Clean Run - February 2012 - 47
The Pros and Cons of Running Contacts vs. Stopped Contacts
By Dawn Weaver, photos by Graham Bryant except where noted These days handlers seem to want running contacts but do they want them for the right reasons? Yes, running contacts are faster than stopped contacts. And, once successfully taught, having running contacts does mean that the dog can flow nicely around the course, which is more motivational than slowing and thinking about stopping, from the dog’s point of view. However, some handlers are under the illusion that they can just “let their dog run the contacts” and that this is what “running contacts” actually means. Some handlers think they can teach a stop and then change to running contacts later, but in my experience this is predominantly unsuccessful. I have also seen some handlers try to teach both stopped and running contacts to their dog, but in every case I have seen this fail. As soon as there is no cue via directional commands to keep running, the dog realizes early on that he must stop, and he starts creeping on the down ramp. If the handler gives the dog an actual stop command, then the dog definitely creeps on the down ramp!
© WenDI PenCIlle/HoRseFeATHeRs PHoTogRAPHY
Look at the difference in the two photographs of Minky, a stopped-contact dog. Notice the acceleration going up the dogwalk, but the subsequent braking and shortened stride on the down ramp. Now look at the photographs of Lotus, a running-contacts dog. Notice that she stays on an extended stride and there is no braking when she is driving straight on after the contact. To then corner tightly off the contact, a dog would need to brake on the down ramp, but not come to a complete standstill. In the following photo you will see that Breezer, a running-contact dog, only brakes enough to achieve a corner, not to stop altogether.
Minky accelerating up the dogwalk.
Minky decelerates from the top of the down ramp onwards to achieve a stop.
Lotus using pure acceleration on the whole of the dogwalk
Breezer shortening to achieve a tight turn but not using maximum brakes as would be required with stopping.
47
February 12
| Clean Run
Clean Run - February 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2012
Clean Run - February 2012
Contents
Editorializing: Is There a Perfect Dog for Agility?
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Table Manners: Training a Reliable Table Start To Finish
Write-Offs for Hobbies and Tax Businesses
Awesome Paws Drills: Skills Checklist
How Much of a Handicap Are You Giving Your Dog?
From Hoof to Woof: What Riders Can Teach Handlers
I Tore My Meniscus— Now What?
Cross-training for Confidence
Conditioning the Young Canine Athlete
Analyze This!
Knowledge Equals Speed! The Pros and Cons of Running Contacts vs. Stopped Contacts
Control Unleashed Solutions and Answers: The Disconnecting Dog
Design Trends: What’s Happening on Our Agility Courses?
Building Blocks: Stays
Agility Mind Gym: Goal Setting
Clean Run - February 2012 - Clean Run - February 2012
Clean Run - February 2012 - 2
Clean Run - February 2012 - Contents
Clean Run - February 2012 - 4
Clean Run - February 2012 - Editorializing: Is There a Perfect Dog for Agility?
Clean Run - February 2012 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - February 2012 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - February 2012 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - February 2012 - 9
Clean Run - February 2012 - 10
Clean Run - February 2012 - Table Manners: Training a Reliable Table Start To Finish
Clean Run - February 2012 - 12
Clean Run - February 2012 - 13
Clean Run - February 2012 - 14
Clean Run - February 2012 - 15
Clean Run - February 2012 - 16
Clean Run - February 2012 - Write-Offs for Hobbies and Tax Businesses
Clean Run - February 2012 - 18
Clean Run - February 2012 - 19
Clean Run - February 2012 - 20
Clean Run - February 2012 - Awesome Paws Drills: Skills Checklist
Clean Run - February 2012 - 22
Clean Run - February 2012 - 23
Clean Run - February 2012 - 24
Clean Run - February 2012 - How Much of a Handicap Are You Giving Your Dog?
Clean Run - February 2012 - From Hoof to Woof: What Riders Can Teach Handlers
Clean Run - February 2012 - I Tore My Meniscus— Now What?
Clean Run - February 2012 - 28
Clean Run - February 2012 - 29
Clean Run - February 2012 - 30
Clean Run - February 2012 - 31
Clean Run - February 2012 - 32
Clean Run - February 2012 - Cross-training for Confidence
Clean Run - February 2012 - 34
Clean Run - February 2012 - 35
Clean Run - February 2012 - 36
Clean Run - February 2012 - Conditioning the Young Canine Athlete
Clean Run - February 2012 - 38
Clean Run - February 2012 - 39
Clean Run - February 2012 - 40
Clean Run - February 2012 - 41
Clean Run - February 2012 - Analyze This!
Clean Run - February 2012 - 43
Clean Run - February 2012 - 44
Clean Run - February 2012 - 45
Clean Run - February 2012 - 46
Clean Run - February 2012 - Knowledge Equals Speed! The Pros and Cons of Running Contacts vs. Stopped Contacts
Clean Run - February 2012 - 48
Clean Run - February 2012 - 49
Clean Run - February 2012 - 50
Clean Run - February 2012 - 51
Clean Run - February 2012 - 52
Clean Run - February 2012 - Control Unleashed Solutions and Answers: The Disconnecting Dog
Clean Run - February 2012 - 54
Clean Run - February 2012 - 55
Clean Run - February 2012 - 56
Clean Run - February 2012 - 57
Clean Run - February 2012 - Design Trends: What’s Happening on Our Agility Courses?
Clean Run - February 2012 - 59
Clean Run - February 2012 - 60
Clean Run - February 2012 - 61
Clean Run - February 2012 - Building Blocks: Stays
Clean Run - February 2012 - 63
Clean Run - February 2012 - 64
Clean Run - February 2012 - Agility Mind Gym: Goal Setting
Clean Run - February 2012 - 66
Clean Run - February 2012 - 67
Clean Run - February 2012 - 68
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