Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 85

4 9 12 3 13 T 11 5 10 8 15 14 PHOTO BY ALISSA BEHN/PET PERSONALITIES 16 2 7 6 1 17 Novice Course 3 6 7 8 4 T 5 3 7 9 8 6 2 2 3 9 1 5 4 4 1 Novice Sequences of the #5 tunnel or did a rear cross over jump #6 to the dogwalk. All handling strategies worked well and many students tried both options to see which one worked best with their dog. Some students were happily surprised at how well their dog understood both handling methods. Novice Novice classes used the course in Figure 3. The beginning of the course was very straightforward and all students handled the start through the #4 weave poles with the dog on the left. Handlers did a front cross at the end of the weave poles or kept the dog on their left for the dogwalk. The front cross seemed to cue the dogwalk and the turn much more clearly and was more successful December 07 | Clean Run overall. Most students turned the dog to his left over jump #6 to the #7 triple, keeping the dog on the right through the #9 tunnel. Handlers did a front cross after the #9 tunnel or did a rear cross after the dog committed to the #10 tunnel. The front cross was more successful overall since it positioned handlers better for the table. Most students handled jump #12 with the dog on the right, wrapping the dog to the left to jump #13. A few students found it necessary to do a false turn to the #14 tunnel. Most handlers did a front cross after the #14 tunnel, ﬁnishing the course with the dog on the left. A few students kept the dog on the right for jump #15 and executed a rear cross on the ﬂat from jumps #15 to #16. Novice students used the sequences in Figure 4 in conjunction with the course in Figure 3. The white sequence gave students the opportunity to work on a lead-out from a chute. Handlers either did a lead-out push on the landing side of the double or they led out just to the #2 double, doing a front cross from the double to jump #3 or executing a rear cross at jump #4. All students kept the dog on the left for the #5 tire through jump #7. Most students did a landing-side front cross after jump #8 and pulled the dog to the #9 tunnel. The seesaw and triple were ﬂipped around to accommodate the black sequence, which began in a very straightforward manner. Most handlers did a lead-out to the dogwalk with the dog on the right. Students ﬂipped the dog right into the #3 tunnel to the table. From the #5 tunnel, students either did a front cross before the #6 tunnel or did a rear cross at the tunnel to handle the teeter and the remainder of the sequence with the dog on the left. I did not have any of my students attempt to layer the dogwalk when handling the #6 tunnel to the teeter and #8 triple, although it was possible to do the sequence as a distance handling exercise. The setup used in this month’s Master Plan can be adapted for many skill levels. For example, students wanting to work on distance skills can do the black sequences in Figures 2 and 4, layering the dogwalk. Students can also do the same sequences, using closer handling techniques. By practicing both handling options, students may ﬁnd that they have strengths in their dog’s training that they did not even realize. Happy training! D Claudia Bates lives in Berryville, Virginia, with her husband, Jim, a bunch of Border Collies, a few wary cats, and a small flock of sheep. She is a former technical writer with a background in education and writing. She is currently a partner and instructor with A Click Above, LLC, a dog training facility in Leesburg, Virginia, that offers everything from pet puppy classes to Masters agility handling classes. Claudia and her Border Collies compete in AKC, NADAC, and USDAA agility and in AKC, USBCHA, and AHBA herding. 85

Clean Run Magazine - December 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - December 2007