Clean Run - January 2015 - 45

1

3

2

A

A

B

B

A: Dog is sent to the backside while the
handler moves across wing. B: Handler
continues motion around the wing while the
dog reaches takeoff point and jumps.

Dog and handler path for a German turn

This is not a German turn because the dog
is not turning around the wing.

4

The German turn is used in situations
where the dog and handler are approaching the jump from the landing side. The
handler sends the dog to the backside
while she moves across the bar on the
landing side. The handler then moves
around the wing on the far side and executes a blind cross as the dog is landing,
as shown in Figure 1. Both the dog and
handler are moving around the far wing.
In Figure 2 you can see how this is accomplished.
There is often some confusion that any
blind cross executed on the landing side
of a backside is a German turn. The German turn is specific to the dog jumping
on a slice and the handler and dog each
moving around the far wing of the jump.
The dog's jumping pattern is to send to
the backside, jump on a slice, land, and
turn around the wing. The blind cross in
the German turn is executed later than a
normal blind cross. The cross in Figure 3
is not a German turn.
January 15 | Clean Run

In Figure 4 (http://youtu.be/OVxtaJRVbY), you can see the handler and dog
performing a German Turn. The handler's initial cues are showing the dog the
line to the backside and are supporting
that line as she moves across the bar. The
handler begins her arm change when the
dog is one stride away from takeoff. Notice, this is before the dog is even on the
backside of the jump. The handler continues motion around the wing, keeping
the dog on her original (left) side until the dog lands. As the dog lands and
comes around the wing, the handler executes the blind and makes a connection
with the dog off of her right side. The
handler is completely out of the dog's
way as the dog is jumping and landing.

the bar, and finally around the wing.
After moving around the wing, the
handler should move next to the dog's
intended line toward the next obstacle.
*

Shoulders/Chest: The handler's
shoulders and chest "laser pointer"
should initially point toward the backside of the jump. The handler should
keep her shoulders and chest open toward the dog while moving across the
bar and around the wing. To help the
dog to the correct side of the jump so
he doesn't follow the handler's motion,
it is important for the shoulders to be
open to the landing spot as the handler moves around the wing. Once the
handler is around the wing and the
dog is jumping, the handler should
turn her shoulders away from the dog,
executing the blind cross.

*

Location/Position: The handler
should be as close to the far wing as
possible. The handler also must be
ahead of the dog. The handler should

Cues for the German Turn
The cue combinations for this technique
are as follows:
*

Motion: The handler's motion should
initially push toward the backside of
the jump, then move laterally across

45
Clean Run - January 2015

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