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Lesson Six - Finish
THE COMMAND—HEEL
The Sign—With
his left hand the guide slaps the side of his left leg.
Recognizing this sign, the dog approaches his guide, sits in front of
him; and at the command and sign HEEL,
the dog swings around to the
guide's left side and finishes in the original sitting position.
One of the snappiest of all lessons, this invariably attracts the
attention of the spectator. A dog which thoroughly understands the
meaning of the word HEEL
should have no difficulty with this exercise
because, no matter where he happens to be, the moment he hears the
command HEEL, he will eagerly
run to his guide and sit at his side.
The dog is in sitting position in front of the guide. Now, from this
spot the command HEEL may
confuse him for the simple reason that he has
not yet learned how to get to the guide's left side, in the sitting
position. Some dogs will walk around the guide as if looking for the
proper landing place. Thus the purpose of this lesson is to teach
the dog how to accomplish the turn gracefully by swinging himself into
position instead of by walking clear around the guide.
Begin with the dog leashed and sitting at the guide's left side.
Issuing the command STAY, step
about two feet in front of the dog,
facing him. Change the leash to the right hand, holding it about two
feet from the collar or other distance rendered convenient according to
the dog's particular size. Giving both command and sign HEEL, grasp the
leash with the left hand close up to the right hand. Slide the left
hand along the leash quickly toward the dog. Repeat the command HEEL
and swing the dog around to the left in a sharp sort of circle bringing
him to the left side with the command SIT. The guide should then
straighten up and stand erect. Thus both guide and dog are in correct
position. Throughout this procedure the guide must not move his feet or
change his position in any way.
CAUTION—This
exercise ought not to be executed too slowly. Do not catch
hold of the leash with the left hand too near the collar. Remember to
start close to the right hand and slide the left hand along the leash
toward the collar. Hold the leash in the right hand in such a manner
that hand and collar are not more than two feet apart, for this would
tend to bring the dog too far away from the guide facing him. It would
then be necessary for the guide to step out of position in order to
adjust himself to
the dog, resulting in an awkward, clumsy execution of the exercise.
This lesson, however, should entail no special difficulties if careful
attention is paid to the rules, and full consideration given to the
above explanation under caution.
FINISH
1. At
the command Reel, the left hand gives the sign.
2.
Starting close
up to the right hand, the left hand slides down toward the collar.
3.
Under Heel, the left hand then brings the dog around in a short circle
to—
4. the
guide's left side. The guide commands Sit.
5. The
guide
straightens up as the dog assumes the correct position.
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