Clean Run Magazine - September 2008 - 22

Standard Cue Combination for Turning Obstacles: Extension A straight-line sequence is a typical course situation where extension would be appropriate for nearly all dogs. For extension, the ideal standard cue combination is all forward cues. I will accelerate forward ahead of my dog, facing in the direction I want my dog to go, using an inside hand, and giving an obstacle command to release my dog to the obstacle. I will look ahead in the direction we are going and maintain indirect eye contact with my dog. I try to be at least one obstacle ahead of my dog if it is a straight-line sequence and I want to cue extension. See Figure 3. It isn’t necessary or even desirable to always cue with all forward cues to achieve extension; it depends on what my dog needs. I may need to modify the standard cue combination for extension for a given course sequence. See Figures 4 through 6. If I would like to cue extension but there is a turn following the turning obstacle (perhaps I am running a smaller, less driven dog), I will deviate slightly from the standard and accelerate forward ahead of my dog, rotate my shoulders slightly toward my dog, use a blend of inside and outside hands, and give an obstacle command to release my dog to the obstacle. 3 Cue Motion Location Shoulders Hand Verbal Eyes Forward motion Landing Side Facing forward Inside Obstacle command Indirect while looking ahead Forward or Turning Cue Forward Forward Forward Forward Forward Forward STANDARD CUE COMBINATION FOR EXTENSION 4 5 6 H3 D3 H3 H2 D3 H2 H1 D2 D2 H1 D1 D1 H2 D2 H1 D1 A Ideally, to cue extension, I am ahead of my dog, accelerating forward with my shoulders fa c i n g f o r wa r d, u s i n g a n inside hand, and eyes looking ahead (all forward cues). The numbered handler and dog icons correspond to where my dog and I will be at any one time along the sequence. In this sequence I was unable to be ahead of my dog so my location is a turning cue. With a dog that is first learning about motion cues, he will perceive that I have decelerated and believe I am cueing a turn (orange path). However, if I maintain my forward cues as in Figure 3 and continue to accelerate to the best of my ability, he will learn that my location behind him does not mean to turn. B In this example I have led out to a location that is a forward cue over the first jump and a turning cue for the second. If I simply accelerate to the landing side of the second jump as I release my dog, I will cue extension over the second jump. This type of scenario often happens midcourse as well as at the start line. If I want to cue extension over the second jump, I should accelerate to the landing side. A) If the straight-line sequence is at a start line, I will most likely lead out to the landing side of the last obstacle in the sequence. This location, combined with the other forward cues, will cue extension despite my lack of forward motion. B) Unless I can outrun my dog, a running start with my dog is going to inadvertently cue a turn because I will fall behind, leading my dog to believe that I want him to turn (location and deceleration turning cues). 22 Clean Run | September 08

Clean Run Magazine - September 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - September 2008