Clean Run - February 2011 - 17

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Lead out to the left wing of #2. Use a shoulder rotation to turn the dog right over #2 and a false turn to pull the dog past #1 to #3. Send the dog to the poles and serpentine the exit. Use a false turn to tighten the turn to #6. Leave the dog in the poles and move to a position between #7 and #8 for a front cross. Finish with the dog on your left.

Weave pole foundation training often neglects to thoroughly test a dog’s understanding of entries early in the process. Instant recognition of entries at speed, given any circumstance or set of variables, should be trained and tested long before a dog is weaving 6 or 12 poles. Once a dog is motivated to enter a set of 2, 3, or even 4 poles and the dog has a generous history of reinforcement given for finding correct entries, testing the dog’s comprehension of weave pole entries is next. Just as a specific point of view is made clearer by formulating it in different ways, the dog’s understanding of how to enter the poles is strengthened by changing the appearance and surroundings of the first 2 or 3 poles to see if the dog can still complete the task. It is as if we keep rephrasing the weave question a little differently, but the answer for the dog stays the same. Modify the picture of the weave entry by changing bases (use stick-in-theground poles as well as many styles of solid bases), location, running surface, tape decoration or color of the poles, distractions in the environment, and so
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on. This type of training teaches precision and focus and builds the comprehension and confidence needed for entries at speed. The drills in Figures 2 through 11 include an assortment of Mastersand international-level skill sets. All have challenging weave pole entries and exits. Ideally, you have many handling options, none of which are limited by weave pole training. Each time you execute one of the drills, rotate the weave poles clockwise or counterclockwise and try rerunning the same sequence. This allows you to practice the sequence again and also keeps the dog from becoming complacent with his weave entries. If foundation skills for proficient entries are lacking, these drills can quickly become a pointless and frustrating effort as the handler has to send and resend the dog. Ultimately, the handler’s only recourse is overmanaging the entry. In this situation, the best plan of action is to set the drills aside and revisit the early stages of foundation weave training. D
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9 11 8

10 5 7

6 8 5 8

7 6

3 2

3 2 5

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Do a lead-out pivot at #3 and a front cross between #3-#4, or run #2-#4 as a serpentine. Do a front cross to turn the dog right over #5. Keep the dog on your right through #10. Do a front cross after #10 and finish with the dog on your left.

Lead out to the left wing of #3. Use a shoulder rotation to turn the dog over #2 and right over #3. Use a false turn to pull the dog past #2 to #4. Do a rear cross at the #4 weave poles. Do a front cross between #6 and #7. Finish with the dog on your left.

Lead out to the left wing of #2. Do a push-through to commit the dog to #2. Do a front cross between #4-#5 or run #4-#6 as a serpentine. Either do a front cross after tunnel #6 or use a false turn to commit the dog to #7 and do a rear cross at the poles. Do a front cross between #7-#8 and finish with the dog on your left.

February 11

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Clean Run - February 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2011