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 p...