Clean Run Magazine - October 2007 - 43

Weaves Part 1 start formal weave pole training, you can lure them through and around the poles with a toy or treat to get them accustomed to the feel of the metal base and let them become familiar with crossing back and forth between poles. We like to play tug around and between the poles so that our young dogs get used to the base and to bumping into the poles. Weave pole training is a process that requires discipline from the handler to proceed slowly and methodically through the steps so that the dog learns to weave correctly from the beginning. Weave poles have several distinct performance components: entry, weaving, and exit. Your dog must be proficient at all three. The entry is defined as the space between poles #1 and #2. Regardless of where you are or how your dog approaches the weaves, he must enter the weaves between poles #1 and #2 and from right to left (assuming the poles are directly ahead). He must then weave through all the poles. The exit is the last two poles (either #5 and #6, or #11 and #12). If your dog is weaving correctly, he will exit the weave poles moving from right to left also. COURTESY OF JOE CANOVA When a dog single strides the weaves, he puts one front foot on either side of the poles. i n g Single Striding When a dog hops, he puts both front feet on the same side of the pole. This is an easy style for many dogs and is frequently seen with Poodles, Shelties, Cavaliers, and many terriers. Hopping requires perfect timing but allows the dogs to be very consistent. The most common striding for large dogs is single stride. To single stride the weave poles, the dog places one leg on either side of the weave poles. Viewed from the front, the dog appears to swim through the poles. Single striding requires that the dog’s front legs be long enough to reach from pole to pole and the dog must learn to drive from behind. Large, heavy dogs that learn to single stride often drive forward far enough to actually push the weave poles aside as they move down the center. At Mountain Freaks, we use the channel method and work with the individual handlers to determine which style works best for their dog. Generally, shoulder height can be used to determine weaving style. Dogs below 18" at the shoulder typically hop; those over 18" typically single stride. Still, each dog will use whatever stride naturally works best for him. We do not try to change that. Either style can be fast and accurate. What is important is consistency. The dog must hop or single stride through all the poles. Dogs that alternate footwork in the poles are less accurate and are prone to pulling out or missing poles. If the dog is alternating between hopping and single striding during the introduction phase of training, we like to encourage the dog to stick to single striding. Our best method for inducing single striding is to use the WAM with the poles at a 15° angle. This works even if the dog was initially trained with other methods. It is for this reason that we do not recommend starting small dogs on the WAM; it inhibits the dog’s natural hopping stride. Larger dogs can and do learn to single stride with any type of weave poles. My preferred initial training method is with channel weaves with poles that can slide open or closed individually. Handlers need to develop a good eye to analyze the dog’s striding. We recommend having a training partner watch or, better yet, videotape your dog in the poles. Photo credits: Poodle © Tamara Fanter, Fotopup Creative Photography; Min Pin © Ann Clayton Photographic Imaging; Rottie and Staffy © Wendy Pencille/Horsefeathers Photography; Malinois © Doghouse Arts; Leonberger © MattAllisonPhotography.com October 07 | Clean Run 43

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Clean Run Magazine - October 2007

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