Clean Run - May 2013 - 10
Serpentines (a.k.a. serps) are fairly common course sequences with three or four obstacles set in a line.
In a serp, a dog (and sometimes the handler) must negotiate at least two changes of direction to wind
their way back and forth through a series of obstacles. Handlers can change sides using various crosses
or can remain on a parallel path using push/pull/push cues.
Figure 7: There are at least four handling
choices from #2-#4. How many can you
devise? There are options for front, rear,
and blind crosses—all with some level of
risk of an off-course at #5. One option to
attempt is keeping the dog on your right
all the way to the tunnel entry at #4 with
a rear cross at the entry. After the tunnel, do a front cross after #5 to block offcourse options and to shorten the path
back to the second tunnel entry. After the
weaves, do a front cross and keep dog on
left to #9. Execute a rear cross before #10
and pull to #11.
Figure 8: Conduct a front cross at #1 or
a tight lead-out push to #2. Implement a
threadle to #3, then another threadle to
#4; these two threadles could be pullthrough threadles from the inside or
push-through threadles from the backside of the jumps. A front cross after the
tunnel sets up the weave poles. Handle
#6-#8 with the dog on your right. Once
the dog is committed to the tunnel, step
to the right of the exit and keep the dog
on your left for #9-#11, blocking #7 along
the way.
Figure 9: Keep the dog on the left through
#4 while doing a post turn around the inside standard of jump #3. Let’s mix it up
a bit with a rear cross at the weave pole
entrance; a good skill to practice. The sequence from #6-#8 is challenging. Handlers who can get some distance from the
poles may be able to execute a smooth
front cross after #6, while others will be
better off doing a rear cross on the way to
#7. Your dog will be on the left from #7#9. Do a rear cross before #10 followed
by a front cross after #11.
Figure 10: Create a flowing arc from #1
to #3 and don’t allow your dog to drift to
1
11
2
2
10
3
1
3
10
9
9
11
5
6
8
6
7
8
7
5
4
8
4
7
8
3
10
9
10
12
1
11
7
4
2
9
5
1
3
12
6
11
5
4
2
7
6
9
8
10
#4 after #2. Do a front cross after #3 and work your way down to the weave poles. Do
front crosses after #6 and #7. After the tunnel, use a delayed front cross or a blind cross
to get to the approach side of #9. Alternatively, you could finish up with a serp at #9,
then a rear cross after #9, into a left turn at #10. Once the dog has turned left at #10, it
is a right side escort to #11 and #12.
Happy Spring serp’ing! D
Marq, and his wife Rebecca, own and operate Wild West Agility Training Center in Moorpark, California. They have earned multiple championships in AKC and USDAA.
Marq is an AKC judge and has judged and taught seminars throughout the USA and in Japan. He will be judging WAO 2013 in Oviedo, Spain in May. Marquand Cheek
can be contacted via his website: http://wildwestagility.com or on Facebook.
10
Clean Run | May 13
http://www.wildwestagility.com
Clean Run - May 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2013
Clean Run - May 2013
Contents
Reflections from a Novice Handler or What I Have Learned from My Dogs
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
So You’ve Got a Small Dog Now
Training to Your Strengths
The Judge’s Debriefing
Front Cross Footwork
Club Games to Light the Competitive Fires
The 10-Minute Trainer
Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 2
Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 3
How to Choose Your Best Agility Instructor
4 Easy Steps to Getting More Accomplished When You Train
Carpal Hyperextension Injuries
Power Paws Drills: Timing Turns
Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 2
Busting the Myths: Too Slow for Your Dog?
I Know That’s Not the Way You’re Supposed to Handle This, But…
Training with the Stars: Amanda Nelson
Clean Run - May 2013 - Clean Run - May 2013
Clean Run - May 2013 - 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - Contents
Clean Run - May 2013 - 4
Clean Run - May 2013 - Reflections from a Novice Handler or What I Have Learned from My Dogs
Clean Run - May 2013 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - May 2013 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - May 2013 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - May 2013 - 9
Clean Run - May 2013 - 10
Clean Run - May 2013 - So You’ve Got a Small Dog Now
Clean Run - May 2013 - 12
Clean Run - May 2013 - 13
Clean Run - May 2013 - 14
Clean Run - May 2013 - 15
Clean Run - May 2013 - 16
Clean Run - May 2013 - 17
Clean Run - May 2013 - Training to Your Strengths
Clean Run - May 2013 - 19
Clean Run - May 2013 - The Judge’s Debriefing
Clean Run - May 2013 - 21
Clean Run - May 2013 - Front Cross Footwork
Clean Run - May 2013 - 23
Clean Run - May 2013 - 24
Clean Run - May 2013 - 25
Clean Run - May 2013 - Club Games to Light the Competitive Fires
Clean Run - May 2013 - 27
Clean Run - May 2013 - 28
Clean Run - May 2013 - The 10-Minute Trainer
Clean Run - May 2013 - 30
Clean Run - May 2013 - 31
Clean Run - May 2013 - 32
Clean Run - May 2013 - Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - 34
Clean Run - May 2013 - 35
Clean Run - May 2013 - Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 3
Clean Run - May 2013 - 37
Clean Run - May 2013 - 38
Clean Run - May 2013 - 39
Clean Run - May 2013 - How to Choose Your Best Agility Instructor
Clean Run - May 2013 - 41
Clean Run - May 2013 - 4 Easy Steps to Getting More Accomplished When You Train
Clean Run - May 2013 - 43
Clean Run - May 2013 - 44
Clean Run - May 2013 - 45
Clean Run - May 2013 - Carpal Hyperextension Injuries
Clean Run - May 2013 - 47
Clean Run - May 2013 - 48
Clean Run - May 2013 - 49
Clean Run - May 2013 - 50
Clean Run - May 2013 - Power Paws Drills: Timing Turns
Clean Run - May 2013 - 52
Clean Run - May 2013 - 53
Clean Run - May 2013 - 54
Clean Run - May 2013 - 55
Clean Run - May 2013 - 56
Clean Run - May 2013 - Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 2
Clean Run - May 2013 - 58
Clean Run - May 2013 - Busting the Myths: Too Slow for Your Dog?
Clean Run - May 2013 - 60
Clean Run - May 2013 - I Know That’s Not the Way You’re Supposed to Handle This, But…
Clean Run - May 2013 - 62
Clean Run - May 2013 - Training with the Stars: Amanda Nelson
Clean Run - May 2013 - 64
Clean Run - May 2013 - 65
Clean Run - May 2013 - 66
Clean Run - May 2013 - 67
Clean Run - May 2013 - 68
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