Clean Run Magazine - January 2008 - 32

Spy Kids Happy Birthday! By Nancy Gyes, photos by Marcy Mantell Photography The pups celebrated their first birthday almost a month ago. They all seem happy and healthy and we are looking forward to a challenging but productive year of training. Jim has introduced Sweep to his first jump/handling drills, and jump training is our focus this month. Jim and I chose to do very little jump training with Sweep until now. His jumping education has primarily concentrated on bounce jumping and some extended-stride grid work. His bounce and gridwork sessions were probably limited to no more than 10 practice sessions in total from the age of 9 to 12 months. From the beginning Sweep seemed “even” on his jumps, meaning that he took off and landed approximately the same distance from the jump, and he looked balanced. If he had looked awkward or uneven on the low bounce jumps we might have made other decisions concerning his training. And while his jumping looks good right now, I know that could change slightly as the distance between jumps grows, and as he is asked to jump increased height with the additional distraction of a moving handler. Since he has given us no concern about the quality of his jumping, we have started to do his 180/270 work, which will turn into his box and double-box work soon. Sweep jumps 16" to 18" right now, and the jumps are usually not more than 15' apart. The lower he jumps, the closer the spacing is between the jumps. If all goes well we will continue to move the jump height up this month and expect him to be on 20" to 22" high jumps in the next two months. 1 3 3 3 3 3 Straight-line Grids Figure 1 shows five different grids you can use to practice straight lines. Even in the fifth grid, where the center jump is offset, notice that there is still a straight line for the dog to follow. You can start the grids with the same distance between each jump, or you can change the spacing. Be sure to vary the spacing of the jumps and the angles of the jumps to present many different pictures to your dog. Work each of the five grids in the following ways: • Lead out to the position shown in Figure 2a and recall the dog to your front. • Lead out to the side of jump #3, facing the same direction your dog is traveling. Stand still and release your dog. Reward the dog by tossing a toy onto the ground, parallel to your position, as shown in Figure 2b. Do not throw the toy forward; I don’t want to teach the dog to pass me by when I’m standing still and if I throw the toy past me while not moving that is what he will be learning. Sweep will need to gear down a bit before jump #3 in order to land close to my position and get his toy. Do this drill with the dog on both your right and left side. • Lead out to jump #2, facing the same direction your dog is traveling. Run forward with your dog as soon as you release him. Throw a toy forward past jump #3 and ask your dog to Go On as seen in Figure 2c. If I am moving with Sweep, I want him to lengthen his stride, taking as few strides as he needs, and to pass me by at speed to chase his toy beyond jump #3. Do this drill with the dog on both your right and left side. 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 Five grids for practicing straight-line jumping Be sure to vary the spacing between the jumps and the angles of the jumps to present many different pictures to your dog. 2 toy toy 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 A B 1 C 1 Work each of the five grids in Figure 1 using the handling positions shown here in A, B, and C. Here are some reminders before you start: Use the hand closest to the dog to indicate the path. Do not let your dog cross in front of or behind your path. Plan your practice session and keep notes about your progress. Start and end drills with play and keep your dog’s full attention the entire time you are working. Clean Run | January 08 32

Clean Run Magazine - January 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - January 2008