Clean Run Magazine - April 2010 - 46

Important: The handler must get to the starting point of the diagonal line so she can maintain the correct line to create the same line she wants the dog on from #7-#8.

If the handler starts the rear cross from the wrong position, you can see the line her shoulders create for the dog after #7, toward the off-course trap.

and another right turn from #17-#18. Make a right turn off the dogwalk to #19 and then a left turn from #19-#20. Obstacles #1-#3 I would choose to start with the dog on my left and not take a long lead-out. Once I release the dog I give a verbal cue when he’s in the chute, and then do a rear cross at the A-frame to go to #4. Obstacles #4-#8 Theoretically there is a front cross between #6 and #7, but due to the position of the table it will be hard to make a positional cue. Therefore, I can do a rear cross at #7. This is quite a hard rear cross due to the off-course trap at the back of jump #2. But providing the dog understands basic circle work, not to cut across your feet, and also understands your acceleration so he does not turn tight, this should be possible. In Figure 3, you can see the handler’s diagonal line is also very fine and if the handler does not start the line in the correct place then her shoulders are likely to create the wrong line to the off-course trap as shown in Figure 4. Obstacles #9-#12 From #9-#12, I have the dog on my left, using just shoulder rotation to cue the turns. Obstacles #13-#18 The type of table count dictates how I handle the next section. If there is a count of 5 while the dog is on the table, I move to #13 and release with the dog on my right. In the U.K. if we have a table, it tends to be a down position and immediate Go from the judge; if this was the case, I would just do a rear cross at #13. I have the dog on the right through the #14 weaves and drive the dog forward to #15. Once the dog has driven past the dogwalk, I can then rotate to my left, turning the dog into the tunnel.

As the dog is in the #16 tunnel, the handler’s left arm should come across her body. At the dog’s exit, the handler should be ahead and change to a right arm, creating the right turn.

For #15-#16 there is no option except to layer the dogwalk. But since there is no serpentine positional cue conflict (that is, the dog cannot jump the dogwalk) this should not affect any handling system consistency. I give a verbal Tunnel command here just to make sure, but since it is a straight line from #15#16 the dog should drive ahead with the shoulders as a cue. There is a left turn in tunnel #16 and a right turn on exit. So I serpentine the exit and do a rear cross at #17. Therefore, while the dog is in the #16 tunnel, I have my left arm across my body and change to a right arm when the dog exits to cue the right turn toward me as shown in Figure 5. As the dog then drives to #17, I create the diagonal line on the rear cross to control the turn. My deceleration on this rear cross also helps to create the tight turn with shoulder rotation. Obstacles #19-#20 If I am far enough ahead, I can do a front cross into the #19 tunnel. But most likely I can finish with a rear cross at #19, since I am not likely to be far enough ahead to do a front cross. From #19-#20 is just a simple shoulder rotation.

Greg Derrett: The first thing I look at when analyzing a course on paper is the dog’s line.
46 Clean Run | April 10

Clean Run Magazine - April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - April 2010