To teach the spin, start with a lure for a few repetitions, then get the treat out of your hand. Next, use your hand as a prompt, turning it into a signal. When your dog is doing well with the hand signal, add the verbal cue. Say the verbal, then give the hand signal, as you want your dog to have time to process the verbal cue. Once the verbal cue and the hand signal have been paired for enough repetitions, the dog will start to connect the two and will offer the spin on the verbal signal.
When you are first teaching these skills, it's best to work one direction at a time. You can also start this in front rather than at your side, if that's easier for you!
In this video, I start with the lure, then go to a hand prompt, then add the verbal cue, all before I put it into heel. Here are a couple more examples of the early learning stages when I start adding it to heel:
Taking Your Spin into the Master Rally Ring
Because I do the Master rally class, my dogs need to spin in both directions. For clarity and comfort, I use different leg placement for the right spin than I do for the left spin. First it helps the dog to know which direction to turn, but second and more importantly, it gets my leg out of the way and keeps my dog from slamming into my leg on the right spin.
When I do the left spin, which I call twirl, I keep my left leg forward. Notice in this video on the first repetition I had my leg back, which felt odd to me! I forgot to switch legs when I switched directions!
On the right spin, which I call spin, my left leg is back. This gives Strive room to start the spin without slamming into my leg. I do have to be a bit careful as I'm moving my left leg forward since she's a big dog, but it's more comfortable for both of us to do it this way.
Need to Customize? That's Okay!!
You might find that it's better for your dog if you mix this up, and that's fine. The important thing is that you are consistent with your body cues! Play around with your leg placement and see what your dog likes best!
I find twirl (left spin) to be extremely useful in all training. It does a great job encouraging and reinforcing the dog for getting the rear end in. Most dogs really enjoy the spin, and adding a little catching up after the spin can help spice things up! Have fun teaching this useful trick!
Nicole Wiebusch started competing in dog sports as a teenager in the 90’s and quickly became addicted to the sport of obedience.
In 2001, she acquired a golden retriever named Tucker who taught her that traditional methods weren’t the best way to a happy confident dog. This realization started her on the journey to positive reinforcement training.
In 2008, Nicole started her own dog training business, Golden Paws Dog Training LLC, and teaches both pet owners and dog sports people dog-friendly training methods. She started taking classes with Fenzi Dog Sports Academy in 2013 and actively competes in a variety of performance events with her three golden retrievers.
Nicole’s golden retriever Toby UDX2 OM3 RAE was retired due to physical problems just 30 points shy of finishing his OTCH. Her current competition dog Strive has earned her UD and is working on her UDX. Toby and Strive both have multiple High in Trials in Obedience and High Combineds in both Obedience and Rally. Nicole’s dogs also hold advanced Agility and Rally titles, as well as hunting, dock diving, and TEAM titles.
In addition to operating Golden Paws Dog Training, Nicole is a field dog trainer for a service dog organization, a Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog Evaluator, a Professional Member of the APDT, an instructor for the Fenzi Pet Professionals Program, a TEAM judge, and has earned the Obedience/Rally/Freestyle Trainer’s Certificate from FDSA.
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