Gaiting to Success

Juniors Tutorial

Gaiting to Success!

These are the most commomly used gaiting patterns in junior showmanship. The black arrows indicate where in the ring you are suppose to gait when the judge asks for the stated pattern. If you are suppose to switch hands with the lead and gait with the dog on your other side, the X marks the spot that you switch at and switch back. The red arrows indicate where you should gait with the dog at your other side. Always listen to the judge for your gaiting pattern and where he or she wants you to gait!!

Picture Explaination

Down and Back
This is the most commonly used gaiting pattern. After the judge asks for the pattern, they will point you in the way that they want you to do it. If they don't, go ahead and follow the right side of the ring. Gait at your dog's speed to the end of that side, turn around, and gait back the way you came. The judge might give you special instructions on how to do this, so listen carefully and always follow directions!

Triangle
This is also a commonly used gaiting pattern. It can reveal if a junior can gait properly without getting tangled up in the dog in turns. Take the right side of the ring until you come to its end. Then, take a left and gait along the back side until you reach the other side of the ring. Then take the diagonal floor pad (or path if you are outside) straight to the judge. If you dog is gaiting out of control, you can make little courtesy turns at the corners to get it back under control. Do not feel rushed when you gait, take as much time as you need.

The L
This is a pattern used to see what kind of control the junior has over the dog and the lead while gaiting. This is most commonly used in the open classes, but be prepaired to do it in novice too; you never know what you are going to have to do. Start by following the right side out to the back one, and then gaiting to the other side after turning left like you do with the triangle. When you have reached the opposite end, change your lead from your left hand to your right hand and have the dog cross over onto your right side. (The best way for your dog to cross over differs from dog to dog and handler to handler. You must experiment to see which way is the most comfortable.) Then, with the dog on your right side, gait back to the right side of the ring, then switch the lead and dog back to your right, turn right, and gait back to the judge. If you are asked to do the L and you are not comfortable with changing hands, don't change hands. It is better not to switch hands than look like clumsy trying to switch hands.

Picture Coming Soon! The T This pattern can only be used for grass/dirt rings or rings that have center runs of nonslick mat. This is a pattern used much like the L; it is used to see how much control the junior has over the dog and over the lead. First, walk to the center strip on the judge's side. Gait down the center strip and turn left, keeping the lead in your left hand. When you get to the corner, switch hands with the lead so it is in your right hand and the dog is on your right side. Gait along the back side of the ring to the opposite corner with the dog at your right side. When you get to this corner, switch hands again so the dog and lead are on your left. Gait to the center mat and turn and gait across the ring following the center mat. Again, if you are not good at switching hands, it is better to do the pattern without switching hands than to mess up.

Key:
Where you should gait
Where you should switch hands
Where you should gait while your dog is on your other side

Checklist of stuff to think about when you gait:<

You are gaiting in a straight line.
The dog is on the mats (if indoors).
You are gaiting at the proper speed.
You are not hendering the dog's ability to gait.
You are holding the lead correctly for your breed.
You are gaiting the correct pattern.
Misc. Tips:

When you gait, try to look down at your dog as much as you can. Make sure you know where you are going, and glance up at the judge once and a while to see if they have any instructions of you, especially if you are first in line.
When you are on the last "leg" of your individual gaiting pattern (when you are coming back towards the judge), take a quick look to make an imaginary straight line between you and the judge. This will help you to gait straighter.
After the individual gaiting pattern, do not pull up and free-stack too close to the judge. Allow enough room for the judge to be able to see your dog's whole outline (approx 4-5 feet).
If you are the first in your class's line-up, and the judge wants the whole class to go around, turn to the person directly behind you and ask them if they are ready to gait. Wait for them until they are, then you can all go around without a break in the line. This is common courtesy in the ring, so use it!

Picture	Explaination
	Down and Back This is the most commonly used gaiting pattern. After the judge asks for the pattern, they will point you in the way that they want you to do it. If they don't, go ahead and follow the right side of the ring. Gait at your dog's speed to the end of that side, turn around, and gait back the way you came. The judge might give you special instructions on how to do this, so listen carefully and always follow directions!
	Triangle This is also a commonly used gaiting pattern. It can reveal if a junior can gait properly without getting tangled up in the dog in turns. Take the right side of the ring until you come to its end. Then, take a left and gait along the back side until you reach the other side of the ring. Then take the diagonal floor pad (or path if you are outside) straight to the judge. If you dog is gaiting out of control, you can make little courtesy turns at the corners to get it back under control. Do not feel rushed when you gait, take as much time as you need.
	The L This is a pattern used to see what kind of control the junior has over the dog and the lead while gaiting. This is most commonly used in the open classes, but be prepaired to do it in novice too; you never know what you are going to have to do. Start by following the right side out to the back one, and then gaiting to the other side after turning left like you do with the triangle. When you have reached the opposite end, change your lead from your left hand to your right hand and have the dog cross over onto your right side. (The best way for your dog to cross over differs from dog to dog and handler to handler. You must experiment to see which way is the most comfortable.) Then, with the dog on your right side, gait back to the right side of the ring, then switch the lead and dog back to your right, turn right, and gait back to the judge. If you are asked to do the L and you are not comfortable with changing hands, don't change hands. It is better not to switch hands than look like clumsy trying to switch hands.
Picture Coming Soon!	The T This pattern can only be used for grass/dirt rings or rings that have center runs of nonslick mat. This is a pattern used much like the L; it is used to see how much control the junior has over the dog and over the lead. First, walk to the center strip on the judge's side. Gait down the center strip and turn left, keeping the lead in your left hand. When you get to the corner, switch hands with the lead so it is in your right hand and the dog is on your right side. Gait along the back side of the ring to the opposite corner with the dog at your right side. When you get to this corner, switch hands again so the dog and lead are on your left. Gait to the center mat and turn and gait across the ring following the center mat. Again, if you are not good at switching hands, it is better to do the pattern without switching hands than to mess up.
Key: Where you should gait Where you should switch hands Where you should gait while your dog is on your other side
Checklist of stuff to think about when you gait:< You are gaiting in a straight line. The dog is on the mats (if indoors). You are gaiting at the proper speed. You are not hendering the dog's ability to gait. You are holding the lead correctly for your breed. You are gaiting the correct pattern. Misc. Tips: When you gait, try to look down at your dog as much as you can. Make sure you know where you are going, and glance up at the judge once and a while to see if they have any instructions of you, especially if you are first in line. When you are on the last "leg" of your individual gaiting pattern (when you are coming back towards the judge), take a quick look to make an imaginary straight line between you and the judge. This will help you to gait straighter. After the individual gaiting pattern, do not pull up and free-stack too close to the judge. Allow enough room for the judge to be able to see your dog's whole outline (approx 4-5 feet). If you are the first in your class's line-up, and the judge wants the whole class to go around, turn to the person directly behind you and ask them if they are ready to gait. Wait for them until they are, then you can all go around without a break in the line. This is common courtesy in the ring, so use it!

Gaiting to Success!

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