Clean Run - December 2019 - 12

ing table, giving them a measurement
that forces them to clear a higher jump
while carrying extra weight over it.
"VMOs should be more like counselors," she said. "Tell handlers the consequences and advise them: a fat dog
jumping at 24 in. could possibly be a fit
dog jumping at 20 in."
Fearful, excitable dogs might also measure higher by hunching, bunching, and
standing high on the toes. A handler's
anxiety can likewise lift a dog. Using
food to focus can also excite some
dogs too much. O'Day often tells the
handlers to give the dog the food first,
then let them relax. "The dog who is
over the top about food will stand
taller trying to beg, or they will sit,
thinking that will get them what they
want." Dogs can also get anxious when
the VMOs are stressed out. Storm said,
"They're judging and in a hurry to get
back in the ring." Most judges won't
have time "to help your dog settle and
may measure in haste," O'Day said, "because they have many things competing
for their attention. Some are running
their dogs just like you are." The better
you prepare your dog to stand calmly
for measurement, the more accurate
the outcome.
All these factors can cause variability in
measurements, which can be a problem
for people whose dogs measure near
the cutoff. "I always knew something
was wrong," Storm said. "Two different
people measuring the same dog can
have huge discrepancies. A VMO does
one dog a favor by under measuring
it but disadvantages 5,000 other dogs
running against him."
With the AKC always interested in
improving the agility program, they
asked Storm to spend the entire last
Invitational working on her jump
height study for the AKC. "I measured
the ulnar lengths and withers heights
of as many dogs as possible, especially
dogs that are challenged by their body
structures." Measured at the withers, a
Basset Hound lands in the 16-in. class,
but his ulna is the same length as a
Sheltie that's jumping at 12 in. That
Basset Hound is forced to jump a
much higher height than is practical
for his body.
12

Using the length of the ulna (the bone between the elbow and wrist) to determine
jump height may be safer, fairer, and more consistent. "I can have ten people measure
ulnar length, and they get the same measurement," Storm said. "Measure withers
height and they all get something different. Plus, dogs don't put fat on the lower leg.
And the dog can be in any position, held in your arms, standing on the table, and it's
consistent. It doesn't matter if the dog's wiggly, scared, or overweight."
For now, however, the AKC determines jump height at the withers. So here are
some tips from O'Day and Storm on what you can do to make sure you get a fair
and accurate measurement.

Months Before Measuring Day
*

Basics: train your dog to stand,
stay, and hop up on tables.
Build impulse control under
distraction and temptation.
Make this a low-key trick.

Put your dog in a square
stand: place your hand
under the tummy, manipulate the back feet
so the hocks are perpendicular, lift and drop
front end so front legs
are directly under
the chest. Click-reward
this stance.

Practice the stand on as many
objects as possible (e.g., an agility table, sofa, bed, ottoman, bench)
and in as many places as possible (e.g.,
agility trials, living room, public park, dog
club, home improvement store). At agility trials,
you're invited to practice on the actual measuring table whenever it's not in
use. Practice having someone sit beside your dog on the table, O'Day suggested, and keep in mind "any measurements you or your friends get will only
be a guesstimate."

Practice with a wicket, so your dog gets used to something swinging over her
back. Center her under the middle of the arm in case the table is uneven or
there's some other glitch in calibration.

When you don't have access to a wicket, design something to go over the
back, such as a mock-up made of PVC or a plastic coat hanger attached to a
yardstick.

Make sure your dog has gotten used to being handled by men as well as women. "Make sure a stranger can hold the collar of your dog in close quarters,"
O'Day said. "I prefer a buckle collar because I can ensure the safety of your
dog versus a slip lead."

Take your dog to a trial or two without entering just to get acclimated and
practice. If your dog's handling the environment well, you might even get lucky
and get measured if there's a VMO/Rep in attendance!

Improve your dog's fitness and diet to reduce fat on the withers.
Clean Run | December 19

Clean Run - December 2019

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