Clean Run Magazine - March 2009 - 3

® Cover The magazine for dog agiliTy enThusiasTs march 09 Volume 15 number 3 PHotoS © elizabetH Dott, Marcy Mantell 24 Money-saving Tips for Trialing and Traveling In this struggling economy, what can agility enthusiasts do to tighten our budgets so that going to trials is more affordable and we can add to the number of trials we can afford to do this year? By Elizabeth Dott Canine Health Care: FAQs Nowadays, we have more tools available to diagnose lameness and soft-tissue injuries than ever before. Determining the best diagnostic option to get your canine athlete back on course can be challenging. By Julie A. Roos DVM 53 56 Foundation Fundamentals: Start-line Line-ups For you to steer your dog, he needs to see the same obstacles you see, so his path must be parallel to yours. It all starts with something as basic as your dog lining up next to you, facing the same direction. By Moe Strenfel 13 Trainer’s Forum A group of trainers shares potential solutions for fixing missed up contact performances on the A-frame. By Brenna Fender 28 Table Time Table resentment and performance problems are difficult demons to exorcise. But here’s a training plan to re-adjust your dog’s mindset and teach him a fast and efficient table performance. By Sandy Rogers © Karen HocKer PHotograPHy Features 5 Editorializing: Not Today Each of us agility addicts faces different challenges to play the game with our dogs and make our dreams come true. Not everyone has easy access to clubs and trials. By Donna Gates King 65 Changing Consequences: Learner’s Permit to Driver’s License or Leash Responsibility Loose-leash walking is often a stumbling block when training our dogs. To succeed, we need to shift the function of the leash from a punishment to a reinforcement for self-control. By Jenny Ruth Yasi 69 What’s Too Early When It Comes to Jumping? The agility enthusiast with a puppy is often tempted to get him started on equipment as soon as possible. What is the perfect age to start the puppy’s jump training? There is no simple answer; there are many factors to consider. By Debbie Gross Saunders, DPT, MSPT, OCS, CCRP 79 Can You Handle It? Test your skills on a challenging section of the 2008 FCI Agility World Championship Large Dog Team Agility course that’s been designed to fit in a 60' x 80' area. By Ann Croft 17 Tricks for Agility: Crawl Forward Learning to crawl gives the dog a whole new way to think and move. It contributes to overall improvement in strength and muscle tone while promoting body awareness and rear-end coordination, all of which help jumping ability. By Sassie Joiris 21 Shelter Champs: Hawkeye While many competitors dream of earning titles, animal shelters continue to house dogs that were relinquished because they are too energetic, too smart, or too busy for most pet homes. Many of these dogs are great agility prospects. This month, meet Hawkeye. By Lisa Barrett 39 Power Paws: Seminar Sets Put on your own agility seminar with these setups, or better yet invite your friends over for a two-day team training session or run your own seminar at your training club using the setups. By Nancy Gyes 45 When Pigs Fly: Teaching the Rear Cross, Part 2 Last month, we talked about the flatwork for teaching your dog a cue to change direction. This month, we go to the next level and teach your dog to move ahead of you and complete the change of direction. By Jane Killion 34 Reliable Running A-frames: Just the FAQs It’s an exciting time in the development of running A-frame training. Many of us are working toward the same end: a faster yet precise performance. The author provides answers to frequently asked questions about running the A-frame in general, and about the specifics of her box method. By Rachel Sanders 61 Comparing the Derrett and Mecklenburg Handling Systems, Part 1 During the coming months, we’re going to compare the two most popular and proven handling systems in the U.S.—Greg Derrett’s system and Linda Mecklenburg’s Awesome Paws Handling System—to try to help you understand both the differences and similarities. By the Clean Run Staff Columns 6 7 8 Tip of the Month By Kim Collins Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility… By Brenna Fender Backyard Dogs By Sharon Freilich 74 My Favorite Course By Bonnie McDonald 76 Distance Challenge By Jane Simmons-Moake Cover Dog Field Champion Sunlight’s Razzle, AX, OAJ, CGC, P1S, PJ1, NCC, NAC, NJC, a.k.a. Razzle, a 7-year-old Miniature Longhaired Dachshund owned by Karin Boyd, DVM of New York. Photo by Lesley Mattuchio. Clean Run (ISSN 1089-8506) is published monthly by Clean Run Productions, LLC. Principal office: 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Periodicals postage paid at South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075-9902 and additional offices. © Copyright 1995-2009 Bud Houston and Clean Run Productions, LLC. All world rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Clean Run, 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. March 09 | Clean Run 3

Clean Run Magazine - March 2009

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