Clean Run - July 2013 - 5

“Internationalization”
and Course Design Trends
By Ann Croft

My goal in course design is to create courses that flow well and
are fast, fun, and fair for all sizes of dogs. To set Masters-level
courses apart from Novice, I like to include some handling challenges that test a handler’s decision making, timely execution of a
handling maneuver, communication, and the dog’s responsiveness.
Occasionally I include a course element that some people consider
“international” or European in nature, like the backside of a jump
or a wrap, which handlers may not see often but may encounter at
a tournament or national event. This helps them prepare for these
type challenges and I think it is fun for them to test skills they may
be working on in class in a competition setting.
In January I set an AKC Masters course in Los Angeles, California
that included both a wrap and a backside. There was a friendly
comment or two during the walk-through about the backside element, but I expected that. Overall, people accepted the challenge
and handlers with dogs of all shapes and sizes performed well. The
overall Q rate was well within the typical range for an AKC Masters course and not skewed toward smaller or bigger dogs.
I enjoyed watching the teams tackle the challenges and received
positive feedback from the exhibitors, so I decided to use a modified version of the course for an upcoming assignment in a metropolitan area in the Northeast. To my surprise, some competitors
were very put off by the backside challenge. There were even negative comments regarding the wrap, which I don’t consider to be an
out-of-the-ordinary AKC challenge or overly difficult. While most
stepped up to the line with confidence and determination, there
were some exhibitors who felt the course was well outside their
comfort zone. I was puzzled since I have included the occasional
backside in my courses for a couple of years, as well as wraps,
and have not previously encountered such a negative reaction.
Between the two trials, a variety of breeds were represented by
the qualifiers including Cavalier, Corgi, Westie, Chinese Crested,
American Eskie, Cattle Dog, Sheltie, Brussels Griffon, PBGV,
Italian Greyhound, English Springer, Border Collie, Tibetan Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Keeshond, Vizsla, Boxer, Ridgeback, German Shepherd, Elkhound, Kerry Blue Terrier, Bernese Mountain
Dog, Rottie, Irish Setter, Old English Sheepdog, and Leonberger.
Once home I reflected on the concerns expressed on the elements
in my course as well as comments I had seen recently on the Internet regarding European-style courses, the recent AKC Excellent C
demo courses, and the topic of “internationalization” of dog agility. Some exhibitors believe that European-style challenges, like
backsides or wraps, are not appropriate for dogs in the US because
the dogs have to turn too tightly to be successful. Some think that it
takes special skills by both handler and dog to negotiate these type
of challenges. And some fear that Masters courses in the US are
July 13 | Clean Run

headed down the path of becoming like European courses, which
tend to be very technical throughout and favor very fast and athletic dog and handler teams.
I do not believe that US courses are in danger of becoming like
European courses. I think there are two major reasons for the divergence in course design in the US and abroad. First is the establishment of titling programs in the US rather than the win-out system
used for advancement through agility levels in other countries.
With a win-out system it is not surprising the courses have gravitated to more and more difficult technical challenges; otherwise,
the criteria for winning would just be speed. With a titling program
winning isn’t the only measure of success; exhibitors can earn titles and move up while enjoying the rewards of simply qualifying.
The second is the commitment of many agility organizations to
the concept that our sport is for all dogs, hence the broad expansion of available jump heights in the US. The emphasis on titling
programs and keeping agility available as a sport for all dogs will
keep our course designs more moderate here in the US.
I disagree that European-style challenges are too difficult for all
dogs and too hard on them. I think the occasional backside, wrap,
serpentine, or even threadle, is a fair and fun challenge for the
range of breeds competing in this country—if the challenge is presented properly and fairly. This means that such challenges should
allow handlers who aren’t fleet of foot to be in position to handle
their dog through the challenge so they have a fair shot at success.
Secondly, the element should be presented as a single challenge
rather than compounded by a secondary challenge such as a strong
off-course option while the dog is turning. I also prefer that there
are multiple options for managing the challenge, like the choice to
turn the dog either direction on a wrap obstacle. Both the wrap and
the backside challenge on my courses could be done with the dog
in extension or collection and there was no need for tight turning.
Nearly all of the handlers used “traditional” handling moves, like
pulls or front crosses, to complete these challenges. I saw the occasional blind cross and only a few people using some of the newer
off-arm to blind cross or pull moves. Several people even made
clever use of verbal setup commands, normally used to get their
dog into heel position, to get their dogs to go around the back of
the jump. So, while it may be fun to learn some of the newer styles
of European handling, it was not a requirement to be successful in
working through the challenges on my courses.
Why have challenges at all? Agility is a sport and part of the fun
of our sport is training ourselves and our dogs to master novel
challenges as they emerge from the imaginations of the judges.
I believe agility would lose a lot of its appeal if we arrived at the
trial sites each weekend and were just doing the same patterns over
(Continued on page 6)

Clean Run - July 2013

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