Dog Handling in Shows - Types of Turns in Front of the Judge

Are you an aspiring show dog handler? 

 If yes, this micro chapter is what you need to Go through; Understand; Practice and Grasp the basic methods. There are 3 ways to initiate a turning models, while moving away from the judge to show the dog's gait. 

  1) Courtesy Turn - When the handler makes a small circular movement right in front of the judge. This circular movement is basically meant to settle yourself along with your dog in fornt of the judge, thereby giving yourself and your dog a little time or organize and get ready for a good gait presentation, displaying a smooth and balanced trot. 

  2) Side Start Turn - Side start turn starts behind the judge or from one side of the judge. After the judge asks the handler to present the gait, the handler (who has practiced the dog for a side start turn) takes his dog little behind the judge, then takes the dog by your side, gets organized, then settles himself/herself and the dog right in front of the judge and starts the movement to show the dog's gait. 

3) Straight Away - When the handle choses to step in from of the judge and taking the dog straining away leaving the judge behind.

There is no hard and fast rule/norm to follow a specific movement pattern, but you need to chose the pattern based on what suits our dog the best. None of these pattern is mandatory in the show ring. Therefore chose your style, based on your how your dog act on it.

However, it is important that the handler needs to maintain good posture while he/she moves the dog. Handlers needs to be consistenty keep an eye on the dog (instead of looking at the judge) and should be aware of the judge's position in the field and the route that he should take while doing a Courtesy Turn or a Side Start. Since the dog is being held in the left hand a Courtesy turn should be clockwise (left to right turn). The handler MUST be consistently attentive and the dog MUST be in control of the handler (without force). The handler and the dog has to exhibit a wonderful bonding and coordination in the ring, wihtout which winning can be tough or impossible. Forceless presentation gives the couple an additional mileage in the ring. Score doesn't depend on the movement approach (while moving away from the judge). Be it a Courtesy Turn approacch or a Side Start or Straight Away approach, gaiting MUST be effortless for both the dog and the handler. It should be in a straight line and at the right pace (as per the breed and nature of the dog). What a judge looks forward to is a controlled trot with pressure/ force.

National Dog Show 2019: Best in Show (Full Judging) | NBC Sports

This videos will give you a great idea about the showmanship techniques 

Dog Show Tips & Tricks: Courtesy Turns & Intro to Free Stacks | Show toWin

This videos will give you a great idea about the 3 Movement Approaches