RULES - CHAPTER 2 Regulations for Performance and Judging. Section 18. Heel Position. Section 19. Hands and Arms.

 AKC® OBEDIENCE REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 2 Regulations for Performance and Judging 

Section 18. Heel Position. 

• The heel position as defined in these regulations applies whether the dog is sitting, standing, lying down or moving at heel. 
• The dog should be at the handler’s left side straight in line with the direction the handler is facing. 
• The area from the dog’s head to shoulder is to be in line with the handler’s left hip. 
• The dog should be close to but not crowding its handler so that the handler has freedom of motion at all times.

 Section 19. Hands and Arms. 

• The Heel on Leash and Figure Eight exercise specifically states that the hands must be in a natural position but do not require that  they  be  at  the  handler’s  side  while  heeling  on leash. 
• On the other hand, no judge should consider that a handler is unnatural just because they do not perform with the hands and arms in the same position for each exercise. 
• In all exercises where the dog is required to heel free, one of these options should be followed: 
• when the handler is in motion, the arms and hands must move naturally at the sides and must hang naturally at the sides when stopped; or
• the right hand and arm must move naturally at the side, while the left hand must be held against the front of  the  body,  centered  in  the  area  of  the  waist,  with  the  left  forearm carried against the body.
• There will be a substantial deduction if the hands and arms are not carried in one of these positions. 
• The hands and arms may be adjusted during the fast portion of an exercise in order to maintain balance.