Clean Run - July 2010 - 3

Cover
The magazine for dog agiliTy enThusiasTs July 10 Volume 16 number 7

PHOTOs © Gina BOderck and Marcy ManTell PHOTOGraPHy

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Formulating a Strategy for Gamblers or Jackpot USDAA Gamblers and CPE Jackpot are strategic games that test a team’s distance skills and the handler’s ability to plan and execute a course strategy. Here’s help for formulating a successful strategy. By Ann Croft

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When Pigs Fly: The Start Line Is the First Obstacle, Part 2 Last month, we discussed getting to the start line and the importance of the dog’s offering a relaxed, happy setup automatically. Now let’s examine six other important elements to a functional start line. By Jane Killion

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Power Paws Drills: Threadle the Needle Reverse flow pivot, threadle handling, and false turn are interchangeable terms, and you will do lots of them as you work through these drills. You’ll also learn proper footwork so that you can be comfortable with your technique. By Nancy Gyes

12 Evaluating a Dog’s Structure for Agility There are very few perfect dogs. Understanding your dog’s structure and knowing his structural strengths as well as his potential weaknesses is the first step to a longer and happier career for you both. You can set reasonable training goals and work on increasing the dog’s strength and flexibility where necessary. By Dr. Debbie Gross Saunders 23 Train to Maintain: Weave Exits Need some training ideas for maintaining your dog’s agility skills? This series presents a maintenance program that is easy to implement and that is designed to accomplish a great deal in short sessions. This month focuses on weave pole exits. By Mary Ellen Barry

Features
5 Editorializing: I Have Fun with My Dog... Really Some people assume that if your dog isn’t fast and driven you can’t possibly be having fun doing agility. They’re wrong. By Kristine Gunter energetic, too smart, or too busy for most pet homes. Many of these dogs are great agility prospects. This month, meet Zeppie, a mixed breed. By Lisa Barrett 63 The First Time Do you remember your first agility trial? Here is one handler’s experience at her first NADAC trial. By Dana McNeely 75 The Other End of the Teeter: A Journey to Success Humbling, exhilarating, and empowering all at the same time, this is one handler’s tale of agility training and the journey to the other end of the teeter. By Kathy Matejka 78 Managing Gastrointestinal Upset in your Canine Athlete Your dog has diarrhea and you are away from home. What to do? Try to find an emergency clinic? Manage the situation yourself? How do you know what is a critical emergency and what is merely a nuisance? By Julie A. Roos DVM

28 It’s Your Turn! Cue #4: The Rear Cross, Part 2 Having a dog with well-trained turn cues can make your life easier and is also much easier on your dog’s body and brain. In this series, you’ll learn how to teach your dog the seven turn cues. Here we continue our discussion of the fourth cue, the rear cross. By Sandy Rogers 32 Competition Preparation: It’s All in the Mind, Part 1 The transition from training to competition is one of the most important challenges for any agility team. We get nervous, anxious, and think about all sorts of things that aren’t present when we are training. By Steve Croxford 52 Foundation Fundamentals: Shaping For Beginners Shaping a behavior takes observational skills and mechanical skills. If this seems overwhelming, you are not alone. Here are suggestions for shaping effectively. By Moe Strenfel 58 Can You Handle It? This month’s sequence is taken from the Large Dog Individual Jumping course at the 2009 FCI Agility World Championship. By Ann Croft 60 Shelter Champs: Led Zeppelin While many competitors dream of earning titles, animal shelters continue to house dogs that were relinquished because they are too

44 AKC Course Design: Understanding the Options Course design is a mix of art, knowledge, and architectural skill. It is part regulations, part guidelines, and part experience. To maintain consistency in course challenges across the U.S., the AKC has developed a tool to help judges determine which obstacles are considered an option and which are not. By Gail Storm 66 Training Solutions for Weave Pole Problems Weaving problems are as varied as the types of weave poles our dogs see. Whether your dog’s problem is entries, skipping poles, exiting early, or his footwork, here are some training solutions. By Rachel Sanders

Columns
6 7 8 Tip of the Month By Moe Strenfel Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility… By Brenna Fender Backyard Dogs By Sharon Freilich

73 Nested Courses for a Small Universe By Debbie Sacerich

Cover Dog
Summer EAC, OJC, O-OCC, WV-O, TG-E, TN-O, CL3, CGC, a 5-year-old Labradoodle owned by Bridget Brady of Illinois. Photo by Alissa Behn, www.pet-personalities.com.

Clean Run (ISSN 1089-8506) is published monthly by Clean Run Productions, LLC. Principal office: 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Periodicals postage paid at South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075-9902 and additional offices. © Copyright 1995-2010 Bud Houston and Clean Run Productions, LLC. All world rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Clean Run, 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075.

July 10 | Clean Run

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Clean Run - July 2010

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