Clean Run - March 2013 - 29

and give it a couple taps, and then try again. If he does a
proper bend around the plungers, reward on the line to the
plank. Do this a few times
to make sure you are getting
the bend you’ve trained for
with the new visual distraction of the plank.
Once the dog has proven he
can handle the new distraction
by keeping the plungers up,
The orientation of the closed-base
you can offer him the plank.
plungers relative to the plank for a
tight turn, at a distance of 20'. Reward
Stand by the start of the plank
your dog for going around the
and send your dog to the
plungers a few times first, ensuring
he keeps them up, before letting him
plungers. As he comes around
take the plank afterward.
the plungers, walk forward.
Once the dog hits the plank entry, throw a toy straight ahead
for him. Be sure to work both sides equally so that your dog is
comfortable on either lead as he approaches.
Proof through your motion at a walk, jog, and then a run. Your
dog should be able to handle it since this is an extension of the
proofing progressions from the previous articles. Once your
dog can handle each progression of motion, bring the plungers
closer to the plank 5' at a time, until your last plunger is at the
corner of the plank.

Quasar sets up for the turn as he approaches, downshifts, and spots his point
by looking at the end of the board. He executes the turn using an appropriate
bend in his body and angle of lean through the turn, and he is balanced as he
accelerates up the plank.

Soft Curves
Soft arcs can present even more challenging entries onto contacts because on a softer turn, our dog is able to approach with
more speed. For a dog that hasn’t been trained how to enter the
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| Clean Run

dogwalk, this is a dangerous combination. It usually results
in messy, off-balance entries, as the dogs tries to bend after
getting on the plank instead of before it.
The training of soft curves onto a plank builds off the arc
expansion work discussed earlier in this article, so make sure
you’ve spent some time on that before trying it with the plank.
To start, set up the open-base plungers (increase the space between the bases) about 20' away from the plank and table-top
setup. You can alter the position of the entry and exit plunger
around the apex plunger to produce an exit from the bend that
is on a line to the plank. Put your dog on a curve that is consistent with the plunger setup and plank, with yourself between
the plungers and the plank. Release your dog and reward him
between the plungers and the plank a few times, so you can
reinforce him for leaving
the plungers up. Once he
understands that, you can
let him take the plank after
he completes the plungers.
Again, throw your toy ahead
to reward the dog.
The orientation of the open-base
When your dog has a solid
plungers relative to the plank for a soft
understanding of how to
turn, at a distance of 20'. The softer arc
allows the dog to practice entering a
maintain his arc on the concontact from a more extended stride.
tact approach, you can start
Reward your dog for going around the
plungers a few times first, ensuring
to challenge him by moving
he keeps them up, before letting him
the open-base setup toward
take the plank afterward.
the plank. Remember, as
your dog’s speed increases and the plungers move closer to the
plank, your dog might forget about working the turn and lose
his bend or awareness of his arc in an effort to reach the board
faster. If he knocks a plunger, use your “light” verbal marker
and try again. If he knocks
the plungers a few times in a
row, then move the plungers
farther back from the plank
again and reinforce him a
few times for going around
them. Leaving the plungers
up is the key that opens the
door for the obstacle and
applies whether the bend
is sharp or soft. If you love
what you get, reward it like
crazy; if you don’t, go back
to reinforcing proper position
with the open-base plungers
until your dog has a better
understanding.

This work is all about proofing through a variety of
entry arcs, so in addition to
working tight curves and soft
curves, work all the ones in
between as well. The more
awkward, the better. If you
can teach your dog to “see”

Quasar executing an arc around
an open-base plunger set up with a
more extended stride. In his last stride
on the ground, he is reading
his approach, looking at the edge
of the board, and using body bend
to enter the contact on an appropriate
arc that helps him stay balanced and
carry his speed onto the contact.
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Clean Run - March 2013

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