Clean Run Magazine - February 2010 - 41

A Strategic Approach to F ST A Analyzing a Sample Course By Ann Croft AKC’s Fifteen and Send Timed (FAST) is a game intended to test the handler’s strategic ability, timing, and training skills, and the dog’s accuracy, speed, and ability to work at a distance. The judge distributes 15 pointed obstacles in the course area, six of which are jumps, usually winged, and assigned 1 point each. Nine additional obstacles or obstacle combinations are assigned point values from 2 to 10, plus a non-pointed finish obstacle. A minimum of two different contact obstacles and a set of weave poles are required on course. The judge designates a two- or three-obstacle distance challenge (depending on the class level) known as the send bonus within the course. Handlers may choose their team’s course through the obstacles and also when and at which point during the course to attempt the designated send bonus. For qualifying purposes the dog must collect the minimum number of points for the class level and complete the send. (Please see AKC agility regulations for more details.) and a different point value when taken in the other direction)? If you want to earn the points you want to be sure to take the obstacle in the direction for points, although you may sometimes opt to take an obstacle in the “unpointed” direction for flow. To earn the points on a dual-pointed obstacle you need to plan to take another obstacle in between to earn the points for the reverse direction. With the send, minimum point requirements (50 for Novice, 55 for Open, and 60 for Excellent), and basic obstacle preference details in mind, you can develop a core plan for a FAST course and then fine-tune it. Let’s analyze an Excellent FAST course and I’ll show you how to compare multiple potential course plans so that you can learn to choose the best plan for your team. Planning a Course Strategy In this article, I’ll introduce some simple tools to aid you in optimizing your strategy to earn the most points for your dog’s speed. When planning a FAST course strategy the send is defined, but your approach to it and the other obstacles and flow are your choice. So the first thing I look at on a FAST course map is the send bonus: I look at which direction I want to come from and which angle sets my dog up best for the path through the first two obstacles. This plan completes the send bonus in Novice and perhaps in Open. If there is a third obstacle in the send (required in Excellent and optional in Open) I look to see where I have to move to get the dog to perform the third obstacle and where he will be heading afterward. Now I am ready to decide on which path and through which obstacles I will handle my dog from the start of the course to the send bonus and then out of the send bonus to the finish. To make these decisions it is helpful to keep in mind your dog’s strengths and weaknesses on the equipment; perhaps he has a slow or unreliable teeter performance or difficulty with the weave poles. You may choose to use your FAST run to work on any problems, since in FAST you may reattempt an obstacle, or you may choose an alternative path that uses obstacles your dog performs well and can still result in qualifying. Also look carefully at the point values assigned to the obstacles. Are the obstacles bidirectional (obstacle can be taken in either direction for a specific point value), unidirectional (obstacle can be taken in only one direction for points), or dual-pointed (obstacle has a specific point value when taken in one direction February 10 | Clean Run Start at the Send Bonus Excellent A/B/P FAST Hangtown Kennel Club October 4, 2009 Judge: Ann Croft 4 7 8 10 1 9 1 5 3 1 6 2 1 S 1 F 1 F Send is #2 to #9 to #4 S Figure 1 shows an Excellent FAST course. The send is the #2 tunnel for 2 points, to the #9 A-frame for 4 points, to the 4-point jump. The solid green line around the send obstacles denotes the send line: once the dog has entered the tunnel, the handler must not cross the line until the dog completes the send.

Clean Run Magazine - February 2010

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