Do not use your hand to show the dog where to walk. If you were to do this and move your hand slightly, you might cause the dog to fall off the dog walk because they were focused on your hand instead of on where they were walking. Never run a sequence or course with food in your hand . This will only focus the dog on your hand, not on the obstacles in front of him. After you have completed a sequence, make a big deal of going into your bait bag or pocket for food to reward him, or have your tennis ball or toy in your pocket.
Dogs quickly become focused on the handler's body, with particular focus on the shoulders.
You can send a dog to the correct obstacle, or pull them off of it, through use of the shoulders alone. You will lie to your dog with your body about what direction you are headed. Your body will act in one of two ways to your dog. Most dogs are drawn towards their handlers. The exception to this is when you have given your dog a directional command that will differ than the direction your body tells the dog.