Clean Run - September 2017 - 13

But if you take the plunge, I do find that over time, with practice, it is easy to use the two cues.
When I use my verbal, I expect my dog to continue turning
until I stop saying the cue. At that point, I want my dog to
take the line he is on. For instance, if I want my dog to multiwrap the cone, I will keep repeating the cue. If I want my dog
to land tight for a 180, I will say the cue as he approaches the
jump but stop as he takes off so that when he lands parallel
to the jump he can just continue on that line.
Next Step Cone Sequencing

Post turns

Before I move the behavior to jumps, I do sequences using
cones as shown in Figure 3. This is great way to build this
skill as it also adds value for my shoulder turns and deals
with flanking, driving through turns, commitment to obstacles, etc.
I begin with two cones mixing up front crosses and post
turns as well as multi-wraps. Then I advance to three cones
set in a triangular pattern followed by four cones set up in a
box pattern. You can mix up patterns anyway that you want,
but plan them out and walk your path so that you can be
efficient and clear.
When I'm doing sequences of cones, rewarding the turn behavior happens in three major ways:

Front crosses

Multi-wraps

Mix it up!

Make a square of cones

dog as he completes the degree of turn you ask for. The
placement of your reward will help to build the behavior you
want, so make sure you throw your toy on the path you want
them to take.

If the dog is next to me or coming up from behind I
will reward at my side.

Soft-Turn Cue: Hey Buddy, Whatever You Do,
Don't Go Straight!

If I want him to power out of a turn and continue forward I will throw the toy forward.

If I am rewarding his commitment to go ahead of me
to the cone while I leave to get ready to handle the
next cone, I will toss my reward after the dog commits to the cone.

I love this cue. It is simple and really doesn't require much
training. I have always found it to be super effective whether
used close up or at long distances. This cue tells my dog to
take the obstacle in front of him and then pick up a soft turn.
It tells him "Do not go straight on no matter what." It doesn't
matter what that next obstacle is, or how close it is, the dog
is always to turn. My tight-turn cue would also take care of
this, but remember what we discussed about watering down
the cue-if it's truly not a tight turn, don't use that cue.

Progressing to Jumps
When I think my dog is ready to try the skill on a jump, I begin
with a single jump that is set low and with little speed (which
means I start the dog close to the jump). Gradually I will add
speed, more jumps, other obstacles, and harder angles.

Timing Soft-Turn Cues

In the same way that I started with a cone, I start with my
dog a few feet away from the jump. I step toward the wing
on which I want my dog to turn using the arm and leg closest to the dog. Step straight toward wing, making sure that
your toe is pointing to the line you want your dog to take.

Like my tight-turn cue,
the soft-turn cue is one
that gets repeated as
my dog approaches an
obstacle. I use my dog's
name or a shortened
version of it here, said
softly and in a cadence.
For instance, for my dog
Keen, I would say "Key,
Key, Key...." I use it softly
before the jump to give
him the information
ahead of time, as shown
in Figure 4.

Once you have the skill up close, you can work it to fluency
and see if your dog can get the turn you want when you're
handling from a distance. As with everything else, take your
time gradually adding distance. Placement of reward should
mainly be on your side out of your hand or thrown to the

I don't use the dog's
name in a "hard call" because I don't want to "jar"
him as he jumps. I will
use my dog's name, said

As my dog continues to demonstrate an understanding of
the behavior and gives me turns that I like in both directions,
I will gradually raise the jump height. If you go immediately
to full height and speed, your dog will be very unlikely to
achieve the degree of specificity that you want for this skill.
He needs the opportunity to develop the physical skill necessary for turning tightly while jumping.

September 17 | Clean Run

Key, Key,
Key, Key...

Example of a soft-turn cue

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