Clean Run - July 2017 - 52

PRACTICALLY TRAINING:

Lead-Outs

I'm pretty excited to be addressing leads-outs! Yes, lucky for
you, my life is that shallow! As I look at this chapter in my One
Jump Two Jump Workbook (we are following it, for those of
you just tuning in), I think back to when I thought lead-outs
were just a super convenient way to get a bit ahead at the
start of a course-a necessity for some, a luxury for others.
Over the years I have become increasingly focused on how
certain aspects of some skills enhance or undermine certain
aspects of other skills. I tell you this because the multiple
skills required to have awesome lead-outs provide dog and
handler with a bounty of additional benefits beyond just
leading out! Once you conquer the lateral and distance
aspects of lead-outs, your dog will understand taking obstacles when he is away from you as well as responding to turn
cues at a distance. This training will also enhance the comfort level for handler and dog in general, with all distance
skills, great and small.

Who Needs a Lead-Out?
Super fast dog? You need a lead-out, duh. It might be one of
those cosmic jokes that the faster the dog, the harder it is to
make him stay still. Like so many things in life, the more we
need it, the harder it is to get it, and then of course to keep
it. I'll "go there" a bit more later in the article.
But what I really want to talk about is those dogs that seem
not to need lead-outs-the dogs that benefit-or appear to
benefit-from the handler running with them.
I have coached some folks to run off the line with their dogs,
but not many. If your dog won't drive off the line, then there
is a hole in his training. Driving off the line is a skill that has
to be taught to many dogs; it's not innate. The reason your
dog won't drive off the start line is the reason you need him
to be able to do it! Your dog may have a very good reason,
but it's holding him back and it won't be just on the start
line, it will be somewhere else too.
52

By Sandy Rogers

I see many folks chip away at this "drive hard to me" training and make progress; sometimes progress is slower than
desired. The point is that the training will benefit the dog
because when you are working on building drive off the
start line you are practicing good habits. You will have to create strategies to build drive and focus as you approach the
line and get good at staying super connected in a fun way
as you lead out. It might not come cheap (you may need to
take a lesson or two) or easy, but it is one of those wonderful
training issues that come with great satisfaction when it is
resolved. If driving off the line is hit and miss for your dog, I
recommend rewarding your dog most of the times he drives
off the line, and all of the times when it is spectacular-you
may only have to do this forever.

Conﬁdence Builder or Conﬁdence Killer?
If I could cry out from the top of my soapbox and make one
point here it would be this: How you lead out matters. Not a
little bit, a great big bunch. You do not have to take my word
for it. At the next class or trial you attend, watch how the handlers lead out and look at the dogs' faces and body language.
Handlers that lead out slowly, scanning the area for their
destination, looking apprehensive like they are filled with
that special combination of fear and uncertainty, are in
trouble. Their dogs, wanting desperately to be driven on this
course by a confident, fearless driver, look like they would
really rather be someplace else. They may be looking away,
looking at the ground, or sniffing. They are undoubtedly
thinking, "Oh hell, she is lost already." No wonder they come
off the line slowly! They think they are doing you a favor, giving you a bit more time to figure it out, to put it all together
before they catch up to you.
Handlers that march out (yes, I both said and meant march)
with their heads held high, digging their heels into the
ground as they go, like they are loaded for bear and ready
for action, have dogs that look engaged and are ready for
Clean Run | July 17

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