Reverse Leg Vault

Flipping out of the Hip Pocket

the Reverse Leg Vault is a flipping vault where the dog launches into the flip from the handler’s leg.


4 keys for the Reverse Leg Vault:

  1. stable & horizontal platform
  2. pressure of shoulders
  3. it’s a small toss
  4. cue direction

Create a Stable & Horizontal Platform

lift your knee and lean back a bit to create a stable and horizontal platform. even moving platforms can be stable and horizontal.

A well executed vault is quite easy in terms of stress on the handler’s body. The vaulting dog should not be putting a bunch of pressure on you. That said, stability of the vaulting platform is a must. Get that leg up high and lean back a bit. When you lean back your upper body becomes a counter balance the helps keep the leg up and also helps with balance.

Reverse vaults go up and it’s quite difficult to go up off of a vertical surface. Vaults require a horizontal platform (primarily – there are exceptions) in order for the dog to launch upwards for the target. Get that leg up, nice and high and make sure your leg is flat.

Your Dog Rebounds in the Direction of Your Shoulders

a very strong physical cue for any kind of rebound is the shoulders. make sure your shoulders point in the direction you want your dog to flip.

Your shoulders are telling your dog where to go all the time, and with Reverse Vaults or Rebounds this is especially true. If your shoulders are pointed to your right, that’s the direction the dog is going – a counter clockwise flip. If your shoulders are pointed to your left, it will be a clockwise flip or spin.

It’s a Tiny Toss with a Long Stroke

the toss for Reverse Vaults is almost always very small – tiny even. it’s based on pursuit. chase it aggressively, catch it, then fly with it. one part prey driven lure and part put it right there…

The stroke of this throw starts in front of the dog and pulls up in line over the vaulting platform to at least head high. Then it pushes out away from the handler a little bit and is let go.

This is often a six inch toss. It’s really not much. Your dog will drive through and take it up for you. The only thing you have to do is to make sure that you place it far enough away from you that your dog doesn’t wind up coming straight down, not having traveled anywhere or flipped at all – they can’t go up and fall feet first (or rear feet first) straight down.

Cue Direction and Show them Where to Catch It

showing the dog where the disc is going to be thrown before it is thrown is always nice. your dog will learn very quickly if the disc is always placed in the same spot you indicated a few moments before.

Teaching your dog that you will give them a clear and distinct hint as to where the disc will be during training and where possible in complex performance situations is a huge deal. It takes so much of the guesswork out of the equation for the dog and frees you up as a handler to move around and focus on your thing.

Flashing a disc in the direction you are planning on going is a great prey driven cue that is helpful for the dogs as well.