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. In all exercises where the dog is required to heel free, one of these options should be followed: (1) 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 (2) 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.
In either of the above situations, the hands and arms may be adjusted during the fast portion of an exercise in order to maintain balance.
There will be a substantial deduction if the hands and arms are not carried in one of the positions stated above. In any exercise that requires a dog to sit in front, the handler’s arms and hands must hang naturally at the sides until the dog has sat in front. The handler must receive a substantial deduction for not doing so.
