Left About Circle | 360°
(~ 7 min) Teach your dog to follow a smooth 360° left-hand turn while staying in heel—great for focus, control, and fixing forging or lagging.
Overview
The Left About Circle is a continuous, controlled 360° turn to the left with your dog staying neatly in heel. Unlike a sharp pivot or a 90° turn, this flowing circle builds engagement, balance, and rear-end awareness as your dog learns to track your hips and shoulders. It’s especially helpful for dogs that forge (creep ahead) or lag (fall behind), and it works as a calm, cue-light pattern reset during walks.
Topics
Key Benefits & Features
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Engagement reset: A familiar, soothing pattern that re-focuses attention on you.
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Leash manners: Reduces forging/lagging by teaching your dog to mirror your left side.
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Body control: Encourages smooth rear-end movement and coordinated steps.
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Quiet communication: Let the movement teach; fewer verbal corrections needed.
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Versatile: Use in warm-ups, on sidewalks, or between obedience reps.
Training Phases & Steps (simple, step-by-step)
Setup: Flat/buckle collar, non-retractable leash, small treats. Hold leash in the right hand with slack; treats in your left hand close to your left pant seam (dog side). Choose a grippy surface.
Teaching (quiet space • wide & slow)
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Start in heel (dog on your left).
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Begin a wide left-hand arc, moving slowly and smoothly. Lead with your left shoulder/hip; keep your left hand low by your seam to “anchor” position.
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As your dog tracks beside you (not cutting behind/in front), mark “Yes!” and feed at your left seam while moving or right after the circle.
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Complete the full 360° and reward for staying aligned.
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Do 3–5 circles per short session; end while it’s going well.
Advance when: Your dog follows wide circles without drifting, forging, or lagging.
Reinforcing (tighten shape • add cue)
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Add your verbal (e.g., “Left Circle” or “Around Left”) as you begin the arc.
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Gradually tighten the circle (a bit smaller each session).
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Reward low/at your seam to keep your dog parallel in heel.
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Practice on a few surfaces (mat, grass, sidewalk) for confidence.
Proofing (pace • places • distractions)
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Vary pace: slow → normal → slightly quicker (still controlled).
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Randomize: Mix circles into regular walking so your dog stays attentive.
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Mild distractions: people at a distance, a quiet dog, a parked stroller. Pay generously for correct circles, then thin rewards.
Maintenance (life-ready)
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Use a circle as a warm-up before walks/classes.
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Pair with routines (e.g., end with Auto-Sit or begin with Watch).
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Reward intermittently to keep enthusiasm and precision.
Your Role at Home
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Think smooth & predictable—your dog reads your hips/shoulders.
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Keep the leash loose; the circle teaches, not the leash.
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Feed in position at your left seam so your dog learns where “heel” lives.
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Start wide and slow; smaller/faster circles come later.
Who It’s For
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Families improving loose-leash walking and consistent heel.
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Dogs that habitually forge or lag on the left side.
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Parents who want a calm, non-verbal method to reconnect on walks.
Quick Start Checklist
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Quiet area, non-retractable leash, small treats.
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Choose your cue (e.g., “Left Circle”).
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Practice 3–5 wide circles, 2–3 brief sessions today.
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Reward at your left seam; keep pace slow and steady.
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Finish each session on a confident success.
Best Practices (Do / Don’t)
| Do | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Start wide and slow. | Builds confidence and clean footwork. |
| Feed low, at your left seam. | Keeps the dog parallel in heel. |
| Keep the leash loose. | Promotes self-carriage vs. leash steering. |
| Tighten the circle gradually. | Prevents cutting behind or drifting. |
| Vary pace once the shape is solid. | Preps for real-world walking. |
| Don’t | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Don’t spin fast on slick floors. | Use grippy footing and moderate speed. |
| Don’t wave food in front of the nose. | Anchor treats at your seam. |
| Don’t let the dog cross behind you. | Go wider, slow down, reward parallel early. |
| Don’t over-cue. | Let the pattern teach; add cue after reliability. |
| Don’t correct with the leash. | Shape with movement; pay correct position. |
Everyday Examples
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Walk reset: Dog forges/gets sticky—flow into a Left Circle, reward at your seam, exit into easier heel.
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Warm-up before class: Two or three circles + an Auto-Sit + a short heel line = focused dog.
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Busy sidewalk: A circle buys you a second to reconnect and pick a clean line around people.
Common Questions & Answers
My dog cuts behind me—what should I do?
Widen and slow the circle so your dog has room to stay beside you. Keep your treat hand touching your thigh to anchor position, and reward early in the arc before drifting happens.
How is this different from a pivot or a regular left turn?
A pivot/left turn is a quick angle change. The Left About Circle is a continuous 360° rotation that emphasizes flow and engagement for the entire movement.
Can I use this during normal walks?
Absolutely. It’s a smooth pattern reset for forging/lagging or rising arousal. Keep it wide at first, reward alignment, then continue your walk.
Should I add a verbal cue?
Yes—once your dog follows the movement reliably. Say “Left Circle” as you start the arc; keep the cue calm and consistent.
What about dogs that lag?
Try a slightly brisker (still controlled) pace and mark early for catching up. Use a favorite treat or brief toy reward to build drive through the arc.
Troubleshooting
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Leash tightens: Slow down, widen the arc, feed for parallel position.
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Dog lags: Add a touch of pace, use a cheerful voice, mark earlier for effort.
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Dog forges across your path: Reset to a bigger circle; pay at your seam; keep hands low/close to your leg.
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Slippery floors: Move to grippy surfaces (rubber mat/grass) and avoid quick direction changes.
Glossary
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Heel (family version): Dog walks at your left side, shoulder near your left pant seam, with a loose leash.
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Parallel position: Dog’s body aligned beside you—not crossing in front or dropping behind.
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Pattern reset: A familiar movement (like this circle) that re-focuses your dog without extra words.
The Left About Circle is a calm, effective way to restore focus, polish heelwork, and smooth out forging or lagging—on sidewalks or in training. Begin wide and slow, reward in position at your left seam, and gradually tighten/adjust pace as your dog’s confidence grows. Use it as a quick reset during walks, a warm-up before training, or a quiet alternative to repeated verbal cues. With a few short sessions each week, you’ll see cleaner alignment and a dog that naturally mirrors your movement.