Clean Run - April 2017 - 29

How Much to Practice?

The low ladder (plyometric) grid gives
a huge payoff for little effort on your
part. It is one of the grids that can and
should be done consistently. Doing it
several times a week would not be too
much at all. Elite tennis players, soccer
players, football players, etc. do this
type of plyometric exercise on a continuing basis to ensure that great footwork remains part of their athleticism.
With a trained dog, either this ladder grid or the advanced ladder grid
should be visited at least monthly as
part of your jumping maintenance
program. It is also an excellent grid
to use to tune-up your dog's footwork and balance before a trial.

Proofing
You can begin proofing this grid once
your dog is bouncing the line to his
target with speed and ease of motion.
Set up your dog at a distance
from jump #1 that allows him
one steady, short stride:
� Big dogs: 9'-11'
� Medium dogs: 7'-9'
� Small dogs: 5'-6'
� Tiny dogs: 4'-5'
With success, gradually move your
dog's starting distance farther back
so he has more speed as he enters the grid. Do not proof your
dog farther back than 12'-16'.
As you increase your dog's starting distance from the first jump, it is important to make sure he is not adding little
pats of the ground as he tries to enter
the grid. Your goal is for him to produce good, clean footwork. Your dog's
movement should be a smooth, fluid
stride or two strides, depending on
how much space you have given him to
enter the grid. Extra pats of the ground
indicate that your dog is uncertain of
how to step into the grid at speed. This

The foundation ladder grid can also be done as a slice.

should be a red flag to alert you that
you are pushing the process by adding
too much speed too quickly. Your dog
must make a significant weight shift to
enter this grid with speed. He has to be
certain where he plans to step in to get
the weight shift done correctly. Increase
your dog's starting distance from jump
#1 only as fast as is comfortable for him.
You can also proof this grid by gradually increasing your lateral distance from the target to a distance
that reflects the normal working
space between you and your dog.

Adding Handler Motion
The ultimate proofing is to add handler
motion. During this process, remember that you are rewarding each effort
whether it is a success or failure. Be sure
not to push your dog past his current
level of understanding. The goal is to
carefully build success on success, so
only go as far and as fast as determined
by your dog's success. With some dogs,
you will need to increase your motion
even more slowly than described below.
Stage 1
Put your dog in his usual starting position and place the target 10' beyond
jump #5. Begin next to your dog and
walk down the line of jumps, releasing

your dog as you pass jump #3. Continue
walking forward. Take note of your
dog's head position as he passes you. He
should be looking forward and driving to the target. You do not want to
see a head check as he drives past you.
Stage 2
Put your dog in his usual starting position and place the target 10' beyond
jump #5. Begin next to your dog and
walk down the line of jumps, releasing
your dog as you pass jump #3. Continue
moving forward, but change your speed
to a jog. Again, take note of your dog's
head position as he passes you. He
should be looking forward and driving to the target. You do not want to
see a head check as he drives past you.
Stage 3
Put your dog in his usual starting position and place the target
10' beyond jump #5. Lead out to
jump #4, release your dog, and begin running toward the target.
Stage 4
Put your dog in his usual starting position and place the target 10' beyond
jump #5. Release your dog and run
off the line with him to the target.

Ladder Grid on a Slice
The foundation ladder grid can be done
as a slice as shown in Figure 4. D

Susan is a lifelong equestrian riding hunters and jumpers since childhood, competing throughout the United States and Canada. Making the move to agility was an
easy transition as the mechanical aspects of jumping are the same for horses and dogs. Susan has travelled throughout the US and Canada teaching and competing
with her two Jack Russell Terriers and can be reached at Jumpdogs@ AOL.com and also offers online jumping courses or private lessons at Jumpdogs.com.
April 17 | Clean Run

http://www.Jumpdogs.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - April 2017