Episode 052 - Teach Heel, Side, and Middle Cues to Make Dog Agility Start Lines Easier
Season #1
Show Notes
Quick Answer
Teaching position cues like heel, side, and middle makes dog agility start line training much easier. These cues allow your dog to quickly line up facing the same direction as you, eliminating the need to repeatedly reposition your dog before an exercise or run. Reliable positioning cues create smoother setups, reduce frustration, and help agility teams start each run calmly and confidently.
Episode Overview
Many agility handlers struggle with getting their dog lined up correctly before starting an exercise or beginning a run at a trial. Dogs may sit crooked, drift out of position, or end up on the wrong side of the handler, forcing repeated adjustments and creating unnecessary stress.
In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast, Lorrie explains how teaching three simple position cues — heel or side, place (get around), and middle — can completely transform dog agility start line training.
These cues make it easy to position your dog quickly and accurately so you can focus on the exercise itself instead of constantly fixing your setup.
Key Points From This Episode
Why Position Cues Make Dog Agility Start Lines Easier
Before any agility exercise or run can begin, the dog and handler need to be facing the same direction and aligned correctly.
At agility trials and training sessions, handlers often struggle with:
Asking the dog to sit repeatedly
Physically repositioning the dog
Trying to move the dog to the correct side
Position cues solve this problem by teaching the dog to line up automatically when given a cue, eliminating the need for repeated adjustments.
Teaching a Heel or Side Cue
A heel or side cue teaches the dog to move next to the handler’s leg and face the same direction.
When this cue is reliable, it becomes one of the most useful skills an agility dog can have.
With a clear stay or wait cue and a reliable release word, a simple heel or side cue allows the handler to:
Quickly line up at the start line
Position the dog before an exercise
Maintain consistent handling positions
Instead of repeatedly repositioning the dog, the handler simply gives the cue and the dog moves into place.
Using a Place or “Get Around” Cue
A place cue, sometimes called a get around, teaches the dog to circle behind the handler and move into position on the correct side.
This cue is especially helpful when:
The dog starts in front of the handler
The dog ends up on the wrong side
The handler needs to reposition the dog quickly
Once trained, this cue allows the dog to reposition independently instead of being physically moved by the handler.
Place cues are also useful in everyday situations, such as moving your dog to the other side on a walk or untangling the leash when the dog moves behind you.
Teaching the Middle Position
The middle position, sometimes called peekaboo, teaches the dog to stand between the handler’s legs facing the same direction.
From this position, the handler can ask for a sit, down, or stay before beginning the run.
The middle cue can also help dogs who are uncomfortable around other dogs at trials, because the handler’s legs create a protective space around the dog.
This cue can even be expanded into other fun behaviors, like teaching the dog to walk forward with their paws on the handler’s feet.
Why These Cues Improve Agility Training
All three cues solve the same fundamental problem:
They help the handler and dog get into position quickly and calmly before starting an exercise or run.
When positioning becomes automatic, handlers can focus on the actual training rather than struggling with setup.
The result is smoother training sessions and more confident start lines.
Training Tip
If your agility start line setup feels chaotic or frustrating, teach one or more of these positioning cues:
Heel or side
Place (get around)
Middle
Reliable position cues allow you to line up quickly and start every run with clarity and confidence.
Listener Challenge
Choose one positioning cue to practice this week outside of agility training.
Work on helping your dog move quickly and confidently into position beside you.
Once the behavior becomes reliable, begin using it when setting up agility exercises and notice how much smoother your training sessions become.
Related Episodes
You may also enjoy these episodes of the Maximum Fun Agility Podcast:
• Episode 042 – Pre-Run and Post-Run Rituals for Agility Success • Episode 048 – Dog Agility Training vs Trialing: Should You Really Trial Like You Train? • Episode 055 – 5 Reasons to Start Your Dog Training Session With a Known Behavior
These episodes explore start line routines, trial preparation, and training structure.
Resources Mentioned
Learn more about the tricks that support agility training in:
Essential Tricks for Agility Dogs
This course teaches foundational tricks that improve communication, positioning, and teamwork for agility teams.
