Jackie and I learned front crosses today, with much success. The handler's footwork matters, and it is a good idea to practice front crosses (as well as other footwork) without your dog so you can perfect it.
When teaching foundations for front crosses, the first few times reward them for coming to the "new" cueing hand. For example if the dog is starting on your left and you will front cross to have the dog on your right, have a cookie in your right hand and deliver the food reward as soon as the dog gets to your new driving hand, in this case your right hand.
We also practiced playing several obstacles in a series of turns. It is important to realize the handler is drawing the dog's path of travel with their hand and arm cues. You can think of it as using an imaginary laser pointer with your cues to show the dog its path of travel. Think of "don't spill your beer" in that before one driving hand goes down, in a front cross for example, the other driving hand comes up to take the "beer" so it doesn't spill, and the dog doesn't lose the correct path of travel.
Pearls:
- A front cross is changing the handling side in front of your dog; front crosses are used in many situations in agility: the handler can use them on straight lines but also to cue tight directional turns, even turns as tight as 180 degrees
- Footwork is important and it is helpful to practice without your dog to perfect your own footwork
- The handler's cues are all just describing to the dog the path she is to take
