Clean Run - January 2009 - 30

To maneuver my feet in this manner and complete cross-step #3, I must open my left hip and thigh, rotating it to the left (counterclockwise). The degree that I open my hip angle dictates the width of my V foot pattern. How open the angle is depends on where I am going next on course. In Figure 1, I swing my left foot to point toward the #3 position so when I bring my right foot around as shown in Figures 2h and 2i, I am rapidly running forward toward the #6 tunnel. This crossing pattern footwork, consisting of three distinct steps, allows me to keep my weight balanced, minimizes the number of steps needed to execute my cross, and maximizes the information given to my dog. front-cross spot, but I do plan a strategy so that I am far enough ahead to comfortably reach my spot before my dog to initiate my crossing pattern. u Frequently handlers use the wrong foot as the lead-in foot. In the setup in Figure 1, handlers will commonly try to plant the right foot as the lead-in foot, and then use the left foot to try to execute the turn. In this case, starting cross-step #2 with the left foot encourages a slower cross and involves more steps to get your body into position. It also feels awkward and your weight is unbalanced. u Timing of the lead-in step (cross-step #1) is also critical to communicate the most information to your dog. Handlers often time their lead-in step too late, after the dog has committed to jumping straight, rather than preparing the dog for the turn and side change. The lead-in step should be initiated at least as early as the dog’s stride before his takeoff stride, earlier for fast dogs and dogs jumping higher heights. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrx45vcG6s for a video of correct front-cross footwork execution in a sequence similar to the one in Figure 1. Good luck with examining your footwork. I hope my suggestions can help smooth out your handling. The Right Footwork for the Right Situation While the orientation of the footwork described remains consistent for all my front crosses, the distance between my feet varies (the length of each of the cross-steps). The course setup, how tight a turn I need, where I am going next, and how fast I am going dictates how close or far apart I place my feet. Generally, if the angle of the turn required by my dog is not very acute or sharp (I am indicating a change of side to my dog, but not trying to cue a high degree of collection) or if I am going fast and need to get out of the cross quickly to handle another downstream course segment, the distance between my feet is larger. When I require a higher degree of collection or angle of turn from the dog I need to use smaller steps and place my feet closer together. I believe this helps with cueing my dog to either collect or extend. My motion throughout this front-cross footwork also supports what I want my dog to do: big steps mean I am moving faster and so should my dog (extension). Small steps mean I am going slower, so I am asking for more of a turn or collection. D Anne Andrle and MACH ADCH Ski were bronze medalists and members of the 2008 USDAA/IFCS Agility Team. She is a multi-time USDAA Steeplechase, Grand Prix and Performance National Standard finalist with both Ski and her first agility dog, MACH4 ADCH Cody. Anne teaches seminars and classes at her home near Portland, Maine. Contact her at anne@xtremeagility.com or www.xtremeagility.com. (5, 21) 1 (−14, 17) 2 Problem Solving Let’s discuss some common front-cross footwork difficulties. u Often handlers will start to turn their shoulders in to their dog at the appropriate time to cue the dog to the upcoming cross. But they also start their footwork at the same time as the shoulder turn (inappropriately early), so that they are now completely rotated toward their dog, possibly lurching/running backward. The resulting turn is too early (too many collection cues), possibly pulling the dog off jump #3 as seen in Figure 1, for example. At the least, an early turn leads to placing the cross in the wrong spot, which may cause problems downstream on course. u Handlers should perform their front-cross footwork in the spot they have chosen as their best location for communicating the turn and side change to their dog. The handlers’ shoulders can and should turn toward the dog to indicate the upcoming turn before the dogs commit to the jump; however, the handlers’ feet should generally continue moving forward to the predetermined spot where the cross should occur. In my classes, we often put twigs or leaves on the ground as a marker for the spot that handlers need to drive toward, and as a place marker for where the cross will occur in a particular sequence. I do not race my dog to the predetermined 30 CRCD 3 (−15, 0) 3 4 (−4,−2) (11,−8) T 5 10 ™ Clean Run | January 09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrx45vcG6s http://www.xtremeagility.com http://www.cleanrun.com

Clean Run - January 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - January 2009

Clean Run - January 2009
Contents
Editorializing: Last Run?
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Trainer’s Forum
Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 10: More Common Sequences
Power Paws Drills: Powering Up Your Weaves
Front Cross Footwork
Timing of Front Crosses, Part 2: Early Front Crosses
How to Capture and Keep the Rarest Beast of All: Good Agility Instructors
My Favorite Course
Foundation Fundamentals: Nose Crunch Nirvana or Targeting
Tricks for Agility: Shake Hands and Wave
When Pigs Fly: Teaching the Front Cross, Part 2
But It Looked Easy
Vision in Dogs, Part 1: What Do They See and How Do We Know?
Can You Handle It?
Shelter Champs
Skill of the Month
Distance Challenge
Clean Run - January 2009 - Clean Run - January 2009
Clean Run - January 2009 - 2
Clean Run - January 2009 - Contents
Clean Run - January 2009 - 4
Clean Run - January 2009 - Editorializing: Last Run?
Clean Run - January 2009 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - January 2009 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - January 2009 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - January 2009 - 9
Clean Run - January 2009 - 10
Clean Run - January 2009 - Trainer’s Forum
Clean Run - January 2009 - 12
Clean Run - January 2009 - 13
Clean Run - January 2009 - 14
Clean Run - January 2009 - Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style, Part 10: More Common Sequences
Clean Run - January 2009 - 16
Clean Run - January 2009 - 17
Clean Run - January 2009 - 18
Clean Run - January 2009 - 19
Clean Run - January 2009 - 20
Clean Run - January 2009 - 21
Clean Run - January 2009 - 22
Clean Run - January 2009 - 23
Clean Run - January 2009 - 24
Clean Run - January 2009 - Power Paws Drills: Powering Up Your Weaves
Clean Run - January 2009 - 26
Clean Run - January 2009 - 27
Clean Run - January 2009 - 28
Clean Run - January 2009 - Front Cross Footwork
Clean Run - January 2009 - 30
Clean Run - January 2009 - Timing of Front Crosses, Part 2: Early Front Crosses
Clean Run - January 2009 - 32
Clean Run - January 2009 - 33
Clean Run - January 2009 - 34
Clean Run - January 2009 - 35
Clean Run - January 2009 - How to Capture and Keep the Rarest Beast of All: Good Agility Instructors
Clean Run - January 2009 - 37
Clean Run - January 2009 - My Favorite Course
Clean Run - January 2009 - Foundation Fundamentals: Nose Crunch Nirvana or Targeting
Clean Run - January 2009 - 40
Clean Run - January 2009 - 41
Clean Run - January 2009 - 42
Clean Run - January 2009 - 43
Clean Run - January 2009 - Tricks for Agility: Shake Hands and Wave
Clean Run - January 2009 - 45
Clean Run - January 2009 - 46
Clean Run - January 2009 - When Pigs Fly: Teaching the Front Cross, Part 2
Clean Run - January 2009 - 48
Clean Run - January 2009 - 49
Clean Run - January 2009 - 50
Clean Run - January 2009 - 51
Clean Run - January 2009 - 52
Clean Run - January 2009 - 53
Clean Run - January 2009 - 54
Clean Run - January 2009 - But It Looked Easy
Clean Run - January 2009 - 56
Clean Run - January 2009 - 57
Clean Run - January 2009 - 58
Clean Run - January 2009 - 59
Clean Run - January 2009 - 60
Clean Run - January 2009 - Vision in Dogs, Part 1: What Do They See and How Do We Know?
Clean Run - January 2009 - 62
Clean Run - January 2009 - 63
Clean Run - January 2009 - 64
Clean Run - January 2009 - 65
Clean Run - January 2009 - 66
Clean Run - January 2009 - Can You Handle It?
Clean Run - January 2009 - 68
Clean Run - January 2009 - 69
Clean Run - January 2009 - 70
Clean Run - January 2009 - 71
Clean Run - January 2009 - Shelter Champs
Clean Run - January 2009 - 73
Clean Run - January 2009 - 74
Clean Run - January 2009 - Skill of the Month
Clean Run - January 2009 - 76
Clean Run - January 2009 - 77
Clean Run - January 2009 - 78
Clean Run - January 2009 - Distance Challenge
Clean Run - January 2009 - 80
Clean Run - January 2009 - 81
Clean Run - January 2009 - 82
Clean Run - January 2009 - 83
Clean Run - January 2009 - 84
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