Schutzhund LEFT ABOUT TURNS? - Page 2

No probs.  Did you notice the signal with the body language?

Whether you do the FCI about or the German about, the main thing is as a team, we and our dogs must  appear very fluid and precise. A big part of the responsibility for that falls on the handler to first learn to have quiet hands and feet, (instead of fumbling with our hands, swinging our arms differently,  inadvertently changing the length of our stride, etc.).   Practice without your dog, learn exactly how to do the turn, practice switching  the leash in your hands,  practice how you will move your feet in the turn, so that you learn to do it the exact same way every time, and also so that there is no wasted movements in your hands, your feet, even your body.  Remember our dogs are masters at reading us, they  study everything about us, the smallest of regular movements becomes a cue to our dogs, so it's important that we help them by telegraphing the same and very clear message every time.   Dogs can understand and read the smile on our face, the widening of our eyes,  even that can become an important cue to bring up drives, and reward the dog. 

The reason I mentioned this is it because with my dog I first taught him the FCI about turn.  I later switched to the German about.  To this day, my dog will do whichever I want, I do both when practicing to spice  things up, and keep him guessing.  Your question made me run my actions over in my mind a few times to figure out exactly what it is that I do differently that telegraphs to the dog which turn I want him to do, since he obviously can't read my mind.  I realized that when I do the FCI turn, I slightly dip my head..............or not so slightly depending on who you ask (me or the dog  and my coach  ).  So to your original question regarding a left turn as opposed to an about turn, I don't find there is a reason to cue my dog for either, other than what I am sure I do subconsciously and other than the way  I will deliberately cue with my eyes.  This is also why it's so good to train with a buddy.  This way we take turns watching each other and telling each other about all the spastic and bizarre moves we don't realize we are doing when working our dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this is actually one of the easier things to do once you coordinate your movements.  It's almost like the learning to drive a stick shift, LOL, it's all timing and coordination.  When you get it, so does the dog. 

Sue, you made me laugh describing bizarre movements, isn't it the truth?