Clean Run Magazine - May 2006 - 13

the jump and then rushing back to the handler, we have not Next, the
handler shouldn't have to warn the dog to wrap back. If accomplished much.
A dog that just tosses himself over the warm- the dog is paying attention,
he should automatically wrap back to up jump is more likely to be a little
over the top in the actual the handler without any additional cues other
than the handler's run. The handler should cue the dog verbally to Settle
Down, movement. If the dog isn't paying attention, turns wide, and floats
and take the jump Easy or Quietly, to help him think about the back to the
handler, only then should the handler cue the dog jump as he takes it. to
turn and come back quickly as he is landing. Finally, the handler should
not just stand there but move with 1 2 the dog so that he is shaping the
dog's path around the jump as shown in Figure 2. To help turn the dog back
toward the handler, the handler can do a counter-rotation a front cross on
the flat in which the handler turns toward his dog, accomplishing a change
of side and of direction . The handler's motion helps the dog and handler
get in sync for moving in harmony on the course. Basic figure eight The
handler should move with The handler then sends the the dog and shape the
dog's dog over the jump from path. After sending the dog right to left,
again counter- over the jump from left to right, rotating to tell the dog
to wrap the handler turns into the dog the jump and come to the
counter-rotates , to bring the handler's left side. dog tightly around the
wing. Distance Figure Eight You can use a slight variation on this basic
figure-eight exercise figure eight, the handler starts out the same as in
a basic figure to teach the dog that he can take an obstacle on command,
even eight. Each time the dog completes the pattern, the handler steps
when you are moving away from an obstacle. This variation also back a few
feet so that he ends up sending and calling the dog teaches the handler to
adjust his commands and cues to make the from successively greater
distances. figure-eight exercise smooth and uninterrupted. With the
distance Figure Eight with a Side Cue While warming up the dog physically,
we also want the dog to 3. As the dog moves away from the jump with the
handler, the listen carefully to the verbal cues that his handler is
giving and handler turns in a counterclockwise circle back toward the jump
not just play the know-it-all by automatically taking the jump. and sends
the dog over the jump in the other direction. The figure eight with a Side
cue gets the dog's attention by 4. The handler counter-rotates again and
continues turning. directing him to come away from the jump instead of
doing a When the dog comes around the jump, the handler gives the complete
figure eight. This exercise, which is shown in Figure 3, dog a second Side
cue so that the dog comes off the jump a also encourages the dog to
rapidly switch from obstacle focus to second time, but this time moving in
the opposite clockwise handler focus, all while moving in harmony with his
handler. direction. 1. The first part is similar to the basic figure eight
with the dog 5. The handler then turns, sending the dog over the jump in
the jumping away from the handler and then turning toward the original
direction. handler, while the handler performs a counter-rotation and This
figure-eight routine can then be repeated as needed. then continues
turning. 2. Once the dog turns toward the handler, the handler gives a
Side cue for the dog to move with the handler away from the jump. 3 Side!
Side! The figure eight with a side Once the dog has turned The handler
turns in a The handler counter-rotates When the dog comes around The
handler then turns, cue begins as a basic figure toward the handler, the
counterclockwise circle back again and continues turning the jump, the
handler again sending the dog over the eight with the handler doing
handler gives the cue to come toward the jump and sends away from the dog.
cues the dog to come to side jump in the original direction. a
counter-rotation. But in this to side and then moves away the dog over the
jump in the so that the dog comes off the case, the handler continues from
the jump. other direction. jump a second time, but this turning away from
the dog. time moving clockwise. | May 06 Clean Run 13
Clean Run Magazine - May 2006

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