers face has never been a big issiue here.As someone said:when your dog is paying attention and follows in a way that the attention is showed(keeping up with differences in speed,turns ..etc) it's fine.What lately more is looked at is the way the dog behaves while following.Is he willing to work? Does he like the work ? A dog that's working under very strong pressure(and/ or compulsion) can earn a lot of points in a trial but the general attide is going the way of the happy (relaxed) working dog.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by spidey

I'm glad to hear this as well - focus heeling looks painful and awkward and affects the dog's gait and neck movement. Dogs have peripheral vision, there's no reason not to allow them to use it.

although 1 judge might like to see it changed i certainly wouldnt say there was a move away from it and the other 99 % of judges are gonna bang you on points big time.

[debbiej]

I think that is good. agree that it looks kind of strained and not very dignified.

[Rottlva]

I for one am totally for attention heeling. I find as I am heeling, my dog is watching my hip and shoulder movements, therefore really has to have his head up. When the dog is watching you, it is very much focused on you, as opposed to the dog with his head in normal position which may be watching other things.

That being said, I completely understand the reasoning for non head up heeling in the protection portion of schutzhund. But, since I do AKC, and plan on whipping some bordercollie/ golden butts with super flashy heeling, we have to have our head up!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by lblax

although 1 judge might like to see it changed i certainly wouldnt say there was a move away from it and the other 99 % of judges are gonna bang you on points big time.

I'm hearing a lot more than just 1 are going that way, but I'll confirm some names when I get them. I don't at all think that 99% are gonna bang me big time on the points. It states NOWHERE in the rules that the dog should maintain consistent eye contact like that.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by Skip

I'm hearing a lot more than just 1 are going that way, but I'll confirm some names when I get them. I don't at all think that 99% are gonna bang me big time on the points. It states NOWHERE in the rules that the dog should maintain consistent eye contact like that.

the thing is in a rott club trial you probabl wont get hit on it but in a usa trial you more than likely will.

[debbiej]

heads up, yes, but what about wrapped around the left leg?

[frontierrots]

wrapped is a huge no no in AKC BUT overseas wrapped is preferred or was the last time I watched a National level trial that had judge comments audible

[Rottlva]

Actually many people are trying to get away from wrapped around the leg as the dog is actually forged. The wrapped around also causes alot of bumps on left turns, figure eights etc...Super ideal in my book is the dogs nose looking up right around the seam of my pants, or just a smidge ahead of that.