Clean Run - May 2020 - 31

STEP 5: Adding Two Poles
Your dog is now ready for a second set of
two poles to be added. The new set of poles is
added about 4' in front of the current set (that
is, at the 6 o'clock end of the current set) and
is set straight as shown in Figure 12. The goal
at this stage is that your dog hits an entry,
zigs back, and hits another entry. There is no
angling or rotation of the poles.

more times until your dog confidently oﬀers
both sets of poles in a row without pausing.

Repeat this a few times and then fade the first
reward. Start asking your dog to perform both
sets of poles for one reward. Repeat this a few

Now it's time to repeat all of the clock work
from Steps 3 and 4. At this stage and in the
steps that follow, I do not send my dog through
two sets of poles while I am positioned on the
lower area of the clock (between 3 o'clock and
9 o'clock). Rather, I send my dog to the first
set of poles and as he starts toward them, I
move forward to cue the second set of poles
with my motion as shown in Figure 13.
Although I want independent weave entries,
I do not want to train out my dog's natural
responsiveness to my physical cues. If I am
standing on the approach side of an obstacle,
I expect my dog to collect and take only
that obstacle when cued to do so. I do not
expect my dog to carry on and perform
additional obstacles. Because the two sets of
poles are two diﬀerent pieces of equipment
at this point, if I remain stationary my
dog's natural response will be to only do the
first set of poles. Therefore, if I am starting on
the lower arc of the clock, I will move with my
dog so he is cued to perform the second set
of poles with my forward motion. When I am

13A

13B

Leave your dog at 6 o'clock and go stand
at 11 o'clock between the two sets of poles.
Release your dog and as he exits the first set,
throw a cookie between the two sets of poles.
Reset your dog at 6 o'clock and repeat. This
time, after your dog eats his cookie, see if he
notices the second set of poles and oﬀers you
any behavior. If he hits the entry, reward; if he
notices the set and oﬀers you something, even
if it is incorrect, praise him and allow him to
try again. If you need to move a bit toward the
second set of poles to get him to notice it at
this point, that is okay.

starting at a position on the upper portion of
the clock (any location between 2 o'clock and
10 o'clock), however, I still send my dog to the
poles without moving forward.
Once you have worked through the clock
work in Figures 4 through 7, and your dog
is successful, begin moving the second set
of poles (poles 3 and 4) closer to the first set
until the bases are together and you have
four regulation poles as in Figure 14. Repeat
the clock work each time you move the poles
closer together.
12

11

12

Poles
3&4

1

10

2

9

3
8

4
7

6

5

Poles
1&2

13C

14

11

12

10

2

9

3
8

4
7

In Step 6 start adding lots of handler motion and begin practicing crosses.
May 20 | Clean Run

Poles
3&4

1

6

5

Poles
1&2
31
Clean Run - May 2020

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