When dogs are running on the agility course they move with one leg out in front, this is called the leading leg. Dogs can only turn to the side of their leading leg. To be able to turn right they need to have their right leg leading, and to turn left, the left leg needs to be leading. If the dog needs to turn left from being on the right lead, they need to perform a lead change.

Dogs are naturally always preparing to turn towards the handler. Based on this they prefer to choose the handler's side leg to lead. so if you are on your dog’s left side, they will generally choose to be on their left lead leg. 

If the obstacle your dog should take is not on the same side of the dog as the handler, the dog will need to do a lead change away from the handler in order to take the obstacle. We call this situation a lead leg conflict. Click here to watch a video about lead leg conflicts in the weaves.

Here’s a map that shows a common lead leg conflict situation:

When there is a lead leg conflict, it's easier for dogs to read the correct line and negotiate the sequence successfully if the handler helps by cueing a lead change away. 

In the OneMind Dogs Foundation for Agility online program, we teach this skill in 3 lessons:

• Towards and away on the flat
• Towards and away on a jump
• Towards and away on a jump with handler motion 

During these lessons the handler will learn how to get the dog to come to the correct side of the obstacle and how to cue a lead change away.