Clean Run Magazine - October 2009 - 60

Directional Cues Part 1 By Kristin Kaldahl © ViCtor Steel PhotograPhy, inC. Training toy training. Which technique(s) you choose will depend on your dog. Let’s look at how these three techniques can be used, incorporating the three-jump sequence. Pattern Training Pattern training is the option I use most. This does require you have the ability to move a bit. Pattern training is simply moving with the dog through the three-jump sequence until he understands the presented pattern. You can do a short lead-out to limit the amount of distance you have to run. Then send your dog over jump #1, run at an angle toward jump #2, and then run to jump #3 as seen in Figure 2. Initially do this in one direction only. There is no doubt the physically limited handler has more than agility obstacles to overcome when training a dog. Handling when your body doesn’t perform as you would like can be so emotionally and physically difficult that many handlers give up the sport they love. But they don’t have to. By training your dog and yourself to learn how to run at distance and with strict directional cues, you can free your dog to run the course while you walk, trot, or even ride in a wheelchair. Distance and directional cues are key for any handler with physical limitations. Directional cues are simply those the handler gives the dog to tell him which direction to go next. The dog then takes the obstacle he finds in that direction. In my article “Training Dogs to Work with Physically Limited Handlers” in CR September 2009, I discussed the four directional cues I use to get my Sheltie around a course. These cues are Out, Here, Straight, and a side switch cue. In this series, I will explain how I train each of these directional cues and how I train the dog to perform them at distance. This month let’s look at the Out cue. Out simply means “work away from me at a parallel distance.” It’s just as if you have an elastic arm that can extend hundreds of feet. You use Out when you could extend this elastic arm out from your body and across the ring many feet away to touch your dog. Out is the ultimate distance directional cue. It sends your dog out and away from you to perform obstacles independently as you move to get into position to handle more difficult, tighter sequences within the course. I use Out several times in each course I run. It’s indispensable and is an absolute must for any handler who cannot run well. Before I can train this skill, I must first train the dog to independently perform jumps. I also train the dog in foundation jump work. When the dog is ready for Out training, I set up three jumps spaced about 15' to 20' apart. The first and 2 third jumps are in a straight line, but 3 1 the second jump is pushed slightly off the line as seen in Figure 1. I can use any or all of three techniques to train Out: pattern training, plate training, or After repeating the sequence with your dog several times (and it’s apparent he understands it), you then begin to work the Out command. Repeat the sequence again, but instead of running all the way up to jump #2, run about 3'-5' from that jump. As your dog commits to jump #1, give the Out command and, if you’d like, your jump command for #2. Always give the directional command before the obstacle command because a dog has to know where to go before what to take. As you run to jump #2, remember your agility theory. A dog watches for four signs from you when deciding where to go next on a course. The dog reads your forward motion, shoulder placement, hand signal, and verbal cue to decide which obstacle to take next. As you run to jump #2 with a verbal Out cue, you are removing some of your forward motion from this formula. Since green dogs weight forward motion more heavily than all other signs, the dog may become confused as your Clean Run | October 09

Clean Run Magazine - October 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - October 2009