Clean Run - October 2017 - 21

11
12

6
9

Runout
Line

tunnel or the dogwalk as handlers were
moving across the backside of #8 for
the serpentine. Handlers also did front
or blind crosses at #7 and #8 which allowed them to be a bit farther ahead
than when handling as a serpentine. A
few dogs did go from #7 directly to #9 to
incur a wrong course.
Even though dogs were at full speed
coming out of tunnel #9, many handlers
were able to complete a blind cross
(more common) or front cross (less common) after the tunnel, then successfully
direct the dog over the wall jump #10
to tunnel #11. Any hesitation before the
wall jump, such as slow front cross footwork or cued deceleration, increased the
odds of the dog taking the wrong end
of the #11 tunnel as shown in Figure 5.
One handler somehow managed to
front cross after the wall jump at #10. A
number of dogs took jump #12 directly
after the wall jump, likely because #12
was the first obstacle seen after the wall.
A few dogs ran by the wall jump and
went from the #9 tunnel directly to the
exit end of the #11 tunnel due to improperly read blind crosses. A number of
handlers stayed on the right side of the
wall jump and were able to direct the

dog to the #11 tunnel with a well-timed
verbal and/or physical cue. Due to the
speed of the sequence, quite a few bricks
were displaced from the wall jump.
The #11 tunnel to the A-frame at #14
offered a well-spaced threadle/pushthrough at speed, which was handled in
many different ways: as a push-through,
as a pull-through, and with front or blind
crosses. A few dogs took jump #12 to the
exit of the #17 tunnel and there were a
few runouts and backsides at jump #13.
The bar on jump #13 was the most frequently dropped bar on the course.
Many handlers with independent Aframes were able to hang back at the
start of the A-frame and send their dogs
to tire jump #15 as they moved to cross
after the exit of the #17 tunnel. There
were a few missed A-frame contacts as
dogs were turning to the tire jump #15.
The majority of handlers were able to send
the dogs to the #17 tunnel and execute a
blind or front cross before jump #18. There
were some runouts at the #16 spread
jump as handlers rushed to position and
some dogs pulled off the #17 tunnel.
A number of runouts occurred at the dogwalk when handlers disconnected from

their dogs after turning their dogs tightly
at jump #18 and raced to the dogwalk.
On the closing sequence the majority of
handlers were on the opposite side of
the dogwalk, affording me a good view
of the downside contact. There were a
lot of close contact calls and I was glad
to be in position to make the correct
calls on fast running contacts.
At the end of the course most handlers
were able to direct their dogs from the
dogwalk to the #20 jump, although a
few dogs ducked into the #9 tunnel before their handlers could respond.
Overall I was happy with how the course
ran and the challenges it presented at
speed. I thoroughly enjoyed judging
all the events at the WAO alongside
the other judges John McEwan (Scotland) and Guiseppe Pinchetti (Italy). I
would like to extend my thanks to Marq
Cheek, Supervising Judge, for helping
with course design, rule interpretations,
course building, chauffeuring us to and
from the event, and providing in-ring
entertainment.
I'd also like to thank Monica Percival and
Greg Derrett for inviting me to judge,
and for organizing a great event. D

Terry Smorch lives in Lake Elmo, Minnesota and has been active in dog agility since 1993 and an agility judge since 1998. He works for 3M Healthcare bringing new
medical products to market, and also uses his chemical engineering skills to homebrew beer. He has competed in agility with two Keeshonden and four Border Collies.

October 17 | Clean Run

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