Clean Run - January 2018 - 32

on landing. Many handlers cue too much forward impulsion in this
scenario and their dog takes jump #5 in full extension, resulting in
an excessively wide turn and even added strides as depicted by the
dashed line.

2
5

The idealized dog path for the section of obstacles from #6-#9 is shown
in red in Figure 2. Once again, it will be important to cue the dog to
turn tightly off jump #6 to set the line to jump #7 so as not to get wide
turns or inadvertently cue the wrong course tunnel as depicted by the
dashed red lines. Most handlers will likely perform a side change with a
rear, blind, or front cross between jumps #7 and #8 to set the line to #9.

3
5

7
3

Novice/Open Sequence

A Novice/Open sequence with an idealized dog path is depicted in
Figure 3. While A-frame/tunnel obstacle discriminations are not generally seen in Starters or Novice courses in any US venue, they are
common in the intermediate levels so they are an important part of
your training and practice. Setting the correct line and being patient is
generally the key to success with this type challenge.
Set your dog up straight in front of the jump looking directly at the
A-frame. A short lead-out is an advantage here, release your dog and
maintain a straight path and posture and allow your dog to pass you so
that you don't pull him off the line to the A-frame. Some handlers feel
they need to hurry here and race ahead, and many young dogs then
follow them rather than take the A-frame; some dogs will even take
the tunnel exit because now they see it.
Next you will want to cue a turn at jump #3 so that you will be able
to pull your dog more easily to the correct tunnel entrance at #4.
It you just drive the dog forward then he is likely to take the jump
as shown by the orange path, resulting in a wider turn and possibly a wrong course fault to the wrong end of the tunnel or a refusal if the path to the correct entrance can't be corrected quickly.
I do recommend a pull rather than a side change here because
it would be very difficult to do a properly timed front cross in this
situation and a late front cross would also drive the dog away
from the correct tunnel entrance and toward the incorrect one.
Next you want to connect with your dog right away as he is exiting
the tunnel to show him that jump #5 is next rather than #3, which is
straight ahead in his view if he isn't directed. Most handlers will elect
to do a change of side between jumps #6 and #7 to set a gentle bend
through #8 and #9. The important considerations as you come into the
obstacle discrimination for the second time are to 1) not encourage a
tight turn but instead allow the dog to take the jump as a mild slice;
2) maintain pressure so the dog stays out; and 3) be patient and allow
your dog to enter the tunnel before showing any motion or body language that could be read as a direction change to the left. D
Ann lives in San Diego, California with her Border Collies Flurry, Kit, Stun, Thrive, Doce,
and Charm. Ann has been competing in and teaching agility for nearly 25 years, and has
been a USDAA and AKC agility judge for almost as long. She is also now a UKI judge. She
has trained and handled two Border Collies and a Boston Terrier to the ADCH MACH2
titles and is a multiple-time national finalist in both AKC and USDAA with both breeds.
Her BC Trigger was a DAM National Champion and AKC Reserve National Champion.
Ann has traveled throughout the US, Europe, Australia, and South Africa competing,
judging, and teaching. She teaches in San Diego and offers online courses in jump skills,
weave skills, and handling. She is available for seminars and online video review private
lessons and coaching. Contact Ann through her website http://www.pawsonthewind.
com/AnnCroftAgilityCoach_HOME.html or her Facebook page Ann Croft Agility Coach,
or email her at AnnCroftAgilityCoach@gmail.com.
32

1
8
2

The idealized dog path for #6-#9 is shown in red. It is
important to cue the dog to turn tightly off jump #6 in
order to set the line to jump #7. If extension is cued
at #6, or even extra strides, a wide turn will result or
a wrong course as depicted by the dashed red lines.

3
3

3
4
4
5
5

6
6

10
10

2
2

7
7

1
1

9
9

8
8

You will want to cue a turn at jump #3 so that you will
be able to pull your dog more easily to the correct
tunnel entrance at #4. It you just drive the dog
forward then he is likely to take the jump as shown
by the orange path, resulting in a wider turn and
possibly a wrong course fault to the wrong end of the
tunnel or a refusal if the path to the correct entrance
can't be corrected quickly.

Clean Run | January 18

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