Clean Run Magazine - February 2010 - 26

The Choose Me drill can also be practiced on two jumps in a 180 or end-toend configuration as in Figure 5. Be careful not to move the jumps too close together when you’re increasing the difficulty of the challenge. Also be sure to balance your training by sometimes cueing the dog to take the second jump. When doing this, remember to drive at jump #2, leaving no doubt in the dog’s mind how different your motion cue is when you want him to take jump #2 versus your lack of motion cue when he should take only jump #1. If the dog is having trouble with either of the Choose Me drills (two errors in a row) increase the space between the jumps by moving the “trap” jump (jump #2) farther away. Lack of motion training comes naturally to many dogs, but others need extra help and constant training throughout their careers. Collecting to turn tight just isn’t high on all dogs’ personal agendas. For these dogs the training might not ever be totally finished and will remain a work in progress. In this Choose Me drill with parallel jumps, you should again only use a physical cue. Move forward toward the first jump, decelerate, and stop. The dog should turn and come to you. With success, start the dog farther from the jump. Balance this training with sometimes asking the dog to do the second jump. Be sure to give forward motion cues when you do. Remember It is important for you to know how physically capable your dog is. Not all dogs are built to be able to turn tightly. Lack of motion training comes naturally to many dogs, but others need extra help and constant refresher training throughout their careers. Collecting to turn tight just isn’t high on all dogs’ personal agendas. For these dogs the training might not ever be totally finished and will remain a work in progress. The more difficulty your dog has with responding to your lack of motion cues, the more your cue’s consistency matters. Once you have made the deal with your dog that he must respond to your lack of motion cue, you are then obligated not to ignore him when he needs your help to remember his job (when he blows it and launches in training). Take your time and enjoy watching the light bulbs go on! Next month we will explore everything you always wanted to know about cue #2, the pull. D Sandy Rogers has owned and operated ACE Dog Sports in San Francisco, California, since 1991. Her Border Collie, Brink, finished in the top five placements four times at USDAA Nationals in the Grand Prix and Steeplechase finals. In 2007 he won both the Speed Jumping and Performance National Standard and won Speed Jumping again in 2008. Brink won the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Regional two years in a row. Her Parson Russell Quill took 3rd in Grand Prix finals in 2008. Sandy’s USDAA champions in the 12", 16", and 22" classes are also all high in trial obedience dogs. She has just released her first training DVD: One Jump Two Jump. Contact Sandy at acedogsports.com. Clean Run | February 10 Training with Other Obstacles Add a jump to either side of any obstacle to continue your training with momentum and the “Choose Me” drills. Mix up the obstacles you use in the drills. But when you use the dog’s favorite obstacle as the off-course temptation in a Choose Me drill, be sure to be extra patient. Don’t scold the dog for having enthusiasm for his agility obstacles; just make the drill easier (move the off-course obstacle farther back) and increase the value of the reward! Tire: I am a bit paranoid about dogs hitting the tire because I have seen too many dogs crash it. Take the tire training slowly and carefully, and don’t start at full height. You may choose not to require your dog to have super tight turns on the tire. However, if you are planning to use a lack of motion cue at the tire in competition, then it’s best to train him so you do not take the dog by surprise and actually cause a crash. Broad/Long Jump: You will have to adjust your timing here since most dogs need quite a bit of momentum to get over it in the first place. If you are getting lots of ticks, you may want to add a 12"-14" high jump between the last and next to the last board. For the tiny dogs just lay the jump bar on the last board (easier said than done, you might have to use duct tape to hold it on). Tunnels and Chutes: Have fun training lack of motion cues on the tunnels and chutes! Giving a lack of motion cue as the dog enters the tunnel can get you some fantastic tight turns out of the tunnel. You’ll want to balance the training by showing the dog that if you are running hard (even if you are behind) at the tunnel that he should shoot out straight, accelerating to points beyond. Weave Poles and Contacts: I don’t train lack of motion cues on these obstacles because I want the dogs driving through them; and I do not want to give lack of motion cues that I want the dog to ignore. I try hard to keep steady movement when approaching weaves and contacts.

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Clean Run Magazine - February 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - February 2010