[Evan]

Different trainers may call a different drill a push/pull drill. What the Wagon Wheel Lining drill offers is a vehicle to train your dog to move with you; right & left. To turn a dog at heel right or left there are movements a handler uses to facilitate that, which are nicknamed "Push" - stepping up (or forward) on the dog to influence him toward the left if the dog is on the handler's left. Or "Pull" - stepping back on the dog to entice him toward the right in the same circumstance. The drill has multiple bumpers set at close range around a circle to provide a visual target as the dog lines up as desired.

I use a version I call a Four-way drill, which is the same WWLD, but with only 4 bumpers 90 degrees apart to provide larger turns in order to focus on the turns themselves.

Evan

 

[Evan]

based on the response, does anyone think it might be easier to start this with 8 bumpers and promote success with smaller movements, rather than going for the full 90 degrees right out of the gate?

Not me. I get the big clear 90 degree moves first because it's clearer to the dog what I'm getting at. Then I can add my other bumpers and get finer moves.

Evan

 

[Evan]

dadams, I'm definitely not a pro so maybe I'm wrong. If so, someone please correct me, but it seems to do the push/pull and to have the dog line up correctly with the mark she is has to move her butt.

That's what is happening in WWLD (4 or8 bumper). Each bumper provides a visual target as you position your dog for it - moving right or left. It's easy for the dog to line up looking straight ahead because of that target. Again, that's why I prefer to start with 4 well separated bumpers because I'm instilling those habits, and I want that done in a simple clear way.

Evan

 

[Evan]

Who says there has to be punishment, or even much pressure of any kind for a 6 month old pup to learn this? I think that's a great formative time for a pup to learn to move with you. Adapt the training to the dog, not the dog to the training.

Evan

 

[Evan]

Just don't expect it to happen over night.

I wish I had a big "thumbs up" emoticon for that!!!

Evan