Clean Run - September 2017 - 51

Keeping
Blinds in
Mind
By Megan Foster
COURTESY OF MEGAN FOSTER

One of my favorite handling techniques
is the blind cross because it keeps the
handler and dog moving forward as fast
as possible through a sequence. A blind
cross is where the handler changes sides
of the dog's running line in front of the
dog. The dog moves from one side of
the handler to the other while behind
the handler's back, giving the maneuver
its name.

>> A video is available showing Megan

demonstrating blind crosses. Watch at
https://youtu.be/72SZicQHsRw or from
the September 2017 playlist on the Clean
Run magazine YouTube channel.
A handler would use a blind cross to encourage acceleration and extension from
their dog while changing the "guiding
side." By changing the guiding side, the
handler is cueing a lead change to the
dog, encouraging him to turn in a different direction than before the blind cross.
A blind cross is helpful for handlers who
cannot turn quickly while doing a front
cross, or for a dog that does not like to
pass his handler for a rear cross. A blind
cross does not require any twisting or
turning from the handler and can be executed very quickly, giving the handler
an advantage on course.

Performing Blind Crosses
The handler cues this side change primarily with her eyes. The handler's moveSeptember 17 | Clean Run

1

2

8
9

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9

7
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7

6
6

8
7
7
The progression of a blind cross.
Notice how the dog moves behind the
The progression
a blind
cross.
handler's
back forofone
stride.
Notice how the dog moves behind the
handler's back for one stride.

ment forward, position ahead of the dog,
and eye connection are the most important cues to the dog in a blind cross. In
Figure 1, we can see the progression of
a blind cross. The handler is ahead of the
dog as he is landing jump #7 and sees
the dog commit to jump #8. Before the
dog takes off for jump #8, the handler
is cueing the side change with her eyes.
The handler continues moving forward
toward jump #9, continuing to look over
her right shoulder on the new side. As
the dog lands the jump #8, the handler
is across his line and continuing forward
on the course.

Handler position at time of dog's take
off after a side change: black = blind
Handler
position
at time
of blue
dog's=take
cross; green
= front
cross,
rear
off
after a side change: black = blind
cross
cross; green = front cross, blue = rear
cross

Figure 2 shows three different handler
positions that illustrate where I would
expect a handler to be at the time of the
dog's take off for jump #8 after the handler has completed a change of sides: the
black handler has done a blind cross, the
green handler a front cross, and the blue
handler a rear cross. A blind cross is cued
to the dog one stride before the takeoff
for the obstacle. Signaling the blind
cross before the takeoff allows the dog
time to make his lead change and prepare for the jump. The handler changes
where she is looking, from one shoulder
to the other, while she moves forward
and across the dog's approaching line.
51



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - September 2017

Contents
Clean Run - September 2017 - Cover1
Clean Run - September 2017 - Cover2
Clean Run - September 2017 - Contents
Clean Run - September 2017 - 4
Clean Run - September 2017 - 5
Clean Run - September 2017 - 6
Clean Run - September 2017 - 7
Clean Run - September 2017 - 8
Clean Run - September 2017 - 9
Clean Run - September 2017 - 10
Clean Run - September 2017 - 11
Clean Run - September 2017 - 12
Clean Run - September 2017 - 13
Clean Run - September 2017 - 14
Clean Run - September 2017 - 15
Clean Run - September 2017 - 16
Clean Run - September 2017 - 17
Clean Run - September 2017 - 18
Clean Run - September 2017 - 19
Clean Run - September 2017 - 20
Clean Run - September 2017 - 21
Clean Run - September 2017 - 22
Clean Run - September 2017 - 23
Clean Run - September 2017 - 24
Clean Run - September 2017 - 25
Clean Run - September 2017 - 26
Clean Run - September 2017 - 27
Clean Run - September 2017 - 28
Clean Run - September 2017 - 29
Clean Run - September 2017 - 30
Clean Run - September 2017 - 31
Clean Run - September 2017 - 32
Clean Run - September 2017 - 33
Clean Run - September 2017 - 34
Clean Run - September 2017 - 35
Clean Run - September 2017 - 36
Clean Run - September 2017 - 37
Clean Run - September 2017 - 38
Clean Run - September 2017 - 39
Clean Run - September 2017 - 40
Clean Run - September 2017 - 41
Clean Run - September 2017 - 42
Clean Run - September 2017 - 43
Clean Run - September 2017 - 44
Clean Run - September 2017 - 45
Clean Run - September 2017 - 46
Clean Run - September 2017 - 47
Clean Run - September 2017 - 48
Clean Run - September 2017 - 49
Clean Run - September 2017 - 50
Clean Run - September 2017 - 51
Clean Run - September 2017 - 52
Clean Run - September 2017 - 53
Clean Run - September 2017 - 54
Clean Run - September 2017 - 55
Clean Run - September 2017 - 56
Clean Run - September 2017 - 57
Clean Run - September 2017 - 58
Clean Run - September 2017 - 59
Clean Run - September 2017 - 60
Clean Run - September 2017 - 61
Clean Run - September 2017 - 62
Clean Run - September 2017 - 63
Clean Run - September 2017 - 64
Clean Run - September 2017 - 65
Clean Run - September 2017 - 66
Clean Run - September 2017 - Cover3
Clean Run - September 2017 - Cover4
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