Clean Run Magazine - April 2007 - 67

• They could run their ﬁrst course, then get back in line and run when their turn came around again. Colors courses are always fun and challenging to design because it requires a nice ﬂow in both intertwining courses. When I design courses, I like to design for both speed and independent obstacle performance; I like a fast beginning and a fast ending, and I also like to encourage some independent obstacle performance on the dog’s part. This particular design style creates different kinds of challenges for the various teams’ running styles and can both reward and challenge various skills that the teams possess. These course qualities are demonstrated in both of the Colors courses shown in Figures 1 and 2. Both courses start with a fast straight-line beginning. They also encourage and reward those dog and handler teams that have a great send to a tunnel. Handlers of all levels could send their dogs to the #5 tunnel, which allowed them to be ready to handle the upcoming side-switch with greater ease. For teams that ran the courses in Figure 2, the course design rewarded those teams who had an independent send to the weaves. For Colors Levels 1 and 2, the course length was 65 yards with a standard course time (SCT) of 34 seconds for 8" and 12" dogs and a SCT of 29 for 16", 20", and 24" dogs. Actual course times ranged from 15.66 to 30.98 seconds for 1st-place dogs. For Colors Levels 3, 4, 5, Championship and Specialist, the course length was 70 yards with an SCT of 38 seconds for 8" and 12" dogs and an SCT of 33 for 16", 20", and 24" dogs. Actual course times ranged from 15.23 to 30.50 seconds for 1st-place dogs. Wildcard Monday’s weather was not so beautiful (a little drizzly), but the temperature was nice, and no one was any worse for wear. Among other events, I judged Wildcard on Monday. Wildcard’s premise is also simple: Run a short Standard-style course. The twist to Wildcard is that, during a run, there are three opportunities where the handler (or sometimes the dog) has a choice in the obstacle performed. For example, in the two levels of Wildcard courses shown in Figures 3 and 4, obstacles #3, #5, and #7 have options labeled A and B. These choices are regulated if handlers are looking for a Q. In Levels 3, 4, 5, Championship and Specialist, dogs are required to take two “B” obstacles and one “A” obstacle. In Levels 1 and 2, dogs are required to take two “A” obstacles and one “B” obstacle. In Wildcard, a handler can make beneﬁcial team-speciﬁc choices. For example, if a dog is not as secure on one particular obstacle, (for example, the A-frame in Figure 3) the dog need not perform that obstacle to earn a Q. But, if the handler elects not to perform the A-frame in this example, the team would then need to perform two sets of weaves to complete the course. These courses also had a fast beginning at both levels, making the A/B choice at obstacle #3 more of a challenge. Most handlers had a fairly easy time directing the dog to the prescribed choice at obstacle #5. The choice at obstacle #7 provided a challenge for many handlers. To earn a Q, this last A/B choice is a makeor-break point for the team. It is at this point when handlers must remember • The requirement for the level their dog is in (how many As and Bs the dog must perform) • The original plan for running the course • How the run has varied from their original plan For example, if the dog took a different choice than the handler intended at obstacle #3, handlers must remember that they need to vary their directional command at obstacle #7 to make up for the variance. 3 5 B 6 8 B 7 A 10 9 A 4 5 A 1 4 8 9 B 7 A 3 B 11 F 6 B 1 4 A 10 B 3 A 11 F 2 2 1 1 CPE Wildcard Levels 1/2 FUNdog Agility Group Genoa City, Wisconsin September 4, 2006 Judge: Lisa Potts S CPE Wildcard Levels 3/4/5/C/S FUNdog Agility Group Genoa City, Wisconsin September 4, 2006 Judge: Lisa Potts S April 07 | Clean Run 67

Clean Run Magazine - April 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - April 2007