Teaching: Rear Cross on the Flat

This is something my students find difficult to grasp. I found with the addition of a prop/visual aid, it seemed to help them get it faster.

First a definition - a rear cross on the flat is a rear cross (where the handler goes behind the dog) that happens between obstacles, not over a jump. There is no send, as there is with a rear cross over a jump (where the handler first sends the dog to the jump). This is cued with the outside hand.

My exciting aid? A bucket.

Seriously. Take a look at this diagram. Okay B is the bucket.

Handler start with dog on the left, cookie in right hand.
Handler starts moving towards bucket, handler reaches across thier body and lures the dog around the bucket. Handler steps behind dog and they head out to the jump with dog on right.
Dog goes around the bucket, not the handler!

Having a visual seems to help handlers get the timing down - it's especially useful if a handler keeps moving forward to the jump before having the dog switch sides.

The nice thing about a bucket is that it's low enough for the handler to maneuver around easily. I need to lay wiht it more, but I love having lots of options for teaching this skill, since it's one that handlers find hard to do.
I will try to get some video later today...