Most of the time the judge will stand in the middle of the ring. You simply take your dog in a circle and stop where you started. If the judge wants you to stop someplace else, he/she will tell you. If you are the first in line, turn to the folks behind you and ask "are you ready?" before you take off with your dog. Nothing looks worse than one person going around the ring while the rest are still fussing around and putting leashes back on their dogs. Leave yourself room between the dog in front of you too - just in case the dog in front of you moves slowly.

Be sure to LOOK AT THE JUDGE - placements are usually made on the last "take them around all together" command by the judge. If you aren't paying attention, you will miss that judge pointing to you and your dog!

The "up and back" is done either in a straight line or on a diagonal. Most of the time you can tell which one you will be doing based on where the judge stands. At indoor shows, the mats and how they are placed on the ring floor give you a clue. (If there is no mat going on a diagonal, you wouldn't be moving your dog that pattern) In the diagram you go from point A to B and turn to return to point C. The trick to going STRAIGHT at indoor shows is for you to follow the outer edge of the mat while your dog runs ON THE MAT. For outdoor shows, you might try picking an object and trying to move right to it - and do pick the judge for your spot when you return! Do NOT run over the judge when you return. Try to stop your dog about 5 feet or more from the judge. If you stop right at the judges feet - he/she can't see anything but the top of your dogs head.

The triangle is just that - following A to D, you and your dog move in a triangle pattern. If your dog has excellent side movement, be sure you are going at the right speed to showcase it from point B to C! Again, don't run over the judge when you return to him/her.

A few judges still use the L pattern. This is one of the more difficult patterns to do correctly. You should change hands as you make the turn marked "c" in the diagram above (move your leash to the right hand so that the dog is now on your right) The reason you switch hands is so you are NOT between the judge and your dog. At point D you may again switch hands or you can just wait until after you hit point E to move your dog back to the left side. Make sure that you are NOT blocking the judge's view of your dog from point D to point E if you elect not to switch the dog and leash back to your left.

The last pattern is the "T". I am convinced the T stands for torture. This pattern involves a lot of practice because you must switch hands often in order to not end up with yourself blocking the judges view of your dog. Go from A to B, then turn left. At C you will switch the leash to your right hand as you turn - so you have the dog on your right side until you reach point D. As you turn at point D - switch your dog back to your left side (and the leash into the left hand). Go to point E, turn again and go straight to the judge at point F. Walk yourself through it a few times using just the leash and no dog. Remember you are trying to keep your dog closest to the judge so you don't block the view. (Now if you have a dog that doesn't move worth a flip - don't bother switching hands)

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