There are 3 types of ABOUT TURNS in dog training. Certain sports require that you use a certain turn. RALLY uses all three in courses. These turns are:
The RIGHT ABOUT TURN - While walking or heeling with your dog, repeat the command and turn 180 degrees to the right keeping your dog on your left side. You should now be walking in the direction you just came from. If you are doing AKC obedience competition, the judge will say ABOUT TURN and this is the turn you’ll make. This is a follow up to the right turn except that you go 180 degrees instead of 90 degrees.
The LEFT U TURN - While walking or heeling with your dog, use the command that you use for a left turn (back, get it back, etc.) and turn left into the dog, keeping him on your left side. He is on the inside of the U that you are making by turning 180 degrees. You should now be walking in the direction that you just came from. This is a follow up to the left turn except that you go 180 degrees instead of 90 degrees.
The LEFT ABOUT TURN – While walking or heeling your dog, begin to pivot to your left, pass your leash behind your back leading your dog around you and continue forward in heel position. At this time, you are walking in the direction you just came from. Initially, mark and reward the dog as soon as he makes the turn with you and gradually increase the time before the release. After your dog has mastered this move add a command such as “around”. In the beginning, your body motion is much more of a cue than any word you may say. The LEFT ABOUT TURN is the common turn used in Schutzhund even though the LEFT U TURN is acceptable in that sport’s competition.
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So when you’ve mastered the about turns, add a new twist to your training by doing circles. By mixing things up when training, your dog will be more likely to pay attention to you because he doesn’t know what’s coming next. In RALLY, signs may tell you 360 Right or 360 Left so when you make those about turns, keep going until you are back to the same direction you were going. Also in RALLY you will see signs that say 270 Right and 270 Left. When encountering these signs, you turn to the right or left and don’t go in a complete circle but rather ¾ of one.
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As mentioned before, keeping your dog guessing as to what’s happening next will keep him focused on you. You want to be the center of his life and pay attention so as you’re teaching these moves be sure to mark the behavior by saying YES and then rewarding with a treat or toy often. By numerous random rewards your dog will try to do his best anticipating the good things to come!
