The Agility Spotlight was one of the first agility publications and a very nice one, however it is no longer published. Below is an article from the column "Jump into Agility" that was maintained for them while the magazine was in circulation. This article is from Vol. 1 * Issue 3 * May/June 1996.

The article is in graphic form and depending upon your connection speed your loading time will vary. The article is titled "Which Way Do I Go?" and covers the topic of directional training. Thank you for your patience while it loads.

I have used right and left for a couple of years. I know my older dog understands the commands because she has followed the order when I've given it at the wrong time!  :-)
I'm not sure if my younger dog understands them yet. As in anything, repetition is the key.

When I first started using right/left we had set up a jump square. Just four jumps placed so the dog's path is a simple circle. Then you run the dog in one direction around the circle saying "right jump, right jump, right jump . . ." You will probably get dizzy before the dog gets tired. Then you do the circle the other way saying (obviously) "left jump".
I think we started with a very wide circle and gradually shrank it for tighter turns.

There have been a few times on a course when I have seriously thought a right/left command worked better than here/out. But it doesn't solve every problem. If you decide to use right/left be sure to do it from the dog's perspective, not your own. Some people find that difficult to do. Good luck. Debby Funk

© 1996 Katie Greer. No portion of the material presented here may be copied or reprinted, in part or in whole, without expressed written permission.