Rear Cross
We are going to work the Rear CrossOn a Rear Cross, the dog switches Flanks with the behind her. From clock to counter clockwise Flank or vice versa. Taken directly from the canine agility world, the Rear Cross is a foundational flatwork skill for team movement. It allows the handler to move the dog around the field in stylish fashion. On the Rear Cross, your dog will... on the entry to, and the exit of, the PVR. We’ll get the dog to drop at a comfortable distance and set the PVR with a Consequent Cue…
Cross On Entry
When we hook up on the FlankOut to the side of the handler is the Flank. If the dog is out to the handler's right or left the dog is on Flank. If the dog is moving with the handler the dog is on the Working Flank.... on the way into the PVR and the dog winds up abreast of us, we:
- Scoop and Step – sending the dog forward
- Match and Turn – transfer target and set direction
- Step and Finish – pull the dog in the new direction
- Throw
Our Dog will turn away from us and wind up going back in the direction from whence he came. This is depicted in the Diagram on the Right.
This is a fast and abrupt change in direction that can be used to set up sharply and with a POP! It’s flashy and efficient.
Cross On Exit
Working the rear cross out of the PVR creates another sweet pattern, depicted in the Diagram on the Left:
We work the PVR and pull the dog around. As the dog comes abreast of us and starts to get in front of the flank, we:
- Scoop and Step – sending the dog forward
- Match and Turn – transfer target and set direction
- Step and Finish – pull the dog in the new direction
- Throw
This sweet pattern is not fast and efficient, it is slow and groovy. There is drama. Teamwork is in full display.