Clean Run - September 2011 - 3

Cover
THE MAGAZINE FOR DOG AGILITY ENTHUSIASTS SEPTEMBER 11 VOLUME 17 NUMBER 09
PHOTOS © DEBORAH JONES, LIBBYE MILLER DVM, CLEAN RUN

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Teaching FOCUS and Impulse-control Classes: Week 5 During the past four class sessions we have worked on some of the most vital foundation skills for any dog. We continue to build on this foundation for improved responses and skill levels in all areas, and add increasing challenges while we raise our criteria for successful performance. By Deborah Jones, PhD

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Training to Your Weakness: Exercises for Dogs with a Straight Front Help your team have a successful and healthy career by training to your dog’s weaknesses. It is important to understand the potential ramifications of your dog having a straight front as well as the stretching and strengthening activities you can do that may assist your dog with his agility performance. By Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders

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Great Expectations If you find yourself feeling frustrated during agility class because your dog is inattentive and lacks focus, here are some ideas that may help you connect with your dog and make some improvement in his focus. By Nicole Levesque

12 Who’s Premack and What Does He Have to Do with My Start Lines? Instead of giving the dog toys and treats for staying at the start line, turn his start cue into his reward. This gives the dog a chance to learn that it’s rewarding to be still so he’ll choose to be still to get what he wants, the Go signal. By Eva Bertilsson and Emelie Johnson Vegh

Features
5 Editorializing: When a “Lifetime” Only Means Five Years Unless competitors urge the AKC to change their decision, the new AKC Lifetime Achievement Award for agility dogs won’t represent a dog’s lifetime achievement; only what the dog has accomplished since January 1, 2007. By Nancy Vanden Bos 48 Building and Balancing Handler and Obstacle Focus, Part 6 This is the final installment in this series on building and balancing obstacle and handler focus. This month we look at some advanced exercises useful for sequencing jumps, weaves, and contacts. By Ann Croft 60 Challenges for Rising Stars: Snooker Expanded This month’s exercises focus on teaching your dog to bypass an obstacle efficiently on a cue from the handler. This skill is useful for Snooker as well as many on-course situations in Standard and Jumpers classes. By Stuart Mah 63 Agility Defined by Me Agility is technically defined as a dog sport, but for the author that one word defines so much more. Agility is not just a sport, it’s an adventure. By Kate Carnigan

24 Improving Your Sports Vision, Part 1 Keeping visual contact with your dog is perhaps even more important than perfecting how you do a particular maneuver. If you don’t have your eyes on your dog, how will you know when to cue him? Learn how you can improve your visual motor skills. By Daisy Peel 29 Choosing the Most Efficient Path for Your Dog: Decision Making When you have to decide whether to turn your dog left or right at an obstacle, what factors should you consider? Here is a simple equation for determining the fastest and most e cient way to turn your dog. By Laura Manchester Derrett 56 Agility Games to Play with Puppies There are many skills, awareness games, and behaviors you can teach your puppy. Some of these skills translate directly to the agility ring; others help your puppy develop intellectually and physically. By Kea Grace

19 Power Paws Drills: Front Side, Back Side Every few years there are new course patterns and handling moves that crop up in agility. The last couple years we are seeing more “back side of the jump” sequences as well as a maneuver that I call the “forward threadle.” Both skills are the focus of this month’s discussion. By Nancy Gyes 33 Dylan’s Story A 15" tall, Dylan frequently beats the times set by the big dogs, even after repeated high-dose chemotherapy. Yet she is Angie Benacquisto’s first agility dog, she came from a shelter, and she is at heart a timid, quiet dog. How has this mild little dog learned to be so bold, so fast, and so successful? By Lisa Barrett 39 Ready, Set, Trial! Should You Move Up? The decision to move up is an individual one and should not be made lightly. As the levels go up the courses become more challenging and may require different skill sets. How do you know if you are ready to move up? By Jamie McKay, CPDT KA

Columns
6 7 8 Tip of the Month By Barbara Persson Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility… By Brenna Fender Backyard Dogs By Sharon Freilich

Cover Dog
MACH3 U-CD Gaylan’s Wind Off the Water CDX, RE, TD, TQX, ADHF, CCA, CGC, a.k.a. Makai, a 7-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Gail Kraeuter of New Jersey. Photo by Karen Hocker, www.karenhocker.com.

42 Agility Bloopers By Brenna Fender

Clean Run (ISSN 1089-8506) is published monthly by Clean Run Productions, LLC. Principal o ce: 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Periodicals postage paid at South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075-9902 and additional o ces. © Copyright 1995-2011 Bud Houston and Clean Run Productions, LLC. All world rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Clean Run, 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075.

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Clean Run - September 2011

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