Clean Run - February 2014 - 31

When you are moving, your dog tries
to move parallel to you. So on an agility
course, you should recognize the optimal lines for your dog and run parallel
to them. When you decelerate or stop,
your dog will come closer to you. We use
this deceleration to bring the dog's running line on the course closer to our line.
There are several aspects of movement
to consider besides your running speed.
The other important factors are the direction and timing of your movement.
In agility, every step you take and the
direction of the movement is significant and supports completing the
course successfully. The direction of
your movement tells your dog either to
commit to the next obstacle or prepare
for the next sequence.
In many cases, the timing of your movement reflects your level of trust in your
dog. A high level of trust buys you time
to move on the agility course. When
you trust your dog will maintain commitment to the obstacle, even when
you start running in the other direction,
you get a lot more time for yourself to
move on the course and stay ahead of
your dog. When you don't trust your
dog or you don't know how your handling is affecting your dog, you must
wait or manage him to complete an
obstacle before you move on.
When you use the different aspects of
movement efficiently, you can get to
most places in time, no matter how difficult the sequence. Therefore, timing and
direction of movement are two of our
main themes in our technique teaching.
Example: Movement in the Forced Front Cross

est wing to the dog's approach). Depending on your dog's speed, it can be
several feet before the dog passes the
plane of the jump. Once your dog has
committed to the jump, start moving
along your next running line as shown
in the diagram.

Handler's Position
in Relation to the Dog
Your position on an agility course
passes a lot of information to your dog.
Therefore, it's not surprising that position is one of the most powerful elements in many techniques for achieving the best possible running lines for
your dog, before and after an obstacle.
The position element has variables as
there are differences between individual dogs; for example, some dogs don't
want to come too close to the handler
while running the course. It's important
that you are aware of your dog's natural
working distance from you and use it to
your benefit whenever possible.

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The handler is positioned behind the front wing, cueing
the dog to go around the wing. The chest's laser pointer
and the handler's feet are pointing to the end of the
wing, the desired line of the dog. The leg closest to the
wing is in front. The hand is at the dog's nose height
to get his attention. The handler is watching the dog's
eyes to see when he commits to the refusal plane of the
jump and going around the wing.

Example: Position in the Forced Front Cross
In the forced front cross, the first handling position is behind the front wing
(closest to the dog) at least 10' ahead
of the dog. Your distance from the wing
is 2'. If you are positioned too close to
the wing, your dog might approach the
jump too closely as well, which often
causes a dropped bar or the dog hitting the wing while jumping. If you are
positioned too far away from the jump,
the dog can imitate the distance to the
jump from your position and pass the
obstacle. If you are positioned behind
the bar rather than the front wing, your
dog will likely jump the obstacle from
the wrong direction.

The movement element in the forced
front cross is carried out close to the obWhen your dog commits to the jump,
stacle. First you
you should be
move toward
positioned close
the far wing and
to the end of the
then in a parallel
bar and the back
line to your dog.
or far wing. If you
You start moving
are too close to
along the jump
the front wing, it
immediately afmay prevent the
ter your dog has
A forced front cross is executed on the
dog from taking
committed to
takeoff side of this backside jump.
the jump; or, if
Throughout the forced front cross, the
cross the plane
hander stays close to the obstacle. First
the dog does
of the jump and
the handler moves toward the far wing, and
jump, he can
go around the
then on a parallel line with the dog.
easily drop the
front wing (closFebruary 14

bar or hit the front wing. If you are too
far ahead, your dog will pass the jump or
hit the back wing while jumping.

The dog has committed to the jump.

Handler's Eye Contact
with the Dog
Contrary to popular belief, eye contact
isn't just about staring straight at your
dog; in fact, you don't even have to see
your dog at all times. From the dog's
point of view, you remain in contact
with him as long he is aware of which
side of you he should follow; so you
only need to be aware of his location.
To maintain contact, your dog needs to
see the side profile of your face, which
indicates the running direction. So you
only need to turn your head toward the
side you want your dog to come next.
For example, when cueing the side
change in a blind cross, turning your
head is a more important element of
the technique for your dog than your
arm signal.
31

Clean Run - February 2014

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