© GRACE BASSETTE Improve Your Handling Skills at Home BACKYARD|DOGS For my first Backyard Dogs article I created the setup shown in Figure 1a. In case you don't have a 15-foot tunnel, you can replace the tunnel in the setup with a jump as shown in Figure 1b. You can also use a set of six weave poles as shown in Figure 1c to work on some very challenging weave pole entries. The sequences shown in Figures 2-10 are designed to help you work on a wide range of skills and the transitions between them. These sequences progress from classic pinwheels and serpentines to more challenging sequences with serpentines, jump wraps, backsides, and threadles. 1A 10 20 30 Here are the ways that I challenge everyone who trains with me to get the most from every sequence: * When there is a jump wrap, handle the wrap once with your dog wrapping to one direction and again with your dog wrapping to the other direction. It challenges your handling to get your dog set up for the wrap in the each direction and then to get to the next obstacle. * For backsides can you cue your dog to take the jump around either jump standard? Can you take your dog to the take off side? Use as many backside handling methods as possible! 1B 40 40 40 30 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 52 20 30 By Steve Schwarz 10 20 30 * Can you handle the serpentines and threadles from both sides? A threadle can be handled as a push to the backside if you are on the other side of the jumps. * When moving past an off-course obstacle or tunnel entrance can you do it with your dog next to the off course? * When considering different handling options ask yourself: Which sets a better line for my dog to the next obstacle? Which lets me leave and move to the next obstacle sooner? Which is faster? 1C 10 20 30 40 40 30 30 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 Substitute jump for tunnel 10 20 30 40 Substitute poles for tunnel 10 20 30 30 Clean Run | March 18