Finish Examples

The goal of the finish is for your dog to go quickly, directly and "smartly" to the Heel position and Sit. How the dog goes to Heel is optional. Following are examples of the more common types of Finish:

Lacey Shows a Perfect Around-the-Back Finish!! Click for more Examples!

The Finish was created when dog trainers modified the field dog retrieve, in which the dog brought game directly to heel, into the formal retrieve, where the dog sits in front to deliver the retrieved item and then goes to sit at heel. The Finish proved to be so popular (and fun to teach!) that it was shortly added to the recall and several jumping exercises.

Lacy shows off an Around the Back Finish!

Isis leaps into her Around-the-Back Finish! Click to Go BACK!

The original finish was the "Around-the-Back" finish.

"Isis" is supposed to go directly, and quickly to sit at the heel position. She should sit as close as possible without crowding her handler.

The "Flip" Finish was developed as an alternative to the "Around", for situations where the owner had many tempting distractions behind and wanted to be able to keep better track of the dog.

"Sydney" should go in the shortest possible path, turning to the side and behind the handler's left leg, and then sitting in a perfect heel position

Sydney Zips into her Flip! Click to Go Back!

Annika spins into her Swing Finish! Click to Go BACK!

Some incredibly agile dogs, like "Annika", change (transmogrify!) the "Flip" into the "Swing" Finish. They swing their bodies like a door or a gate into the heel position.

The "Swing" Finish itself has evolved into the "Flash", or "Flying Swing". Note that "Rem" leaps into the air to turn instead of using "Annika's" complex footwork.

Cinder learns the "finish" as her classmates wait their turn at the February 2000, Camp "Waggin' Train".

Rem Leaps into the Flash Finish! Click to go Back!