Clean Run Magazine - November 2009 - 48

two-off position. When I am in motion, I am careful to not always run past the end of the dogwalk but to sometimes stop behind the end of the board. I also run diagonally away from the dogwalk and attempt to stop either before the dog stops or at least one or two seconds after the dog takes up the two-on/two-off position. I do not want the dog’s performance to become dependent on handler motion. I can now backchain in larger increments. I start the dog from the middle of the top dogwalk board, the beginning of the top board, halfway up the up ramp, and then finally ask for the whole obstacle. I either lift the dog into these starting locations or let the dog walk up the ramp and stop him where I want him to start from. Release from Contacts During the backchaining process, I start the training of the release portion of the dog’s contact training. The dog needs to have a thorough understanding of his release cue. Initially I place the dog in a sit-stay while I execute a variety of handling maneuvers, such as running past the dog, doing a front cross, pushing past the dog’s front, and running to the dog’s side where I stop, pause, and then run forward again while the dog remains in a sit-stay. If the dog is successful and remains in a stay during the handling maneuvers, I either return to reward him in the sit position or release him using my verbal release cue. When I give my release cue I remain in motion. I continue to work the four handling maneuvers while releasing my dog to either a jump or a tunnel. Next I combine the two-on/two-off position with the release work. I use either a travel board or the down ramp of the dogwalk and ask the dog to jump into the two-on/two-off position and remain there as I execute one of the four handler maneuvers. Again I either return and reward the dog for remaining in the two-on/two-off position or I release to another obstacle using my verbal release cue. The training process of this release work can be seen in my DVD, Bridging the Gap. This is as far as I can go with release work training until the dog can complete the full obstacle and is starting to sequence. Next month I will talk about training the A-frame, sequencing, and how to maintain the contact behavior. Rachel Sanders has competed in agility since 1994, and with her Border Collie, Whist, and JRT, Trump, has won three USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility Championships and a Steeplechase Championship. Rachel and her BC Fable represented the U.S. at the 2008 IFCS World Championships in Belgium where they earned a silver medal. In addition to teaching across North America at seminars and camps, she teaches full time at her agility center in Atascadero, California. Contact her at www.fastforwarddogsports.com. This will be done later Clip and Go Weave Pole Guide Wires Clip Go Just and Clip Go Just and www.cleanrun.com Clean Run | November 09 www.cleanrun.com Clip and Go Jump Cup Strips
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Clean Run Magazine - November 2009

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