Clean Run - June 2011 - 39

Time in Seconds to Take Each Obstacle on Di erent Days Obstacle 1 2 3 4 5 Avg. Time
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Single A-frame Back-to-back A-frames Single dogwalk Back-to-back dogwalks Seesaw Back-to-back seesaws Set of 12 weaves Back-to-back sets of 12 Set of 6 weaves Back-to-back sets of 6 Chute Back-to-back tires Back-to-back pipe tunnels 15' between obstacles 10' between obstacles 20' between obstacles 25' between obstacles

obstacle back-to-back, and for different distances between obstacles. If you know these averages, you can calculate how long any particular planned opening is likely to take. Dogs change their average speed over time. Some young dogs get faster, while older dogs usually slow down. You will want to recalculate your dog’s averages about once a year. Choosing Obstacles for Your Opening In selecting obstacles to include in your opening, try to evaluate how many points per second you will achieve with each chunk of your planned course. If you are planning to do a loop of three obstacles, for example, estimate the time required. Then divide the points you would achieve by the time required for that segment. Using a points-per-second criterion, compare different groups of obstacles to see which works best for you.You should also evaluate the probability of success for each alternative. One possible opening course may have the most points, but it may be more risky in terms of possible errors. The Obstacle with the Highest Point Value Some beginners in Gamblers always plan a strategy that includes the majorpoint obstacle. This strategy may not maximize your points and is often likely to put you out of position to start

the gamble, causing you not to qualify. If the major-point obstacle is at the far end of the course with few other high-point obstacles around it, those handlers who are not track stars themselves should consider an alternative instead of running out to it. Here’s an example: In Figure 5, you need to be near the front of the course to start the gamble, and there are lots of non-jump obstacles near the front. In this case, I would not do the high-point obstacle, the dogwalk, because it might pull me out of position to start the gamble, and because there are lots of high- point obstacles near the front of the course and none near the dogwalk. So I’ll look for a small fast circle of several closer obstacles that will get me just as many points. Remember, calculate the number of points you will earn in a certain number of seconds for different groups of obstacles; this will often show you a better path that doesn’t include the major-point obstacle.

Dogwalk is the major-point obstacle

On this course, you would probably get more points and be in a better position to start the gamble if you do not include the high-point obstacle in your opening.

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Dogwalk is the major-point obstacle
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This gamble starts near the major-point obstacle, so it's worthwhile to do the dogwalk back-toback in the opening.
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On this same course, if the gamble started near the dogwalk, as in Figure 6, I would make a path of obstacles out to the dogwalk, do it twice, and use the tunnel as my loitering obstacle as I waited to start the gamble. Back-to-Back Obstacles I learned from Stuart Mah to maximize opening points by taking the A-frame and tire back-to-back. This should give you more points in fewer seconds than any other obstacle on the course. For example, in a 1-3-5-7 scoring system with a 7-point dogwalk, you can earn 10 points by doing back-to-back 5-point A-frames, which will take about

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Clean Run - June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - June 2011