Clean Run Magazine - April 2006 - 85

Review: Walking the Course: What to Look For and How to Plan Your Run A DVD
by Kathy Keats By Martha Faulk I'm embarrassed to admit I once fell asleep
As we follow Keats through each course, in my chair while listening to a
seminar we're reminded to check for the start and instructor discuss
different ways to run a finish lines. Then, she suggests we look course.
No matter how hard the instructor for changes of direction on the course
tries, it's just difficult to put yourself into a because those are the
places we'll need handling situation on a course diagramed to decide
whether to do a front cross, on a flip chart and illustrated with a
felt-tip rear cross, or pull or post turn. Each pen and lots of arrows and
X s. body position is crucial because it is the basic way we signal or cue
the Kathy Keats's DVD about course-walking dog on course. As we become
more strategies is sure to pull viewers in and advanced in our handling,
she keep them awake because it has plenty says, Other details become more
of short, clear explanations about handling important, such as lead
changes possibilities and plenty of action as Kathy and the length of the
dog's stride. and her Border Collie, Mojo, show course sequences run in a
variety of ways. Keats thinks it's especially important to It's one thing
to discuss theoretical plan for the dog's landing position after Tw o
different Novice/Open Jumpers possibilities for handling, and quite each
jump. She shows us, as she walks the courses are carefully analyzed on
this DVD. another and better thing to see sequence, where she expects Mojo
to land. Keats presents a handling option, such as a all those
possibilities performed Then, in the slow-motion sequences, we front
cross, then runs the front cross, first get to see exactly where Mojo does
land, by handler and dog. without her dog and then with the dog. and we
can also watch him turn his head This turns out to be a good way to show
to check in with her. The slow-motion different possibilities because,
occasionally, course, Keats emphasizes the importance sequences are
particularly helpful for when Keats says a particular kind of cross of
running past the last obstacle to prevent this type of handling analysis
because may cause the dog to run by a jump, you the dog from slowing down
and perhaps the viewer can see the dog's body turn in actually see that
off-course take place as knocking a bar. After demonstrating relation to
Keats's body position. Mojo follows the appropriate cues. It's one
different handling possibilities for each thing to discuss theoretical
possibilities Keats also demonstrates three different course, Keats and
Mojo then perform the for handling, and quite another and types of
lead-outs: the lead-out pivot, entire course to show how well it flows
better thing to see all those possibilities the lead-out push, and a
rather complex with the appropriate turns and crosses. performed by
handler and dog. maneuver, the serpentine lead-out. She Keats, a former
women's basketball coach discusses the advantages and disadvantages Keats
has plenty of good advice for strat- and coach of the Canadian Agility
World of all three and reminds us that the dog egizing even before the
handler is allowed Team, has an analytical approach to must be trained to
recognize all of them on course. She suggests committing the spatial
issues and can explain those issues before they can be executed perfectly.
course to memory if a map is available, confidently and succinctly. I'm
looking watching the course being built, and Another instructive segment
deals with forward to more of Keats's DVD course visualizing your path
through the course different methods of handling pinwheels, analyses.
Perhaps next time, she will before walking it. By the time you're with
several front- and rear-cross positions, analyze courses with contact
obstacles on the course, you'll be more confident, illustrated first by
Keats and then Keats and and help us to consider how to plan for them. D
she says. Mojo. As we approach the end of each Martha Faulk is a lawyer
and author who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is Chairwoman of the
Board of Directors for the Larimer Humane Society and teaches agility
there. Martha trains an Australian Cattle Dog and an Australian Shepherd
that she adopted from the shelter and also runs a Border Terrier in
agility. Martha may be reached at marthfaulk@msn.com. | April 06 Clean Run
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Clean Run Magazine - April 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - April 2006
