Clean Run Magazine - October 2006 - 59

5 1 2 7 6 11 6 5 PHOTO BY ALISSA BEHN/PET PERSONALITIES 4 T T 9 3 10 12 7 8
1 2 8 9 13 8 9 4 15 6 16 14 3 3 7 17 1 4 2 5 Novice sequences Novice
Standard course 3 4 have students run the drill twice. The first time,
encourage them to executing a rear cross at the #4 weave poles. Most
Novice-level students are reluctant to practice a rear cross at the weaves
and lead out from the tunnel and handle the weaves on the left, getting
class is the perfect setting for practice! From the poles to the #5 ahead
of the dog to execute a front cross on the landing side of tunnel,
students could either do a false turn to pull to the correct jump #3 and
another front cross on the takeoff side of jump #5. tunnel entrance or
execute a front cross after the weaves. Perhaps I This might push
students, encouraging both faster running and a would encourage the front
cross, since it might help to foster a bit bit of weave independence.
Allow the students to handle the rest more weave independence. Handlers
most likely would keep the of the sequence as they like. For their second
run, encourage them dog on the left from the #5 tunnel through the
obstacles, up to and to handle the entire sequence however they want. They
might want including the #8 tire, executing a front cross to the #9 table.
to try to do a rear cross from jump #3 to jump #4, pulling the dog into
their right side, and then serpentine jump #5 to the #6 tunnel. From the
#10 tunnel to the #11 tunnel, students are once again They can also
experiment with turning the dog left versus right presented with an option
of doing a false turn or a front cross. over the #8 double by pushing the
dog's dogwalk performance with Encourage each student to try a different
option from the handling lateral distance to the left for a left turn over
the double executing used for the #5 tunnel discrimination. By trying
different handling a front cross after the double to get a tighter line to
the teeter . methods, perhaps outside their comfort zone, students will
become Or, they can execute a front cross at the end of the dogwalk and
more confident about which handling choice works best for them another
front cross after the #8 double to create a right turn. Some in each
situation. From the #11 tunnel through the obstacles, up to students might
want to try a rear cross at the double, turning the and including the #14
tunnel, the course is pretty straightforward dog left to the teeter. with
the students most likely handling with the dog on the left. After flipping
the dog into the #14 tunnel, most handlers will pick For the white-numbered
sequence, also have students run the the dog up on their right to the #15
teeter. There they can either sequence twice. The first time, have them
run off the line without a do a front cross from the teeter to jump #16,
finishing the course lead-out, sending the dog laterally to jump #2 as
they move toward the with the dog on the left, or serpentine jump #16,
keeping the dog table. From the #7 tire to the #9 triple, encourage
students to execute on the right to the finish. Another option that would
also test teeter a front cross after jump #8 or send laterally to jump #8
while cueing performance would be to pick the dog up on the left side for
the the turn to the #9 triple as for the Advanced/Masters groups . The
teeter and push to jumps #16 and #17 with the dog remaining on second time
through the sequence, allow a lead-out and, in fact, the left. This
requires the handler to take the teeter aggressively, encourage a lead-out
pivot/push from jump #2 to the #3 table. Also running in front of the
teeter as the dog is performing the obstacle. have the students try the
second handling option for the #7 tire to This maneuver would be a fun
option to test the handler's running the #9 triple. As with the advanced
groups, open a discussion about abilities as well as the dog's teeter
performance criteria. which handling methods worked better with each dog.
Challenge The Novice sequences, presented in Figure 4, accompany the
course students to identify their training and handling strengths and
weaknesses as shown by the sequences and courses. D in Figure 3. The
seesaw is flipped. For the black-numbered sequence, Claudia Bates lives in
Berryville, Virginia, with her husband, Jim, a bunch of Border Collies, a
few wary cats, and a small flock of sheep. She is a former technical
writer with a background in education and writing. She is currently a
partner and instructor with A Click Above, LLC, a dog training facility in
Leesburg, Virginia that offers everything from pet puppy classes to Masters
agility handling classes. Claudia and her Border Collies compete in AKC,
NADAC, and USDAA agility and in AKC, USBCHA, and AHBA herding. | October
06 Clean Run 59
Clean Run Magazine - October 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - October 2006
