[fogebotom]

Sort of. I turn towards my dog(it is on my left in the heel position), then use my right hand to hold the leash and the treat, my left hand for the belly lift.Leave a little slack in the leash so that you aren't pulling the dog, but giving a slight suggestion to move forward as you get towards the dog's nose. Again, tempting them with the treat so it seems more like their idea then you forcing them to do it.

In Utility the hand signals are such. Sit is the done with the left hand-bend it at the elbow and make sure that the palm of your hand will be facing you. Pretend like you are holding a cotton ball in the crotch of your elbow after getting some blood taken :0) Down is done with the right hand in either a windmill motion of the complete arm-going backwards, coming up over the shoulder, palm facing the dog then down towards the ground. The other one is to take the right arm and place it straight up in the air again, palm facing the dog. Come is the right arm, in a sideways sweeping motion similar to pulling the dog in to you, arm ends up bent at the elbow, across your chest, palm facing your chest. Let's see-heel or swing is done with an outward sweeping motion, either right or left hand, depending on the direction that the dog is to go. I keep my hands at my side, the slightly sweep them to the right or left indicating to the dog the direction I want them to go. My collie, Claire is such a pro at a military finish, that I just take my right finger and wiggle it once and she bust her butt to the heel position. I even had her doing it with a shoulder shrug at one time.

Part of the reason to do the upward arm signal in utility is that the dog, who is in front of you and quite aways away from you, can see the signals.

Now if I am standing by the dog, down is with my right hand, and the palm faces the floor and I use a downward motion-sometimes I have to cross over in front of myself with my arm and bend slightly. Sit is the same way as the utility signal, bend left arm at the elbow, palm towards the person. Stand is a sweeping forward motion with the left arm, hand runs along the dogs face and goes slightly in front of the dog. Stay is the left hand, right in front of the dog's nose, palm facing the dog, fingers pointing down. Notice, it's not over the head or eyes, you do it right in front of their nose to indicate not to move any further.

Clear as mud????

Cindy and da'crew