Mastering the Handler Line Technique for Effective Front Cross Maneuvers

The Handler Line, discussed here the Front Cross Line, is an important concept that all Agility handlers should understand and can apply in the handling of every Agility course. It is not the same thing as the Handler Path. The Handler Path is the path the handler takes through the course.

Two Definitions of Handler line

One definition is the line formed by connecting the outside edges of two consecutive obstacles on the side of the obstacles where the Cross should occur. In the case of winged jumps the Handler Line runs from the inside edge of the first jump to the outside edge of the second jump; since the handler shouldn’t run into the jump wing if their path takes them close to the second jump. The Handler Path is shown in the diagram below by the black dashed line and the Handler Line by the red dotted line, dog's line in solid black line:

Handler Line 1 Example

By defining the Handler Line in this way the handler is always out of the dog’s path. In basketball parlance it leaves the dog the “lane” between the obstacles. Another way to think of the Handler Line is it is the edge of the road, where the handler always gives the dog the road to run on.

Other trainers define the line as connecting the opposite edges of two consecutive obstacles. Where the line starts at the edge of the obstacle nearest the handler prior to the cross to the edge of the obstacle nearest the handler after the cross. The Handler Path is shown in the diagram below by the black dashed line and the Handler Line by the red dotted line, dog's line in solid black line:

Handler Line 2 Example

By defining the Handler Line in this way the handler is actually crossing on the dog’s path through the obstacles. The handler still begins their Cross on the line, but is out of the way when the dog passes that point of their path. This approach purposefully limits the portion of the incoming obstacle available for the dog in an effort to further control the dog’s path between the two obstacles.

This definition places the handler “in the road” for the Cross but the handler is out of the way (“off the road”) when the dog is at that point of the course. You can also think of as giving the dog a narrower road on which to run.

One complication are situations where a Cross is performed between two obstacles and the obstacles are arranged with a 180 degree angle between them. In these cases you can’t draw the Handler Line, so the plan should be to stay as close to the obstacles as possible while allowing the dog to land and change their Lead Leg. In practice this can be as close as 18-24 inches from the plane of the obstacles.

Handler Line Examples

The diagrams below show the Handler Line using the first definition in a number of situations. The Handler Path is shown by the black dashed line and the Handler Line by the red dotted line, dog's line in solid black line:

Dog Walk to Tunnel Handler Line

Alternate Obstacle Angles

Multiple Obstacle Line

New Angle

Angle 3

Why Care About the Handler Line?

Regardless of the definition, crossing on the Handler Line is intended to restrict the dog’s path to the tightest possible path between the obstacles. This is because in order for the dog to “honor” the handler’s request for the Cross the dog must pass close to the handler. So when the handler Crosses on the Handler Line, the cross controls the dog’s path and puts the dog “on the road” between the obstacles. Once the handler and dog are executing Crosses effectively the dog won’t take a wide path between the obstacles.

The following diagrams show the impact on the dog’s path of the handler not crossing on the Handler Line. The Handler Path is shown by the black dashed line and the Handler Line by the red dotted line:

Correct Front Cross - Smooth Line for the Dog

Going Too Far Past Handler Line Creates Wobbly Dogs LIne

Front Cross Too Early Before Handler Line Creates Wonky Dogs Line

In this case the dog might refuse the jump and turn back to the handler or not be able to wrap back around to the handler.

That is not to say that a dog can’t take a wider path when the Front Cross occurs on the Handler Line. But in the worst case the path for the Front Cross has the dog travel behind the handler before completing their turn. To fix this the handler holds their ground, reaches behind them and wraps the dog around their body. At the moment the dog completes the wrap it is back on the desired path to the next obstacle. As the dog learns to understand the Front Cross (or the handler learns to executes it correctly) the dog is less likely to wrap behind the handler.

Remember your position and the timing of your cues is critical to creating the best line for your pup.