Clean Run - May 2013 - 21

4
15

11
12

Red = pull or blind cross
Orange = front cross to front cross

Red = pull, then front cross to chute
Orange = pull to chute, then send and rear cross

and failing to read the turn to #3, causing them to go off course to
the teeter after #2. Also, a few dogs did not turn tightly off #3 and
headed to the off-course tunnel.
Handling from the #4 teeter to the tunnel at #5 seemed to work
equally well with the dog on the left or right. All handlers did #5#7 with the dog on their right. Most handlers chose to do a front
cross between jump #7 and the table at #8 to ensure a tight turn
and avoid an off course to the tunnel. At least one person did a
blind cross, which worked very nicely. Handling #8 to #10 with the
dog on the handler’s left was also universal and straightforward.
The European-flavor, backside-of-the-jump challenge occurred
from #10-#12. When I designed this section I anticipated that
handlers would opt to turn their dogs right off #11, using either a
continuous pull or a pull to a blind cross, while keeping the dog
on their left to go to #12 (Figure 3). I did anticipate the potential for an off course to #12 while going from #10-#11, and a few
teams did incur this fault. However, most handlers skillfully handled the challenge. The majority ran to the upright at #11 while
their dog was in the tunnel and waited patiently for the dog to
exit and come in their direction. This way handlers were showing little to no forward motion to #12 and clearly asking the dog
to come to #11 to their left side. Most then did a continuous pull
to execute the wrap. But a few brave handlers executed beautiful
blind crosses here, resulting in very tight turns to go to #12. A few
handlers surprised me by pulling their dogs to the takeoff side of
#11 and performing a front cross, turning the dog to the left, and
executing a second front cross to keep the dog on the left for #12.
This worked quite well although it was a longer distance to #12
and a sharper, more difficult turn to the #13 A-frame.
Handling choices from #12-#15 varied a bit. As expected, many
people with dogs faster than themselves elected to rear cross the
#13 A-frame and then do another rear cross between the A-frame
and the #14 panel jump. This produced a nice turn to the weaves.

I enjoyed judging this course.
It was fun to see the choices
people made; there were areas
to open up the dog and points
of handling where skillful
and timely communication
were important. The course
seemed to flow nicely for the
dogs. While possibly a bit more
challenging than the average
course, the handlers stepped
up and the qualifying percentage was a respectable 40%
and very even across the board
between large and small dogs.

Some handlers stayed with dog on left for the A-frame then
pushed to the panel jump and pulled to the #15 weaves.
I had expected most people to handle #15-#17 with a pull to the
chute at #16 and a send and rear cross between the chute and the
#17 double. Handlers who chose this option had a nice line to
the double at #17. There is also the possibility of a front or blind
cross between the chute and double if the handler has independent weaves. To my surprise, many handlers chose to pull their
dogs to the chute, do a front cross, and then try to drive a straight
line to the double. This only worked well if the handler was ahead
of the dog as he exited the chute. If the handler was behind at all,
as many were, the dog exited the chute thinking he was turning to
the A-frame, since the handler’s motion at the entry of the chute
conveyed a left turn would be coming up. This resulted in an awkward line (Figure 4), with some near collisions by dog and handler, and some off-courses to the A-frame. Keep in mind when
planning your handling strategy that the fabric of the chute does
move in the direction the dog thinks he is going upon exit; the dog
cannot see the exact direction of the handler’s motion just upon
exit. This is particularly an issue in AKC because the dog exits
more quickly since the fabric portion of the chute is much shorter
now. You want to plan carefully so that you are not in the dog’s
path close to the exit when he is emerging.
The closing line of the course was straightforward with most
people successfully running with the dog on their right.
I enjoyed judging this course. It was fun to see the choices people
made; there were areas to open up the dog and points of handling
where skillful and timely communication were important. The
course seemed to flow nicely for the dogs. While possibly a bit
more challenging than the average course, the handlers stepped
up and the qualifying percentage was a respectable 40% and very
even across the board between large and small dogs. D

Ann lives in San Diego, California, with her Border Collies Trigger, Flurry, Kit, Stun, Thrive, and Doce. Ann has been competing in and teaching agility for over 20 years, and
has been a USDAA and AKC agility judge for almost as long. She has trained and handled two Border Collies and a Boston Terrier to the ADCH and MACH2 championship
titles and is a multiple-time national finalist in both AKC and USDAA with both breeds. Her Border Collie Trigger is a DAM National Champion and AKC Reserve National
Champion. Ann has traveled throughout the US (including Alaska and Hawaii), Europe, and Australia competing, judging, and teaching. She is available for seminars
and online video review private lessons and coaching. See her website www.pawsonthewind.com/AnnCroftAgilityCoach.html, visit her on Facebook at Ann Croft Agility
Coach, or email her at 3XADCHMACH@gmail.com
May 13

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Clean Run - May 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2013