Clean Run Magazine - May 2006 - 81

5 Start adding various approach angles and move even farther away from the
gate. 6 In the final step of fading the gate from the The dog is doing a
Switch around the jump jump, the gate is 4' to 6' from the jump. and gate
with the gate faded from the jump. With a piece of food in the hand
farthest from Step 8 your dog, lure the dog around the gate and the jump
standard. As soon as the dog has turned, jump. Then you can just take the
gate out all Add a jump bar on the ground about 18' take off to meet him
at the end of that gate. together and start adding obstacles. behind the
jump you are doing Switch on. Place the target on the other side of the
When I am teaching a seminar and lecturing 7 second jump as seen in Figure
8. Now do a about how to teach Switch, the most Switch followed by a jump
to the target. If common question is why don't you send Work with a target
as the your dog needs more motivation you can the dog over the second jump
to the Switch first step toward fading the T put a 10' tunnel where the
second jump is gate. Position the target jump and then back to the second
jump as directly back from the gate, instead. in Figure 10. Let me explain
why I haven't about 5', so that your dog will have farther to go to get
added more obstacles through the fading Remember to work both directions
left the target. stage. With the gate still in the picture, it and right
and various angles and distances is very confusing for the dog. A dog with
from the jump and gate. 8 previous gate training might try to Out or Step 9
Here around the gate. And dogs without Once your dog is performing the
Switch any gate training may just get confused as Add a jump bar on the
from both sides and various distances, to why the gate is in their path;
therefore, I ground about 18' behind the jump you are doing Switch you can
start raising the bar. I like to do a don't start sequencing until I have
removed on. Place the target on the few reps at 16 for my 20 dog and then
the gate. other side of the second T jump. move the bar up to 20 once the
dog is Sequencing comfortable performing the Switch with Once your dog
will Switch around the the bar up. 9 jump standard from both directions
left Now that your dog is performing the Switch and right and from various
angles and at competition height, from both sides, and Move the gate back
from the distances with the gate faded, you can start jump about 2' to 3'.
Place the from all distances it is time to start fading dog back in the
same sequencing. the gate. starting position as before. Continue on after
the Switch The first sequence to try with your dog is and send the dog to
the Step 10 T the one in Figure 10. Now your dog will second jump and the
target. Move the gate back from the jump about be performing the switch
without a gate 2' to 3' as shown in Figure 9. Place the dog present.
Remember to work both sides so 10 back in the same starting position as
when that your dog does not learn to favor one 2 the gate was next to the
jump. Do this a direction over the other. couple of times so that the dog
learns to If you feel your dog is turning really wide Trying a sequence
with the perform the Switch even with the gate gate in place is very for
the Switch, you can put out a traffic cone confusing for the dog. Don't 3
moved. Continue on after the Switch and or something of that nature to
show your start sequencing until you have completely faded the send the
dog to the second jump and the 1 dog his correct path as seen in Figure
11. As gate. target; don't let the dog come between the your dog learns to
tighten his path, you can gate and the jump back to you. move the cone
farther from the jump and 11 then eventually remove it altogether. About
Step 11 once a month, I put out a couple of cones O n c e you have the dog
working both to tune up my dogs Switch skill. 2 directions left and right ,
you can move Now that your dog is sequencing with If you feel your dog is
turning the gate back another 2' to 3'. Remember really wide, you can put
out Switch, continue to add various obstacles a traffic cone or something
to work both directions left and right 3 of that nature to show your until
you are using Switch while doing full and various angles and distances from
the dog his correct path. 1 courses. | May 06 Clean Run 81
Clean Run Magazine - May 2006

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