Clean Run - May 2017 - 28

When you arrive at the USDAA check-in table to be measured, please remember to
have your blue temporary card to be filled out and signed. While I do understand there
are other agility organizations, the only measurement that matters is the one you are
receiving today. -Mike Wagner, USDAA CMJ
make a dog measure into a higher
jump height.
* Start young with teaching your dog to
stand. Gradually work on having other
people fussing around him while he
is standing. It is important that your
dog can relax while standing because
hunching up can make them measure
taller and also make it difﬁcult for the
judge to get an accurate measurement.
When your dog can stand calmly even
with distractions, you can add standing still while on a table.
* Once your dog can reliably relax and
stand still, practice measuring him.
Use an official wicket, make your
own practice wicket, or simply practice swinging a ruler or wooden spoon
over your dog. Next add touching your
dog's back dog with the ruler or spoon.
* If you are entering your dog in a trial
before he has been ofﬁcially measured, you need to get a reasonably
good idea of what your dog measures
so that you can enter him in the correct
jump height. If you don't have access
to an ofﬁcial measuring device, get a
yardstick or tape measure and have a
friend help you. Be sure that you measuring at the point of the withers and
not the lowest point on the dog's back.
* If your dog is near a cut-off for a
jump height, you should be prepared
to jump the higher (or in some cases
lower) height that matches the measurement the judge determines.

Getting Measured
Here are some tips to help ensure that
your dog receives the most fair and accurate measurement possible:
* If possible, get your dog measured at
an event prior to his ﬁrst competition.
It will alleviate the rush and potential stress of that ﬁrst experience. The
minimum age to be measured varies
from one agility organization to the
next, so be sure you are familiar with
that requirement before you approach
a judge to measure your dog.
* If you can't get your dog measured
before his ﬁrst competition and he is
easily excited in an active environment, have him measured early before
the trial gets started. Or, if a measurement is not required before a run that
day, have him measured once the day
is winding down.
* Walk your dog around the trial site
before you have him measured and be
sure he is calm and comfortable in the
environment. If your dog is too excited, run him around to take the edge off.
* Be prepared for your turn to have your
dog measured. Have all of the appropriate paperwork for your dog ﬁlled
out and ready. USDAA mails a card
to the handler of each registered dog.
This card needs to be brought to the
dog's ﬁrst trials for the judge to ﬁll in
the measurement and date. For AKC,
forms are available at trials where
VMOs are present. ASCA also has a
form that needs to be completed if you
are interested in receiving a permanent height card for that organization.
These forms must be ﬁlled out before
the dog can be measured.
* During the actual measuring process,
use treats and toys wisely. If these
items make your dog more comfortable and relaxed, they are a good idea.

If they make the dog anxious or excited, it may be best not to use them.
* The judge may have speciﬁc instructions as to which way they would like
you have your dog positioned on the
table. Do listen to their instructions, but
if you are struggling with the position,
you may consider asking the judge if
the dog can face a different direction.
For some dogs, having their back to
the action/crowd is better for them.
For others, facing the action/crowd
would make them more comfortable.
* The judge may ask you to take off the
dog's harness or collar if they think it
will interfere with the measuring process. They may also ask you to step
in front of your dog, step back, take
away the treats, or do any number of
other actions that will help in the measuring process. Remember, judges are
trying to help you get the most accurate measurement possible and we
will offer you suggestions as to how to
make that happen.
* Be patient with the process. Sometimes it takes a moment to get the dog
settled in a nice stand and for the judge
to ﬁnd the proper place on the dog to
measure. Do not try to rush the process.

The Final Measurement
If the measurement differs from what you
originally thought, do not be frustrated or
disappointed. You do have the opportunity to be measured again. Challenge measurements exist in some venues, and that
"challenge" option may also be something to consider if you have a dog/breed
that can actually drop in height due to normal structural changes as a dog matures.
By training a nice relaxed stand and practicing having your dog measured, your
dog is sure to start off his agility career on
the right foot... or, er... paw! D

Lisa Potts is an 18-year veteran judge for numerous agility organizations, including being a VMO for AKC. She is a full-time dog trainer and judge as well as an active
agility, obedience, and rally competitor. She lives in Springfield, Illinois with her husband and three Miniature Poodles. She can be reached at lisa@helloworld.sh.
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Clean Run | May 17

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