Clean Run Magazine -May 2010 - 10

A trend I have seen on agility courses is a design where it is necessary to run through a box; not a simple box like I have in these drills, but boxes in which two jumps are flanked by an A-frame, tunnel, or some other tempting obstacle. No matter which obstacles you need to run by, you and your dog should be able to move through the box without your dog’s flicking away, or crossing in front or behind you to an off-course obstacle.

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Figure 7 Send your dog to the #1 tunnel, keeping him on your left through #6. Try putting a front cross on the outside of the 270, sending over #7, and put another front cross after #7 to tighten the turn to #8. In the previous exercises we practiced moving to serpentine position and pushing to the next obstacle, which would also be a good way to handle this sequence. Figure 8 Lead out between #1 and #2, sending your dog into the #2 tunnel on your left. Do a front cross on the takeoff side of #3 so you can handle #3 through #5 on your right. Do a front cross between #5 and #6, and keep your dog on your left to #8. Do a rear cross at #8 and try to keep your dog on your right. You will need a threadle cue to make sure your dog takes the correct side of #9. Figure 9 Lead out between #2 and #3 with the dog on your right. Do a front cross on

the landing side of #3 to put the dog on your left for #4-#6. Do another front cross before #7. Threadle from #7 to #8 and again from #8 to #9. Support the weave pole entry and finish with your dog on your right. You might need a threadle cue to get the correct side of the #12 tunnel. Figure 10 Do a lead-out pivot from #2 to #3 and threadle from #3 to #4. After the 270 to #5, you have a couple of options. The first option is to do a front cross before #6 to put the dog on your right; it feels a little awkward because if you don’t keep moving you will be in your dog’s way. Do another front cross before #7. The second option is to do a rear cross at #6, followed by a front cross before #7. I like this option the least because the turn from #6 to #7 might be wider and drive your dog forward to the tunnel as you move forward out of the rear cross to get into front-cross position. Finish with your dog on your left for #7. Pull to tunnel #8 and serpentine #9 through #11 with your dog on your left. D
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Sharon Freilich and her husband Phil reside in Martinez, California, where she manages Freilance Dog Sports and teaches up to 15 classes each week, as well as many private lessons. Sharon has obtained multiple agility championships in both USDAA and AKC on six dogs: a Border Terrier, an Australian Shepherd, and four Border Collies. Sharon and her dogs have consistently competed at the USDAA and AKC finals. Contact her through w w w.freilancedogspor ts.com

Clean Run | May 10

http://www.freilancedogsports.com

Clean Run Magazine -May 2010

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