Clean Run - February 2013 - 21

2
3
4

Motion pulls the dog to the incorrect jump.

1
2

Body language to direct dog to the outside
obstacle.

The importance of motion as a primary
cue is frequently illustrated on course
when there is a discrimination between
two obstacles. For example, in Figure 1
the handler tells the dog to take the outside jump, #2, but moves in the direction of the next obstacle, jump #3, which
brings the dog in toward her. Our motion can also alter the dog’s path when
we move toward him. This alteration
frequently occurs on jump sequences
when dogs have not been taught to see
a pinwheel or serpentine as a pattern.
In Figure 2, the handler’s motion toward jump #3 causes the dog to run by
#2 rather than taking it. Figure 3 illustrates a better path of motion, that when
combined with other cues, gives the dog
better guidance for the sequence.

Body Language/
Body Position
The second most important cue for our
dogs is our body language and position.
It includes both our posture and the direction we are facing. As dogs are learning agility, we teach them that acceleration means continue moving forward or
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Motion pulls the dog off the correct jump.

February 13

Body language to direct dog to the inside
obstacle.

extend, and deceleration means turn or
collect. When we are leaning forward,
we are creating impulsion for the dog
to move ahead or away. When our position is upright, or we lean back, we are
drawing the dog closer to us or slowing him down. Bending over is a cue that
most dogs react to instinctively. If you
bend over an unfamiliar dog, he tends to
move away. Many handlers unsuccessfully try to get their dogs to take the inside
obstacle of a discrimination by bending
over the obstacle and pointing to it. The
problem is that they are sending conflicting signals. The dog sees the handler
pointing to the correct obstacle, but the
handler is bending over him, which is a
natural cue to move away.
When we are parallel to the dog, with
our arms at our sides, a dog’s natural inclination is to come in to us. Think of
teaching a dog to come to heel. The picture they have of us is the side or back
of our body, with our feet facing the direction we are traveling. When a dog is
presented with that same picture on the
agility course, his natural inclination is to
move toward us. To send the dog away

More forward motion helps the dog to the
correct jump.

Dogs are extremely adept at
reading minute signals from
other dogs. Intent in the canine
world is communicated by small
changes in a dog’s posture, the
position of the ears and tail, or
even the corners of the mouth.
Dogs easily extend that knowledge to reading cues from people, even when we don’t realize
what we are broadcasting.
from us requires facing the path that the
dog will take, not facing forward to the
next obstacle. If we are facing the dog’s
path, with our shoulders providing pressure and our arm extended, his natural
inclination is to move away, because we
might be moving in his direction. This
concept is illustrated in Figures 4
and 5. Once these body language and
position cues are used consistently, they
can be used at a distance, causing the
dog to alter his path.
When body language and body position are combined, they become a very
powerful cue. However, this leads to
confusion for the dog when we provide
conflicting signals. For example, handlers
frequently run out of room and stop at
the handling line on Gamblers courses.
The most natural thing to the handler is
to lean forward and “push” the dog out
with her arm while at a standstill. When
that doesn’t work, the handler stands up
straight, drops her hand, and then repeats
the command. From a dog’s point of view,
he is being told “move away, come in, move
away, come in.” No wonder dogs stop
and look at their handlers, bark, or spin!

Clean Run - February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2013