Flatwork Position | Are You Pushing or Pulling?

Basic Standing Position (BSP) has a clock and counter expression and the practical movement applications depend upon whether or not you are pushing or pulling the dog. Ron & Epic explore the entirely too simple application of positional pressure as it relates to DiscDog Flatwork and communication – Are you Pushing or Pulling?

Featured in DiscDogger Weekly #23 | the Flatwork Process, Vimeo, and Roku. This show is brought to you by Patrons of Pawsitive Vybe and HeroDisc USA. Become a Patron and support the show while gaining access to Patrons Only content and classes at patreon.com/pvybe.

Pushing and Pulling Are Opposites

At Pawsitive Vybe we name Basic Standing Position (BSP) with a directional modifier: BSP Clock or BSP Counter.

The clock and counter modifiers of the position are based upon the dog moving towards us, as the dog is set up in front of the handler and gravitates towards the position where the handler is going to be or to the gap in positional pressure. This is essentially where the handler, or our positional pressure is pulling the dog.

This is great. It is really nice to be able to communicate and understand direction from Basic Standing Position (BSP). There is a problem, though. The actual movement direction depends on whether we are pulling or pushing.

Get Your Bearings and Only Check Your Feet If You Have a Problem

I think the video above explains the issue quite well. Watch Eppie respond to the subtle movements while he waits patiently to do something…

This is a critical problem with many people’s understanding of Flatwork. “If that is BSP clock, why are you using it to throw the counter clock SideArm Throw?” The difference is push and pull or flank and pass… It’s almost too simple to think about. I spent several hours thinking about how to best express it for teaching purposes the other day. It’s like trying to explain that you can’t have light without darkness or that everything in a room cannot be facing up.

The best thing I can tell you is to learn the rule so it works for you and then forget about it. Only address it in your play if you experience problems. You’ll know right away if you’ve got it backwards.

Good Luck and Happy Jamming

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