Locked front legs vs locked back legs in distance command – part 2

When you're standing a few metres away, I find it's easier to see whether the dog is keeping its front legs locked in all the transitions, and a bit more difficult to see whether it's keeping its back legs locked. However, that's not an argument against locked front legs. If the dog isn't maintaining the criterion of locked legs in all the transitions, then you need to go home and train it better, regardless of whether you're working with locked front legs or back legs.

I've also heard that there will be deductions for the transition from sit to down with locked front legs because the dog has to stand briefly on the way to down. And yes, some dogs do stand briefly on the way to down, but that doesn't mean all of them do. It's entirely possible to train your dog to make the transition directly from sit to down.

Of course, it's the judge who judges, but I don't think Cobra stands briefly in these transitions. Here I've also edited the video and slowed it down to 10% speed to make it easier to see.

My dog has more natural movement with locked front legs than locked back legs (or vice versa)…

I've rarely seen dogs that have one more naturally than the other in all the transitions. Mostly, dogs choose movements that bring them closer to their handler. From sit to down, it often looks like locked back legs, whereas from stand to sit it usually looks most like locked front legs.

Strictly speaking, you don't need to choose either way—you can train both and put different commands on the different transitions using different techniques. It's just strength training!

Do you have any questions on this topic? Or have you come across any claims you'd like to hear my thoughts on? Fire away!

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