Clean Run Magazine - August 2006 - 13

jumps in the grid . My dog's body will remain perpendicular to The proper
use of grids is often misunderstood. The most common the bar as he jumps,
rather than turning and landing parallel. As mistakes are inappropriate
spacing too widely spaced, for he lands off a jump in a grid, my dog's
front feet will land and his example , and inappropriate cues handler
position, toy/target for rear feet will follow immediately after, just as
his front feet are example . For many dogs it is not advisable to
encourage extension lifting for the next jump. This requires considerably
more agility and flat jumping arcs, and in fact, encouraging a dog to
bounce and flexibility than turning and landing parallel, and it may be
long distances is contraindicated for successful competition in most
venues. I recommend expert guidance before using jump unreasonable to
expect some breeds to be able to perform a grid grids. I advise never
performing a grid without understanding at the spacing designated here.
exactly what the goals are and how to assess whether the goals have I use
grids to control my dog's landing. In a grid setup, the presence been met.
Handlers should understand how the effect of the grid of another jump on
the landing forces my dog to preplan his relates to the desired skill on
the agility course. Each dog must be landing distance, which in turn means
he must preplan his takeoff evaluated as an individual to determine what
type of grid would distance. This is why it is so important that I cue him
correctly. benefit the dog's jumping the most, if any. Once again, most
dogs The cues I use when he performs a grid carry over to the cues I have
trouble with collection and round jumping arcs. The focus use on course
where I also want him to be able to preplan. I want this month will be on
collection grids. my dog to learn to think ahead. The presence of another
jump on the landing forces my dog to Collection Grids have body control,
and he must use his rear end to jump vertically Grids can be used to
improve my dog's collection skills. Novice so that he can land vertically.
This skill is important so that he dogs just beginning to sequence, and
many experienced dogs that can turn immediately after a jump on course. It
is not easy for my lack proper foundation training, naturally want to jump
with flat dog to jump almost straight up and down with a round arc. It is
jumping arcs, which have long takeoff and landing distances. I important
to understand that when there is no jump controlling can use a tightly
spaced grid both to help maintain my novice my dog's landing, he will most
likely opt to make his jumping effort dog's round jumping form and arcs
during his early sequence and easier by either turning upon landing or
jumping with a flatter arc. coursework, and to force experienced dogs that
may never have This is to be expected. See Figures 6 and 7. learned to jump
round to do so. The following exercises are suitable for the novice dog
that has When a grid is used to promote collection, the jumps should
progressed through my jumping foundation program, or for ultimately end up
at or near full competition height, spaced very the experienced dog that
requires retraining or a refresher of his closely together to force round
jumping arcs. A tightly spaced jumping skills. My dog should be jumping
full height in his other grid restricts my dog's landing distance and as a
result his takeoff jumping exercises before he is ready to do these,
because I want distance is restricted as well. To successfully negotiate
the grid, my my dog to be able to perform a grid at full height as well.
dog literally must collect and jump with a round jumping arc. He will have
to use his rear end to jump vertically and be very neat In each exercise, I
put my dog on a sit-stay on the takeoff side of with his legs, so round
form is promoted and almost required. the first jump. He should be
perpendicular to the jump. For each specific exercise, he will be set up
at designated distances relative In most cases so far, when my dog has
been asked to collect and to the first jump to control his takeoff for
jump #1, and therefore jump with a round arc, he has approached the jump
perpendicularly also for #2, and for #3. The goal for these exercises is
to specifically and turned. This is particularly true when I am facing my
dog on control my dog's jumping arc, particularly his landing point, which
the landing side of the jump recalling my dog to my side into heel in turn
controls his takeoff point. position . My dog learned to approach the jump
perpendicularly, initiate a turn upon takeoff, and land parallel to the
jump. These introductory exercises use a two-jump setup. If my dog has
never performed a grid, I will start my dog with the jumps lower When my
dog negotiates a grid, the task can be more difficult. It is than full
height. When I introduce grids the jumps should start important to
remember that when collection is required on course, almost inevitably it
is because there is an impending turn. A grid ascending in height,
progressing to the same height. There are many creates an artificial
jumping situation for my dog because although ways to present my dog with
a collection grid. These exercises collection is required, there is no
turn at least not over the early are adaptable for most dogs. 48 48 48 48
48 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 48 24 24 24 24 24 48 6 7 This diagram shows how
the second jump controls the landing of the first jump and forces This
diagram shows one reason why I prefer not to use variable height grids. If
my dog cannot a round jumping arc. The third jump forces the landing of the
second jump and forces a round see what is beyond the jump he is about to
perform, which is often the case if the next jump is jumping arc. There is
no fourth jump to force my dog to control his landing, however, and he
lower, he will not preplan and may in fact jump with a flatter arc if he
does not perceive a jump chooses to jump more forward rather than up which
results in a flat jumping arc and longer controlling his landing. This dog
has no chance of successfully performing the fourth jump. landing
distance. To clear the bar, my dog must overjump*. This is not unusual and
should not be a cause for concern. *Note: To overjump means to jump higher
than necessary. | August 06 Clean Run 13
Clean Run Magazine - August 2006

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