Clean Run - April 2013 - 13

9

10

R

11

20'

20'

Add a second jump. Initially, stand 10' away
laterally; then begin to increase lateral
distance incrementally as shown. Remember
to work the dog on your left and right.

Place the dog a few feet from the jump. Stand
in the position shown and pivot as the dog is
taking the jump. (When you’re starting the dog
this close to the jump, you will need to pivot as
soon as you release the dog.) The dog should
turn the moment you pivot toward him and
immediately head in your direction for
reinforcement. Use a toy or a treat to reward
the dog the instant he gets to your side.

12

13

Take both time and care

5'

when teaching the turn

10'

on one jump; all of these

15'

exercises are meant to

20'
Incrementally add distance between the dog
and the jump. Initially, shorten your lateral
distance from the jump.

Add a second jump as in Figure 9.
Initially, stand 10' away laterally;
then begin to increase lateral distance
incrementally. Continue to reinforce
the dog on landing. Remember to
work the dog on your left and right.
Teaching the Turn
If possible, I want my dogs to turn then
land, not land then turn. To teach them
to do so, your timing must be precise
and quick. I begin my rotation on the
pivot as my dog is landing the stride
before he takes off for the jump where
he is turning. As your dog lands the final stride on the ground, hopefully your
lead-out position is perfect and your dog
already understands which direction he
is traveling. When you pair that position
cue with a perfectly timed pivot as he
is leaving the ground for the jump, you
should get a great turn over the jump.
However, just because you do the LOP
correctly does not mean that your dog
will respond the way you planned. Your
dog needs a lot of reinforcement for responding to the cues you are teaching
or you will have a great handler cue, but
not a great response from the dog.
April 13

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As your dog becomes proficient at the turn on
both your left and right, gradually move your
position all the way out to the farthest lateral
distance you’ve been working. The lateral
distance can be added just 12" at a time.

be done in small,
Add a jump on each side that you can pivot
toward as shown. Start the dog close to the
jump again. Stand in each position shown and
pivot as the dog is taking the jump.

So take both time and care when
teaching the turn on one jump; all of
these exercises are meant to be done
in small, incremental steps.
Place the dog just a few feet from
the jump. Stand in the position shown
in Figure 10 and pivot as the dog is
taking the jump. (When you’re starting the dog this close to the jump, you
will need to pivot as soon as you release the dog.) The dog should turn
the moment you pivot toward him and
immediately head in your direction for
reinforcement. Use a toy or a treat to
reward the dog the instant he gets to
your side. I tug with my dog at my side
with his nose turned to my knee. You
are building your dog’s desire to get
to you fast and with enthusiasm so be
sure to reward each and every pivot at
your side. Practice this on both sides.
As your dog becomes proficient at the
turn on both your left and right sides,
gradually move your handling position
all the way out to the farthest lateral
distance you’ve been working as shown
in Figure 11. The lateral distance can
be added just 12" at a time.

incremental steps.

When the dog goes briskly and confidently over the jump on both your left
and right sides, you can add distance
between the dog and the jump. Initially,
shorten your lateral distance from the
jump. Increase the dog’s distance from
the jump incrementally as shown in
Figure 12.
Once you can place the dog back 20'
from the jump with you only a few feet
away laterally, begin to add lateral distance back into the drill incrementally
until you can be 20' away.
Now add a jump on each side that you
can pivot toward as shown in Figure 13.
Start the dog close to the jump again.
Stand in each position shown and pivot
as the dog is taking the jump. (When
starting your dog just a few feet from
the jump, you need to pivot as soon as
you release the dog to jump.)
When the dog goes briskly and confidently over the jumps on both sides,
gradually add distance between the
dog and the jump until you can start
the dog 20' from the first jump.

13
Clean Run - April 2013

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