Clean Run - December 2017 - 9

2
BC

or
FC

2
1

6
FC

or
BC

The "Classic" Serpentine Configuration
The dog can be approaching #1 from any direction. He travels
outbound over #1, he comes inbound on #2, and travels outbound
on #3. This handler is "serping" at #2. She is able to handle this
serp as a serp because she is past #2 before the dog arrives; she
must be past the spot where the dog needs to land in order to serp.
The handler is looking back at her dog so her left shoulder is
dropped back. She will have one or both of her arms back toward
the dog, or not, depending on how she trained serps.

Side Change Before and After the Second Obstacle
This is the classic serpentine configuration with three jumps.
This handler has chosen to do two side changes (using either
a blind cross or front cross) one before and one after the same
jump (always the second obstacle of the serpentine configuration). Depending on obstacle spacing, the handler's position,
and the obstacles themselves, it might not be possible to serp,
as the handler must be ahead of the dog and the second
obstacle of the serp to perform serp handling.

or
4

5
FC

or
BC

Two Side Changes Equal a Potential Serp
Here you can see how a side change before the A-frame and a side
change after the A-frame could work well to handle #4 through #6.
When you have this scenerio, it should cue you to explore handling
the section as a serp as shown in Figure 1. This handler is
choosing to use two front crosses rather than serp handling.

the dog ends up on the same side of
your body that he started on-but you
have changed the dog's direction.
When you serp a true serpentine all
three obstacles follow the configuration
pattern. When you are serping and it
is not a true serpentine configuration,
it just means the obstacle before the
obstacle you are serping is not truly
an outbound obstacle; it might be a
straight-on approach (see Figure 4). We
can serp it because the obstacle that is
being serped and the next obstacle are
acting as the second and third obstacle
of a classic serp-the dog is coming
into the handler and then going out; it
is a change of direction.

December 17 | Clean Run

Serping an Obstacle to Change the Dog's Direction
without a Side Change
This handler is serping the A-frame. She has changed the dog's
direction
with her
bytorunning
past
the
front Direction
of the obstacle
Serping
an position
Obstacle
Change
the
Dog's
well before the dog finishes
obstacle
(dashed green line).
withoutthe
a Side
Change
This handler is serping the A-frame. She has changed the dog's
direction with her position by running past the front of the obstacle
well before the dog finishes the obstacle (dashed green line).

Handling the Serpentine
Different handling systems will teach
different ways to handle serps. Consistent handling matters, as is the case
whenever you are cueing direction
changes (the direction change in a
serp is when the dog is coming in over
the second obstacle and then changing direction to go out over the third
obstacle). The differences will be which
arm(s), if any, to raise, when to do it, and
if there is any hip rotation. If you are
using one handling system in general,
use their method of serp handling. If
you don't have a system, feel free to use
my handling suggestions. Even if you
don't cue the same way I do, you will
still be able to get some good general

handling tips in regard to position and
timing, and general food for thought in
this two-part article. The specific cues
that I use and teach will be covered in
detail next month when we tackle the
actual training.
Your position while handling the serpentine is very important. Your main
objective must be to have the dog's
landing path cleared before he arrives
at the second obstacle. So that means
you must be able to identify where the
dog is going to "land" on the incoming obstacle. If you can't tell where the
dog will land, you can't plan to be out
of his way. Look at the dog's path in all
the diagrams included here. In a classic serp configuration (Figure 1), your
9

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