Clean Run Magazine - April 2008 - 3

© Cover NUMBER 4 THE MAGAZINE FOR DOG AGILITY ENTHUSIASTS APRIL 08 VOLUME 14 © SUSAN SALO, DIANE LEWIS, MATT ALLISON 14 Starting Your Pup Off on the “Right” Foot for Jumping You can teach very young dogs the mechanical skills of jumping, without any height, so that they fully understand the job ahead of them. By Susan Salo 68 The Art of Electronic Timing Most of us are used to electronic timing, but do we know what the proper placement is for the “eyes” for each type of obstacle that can be used at the start and finish of the course? By Mark Kuznitz 76 Jump Down Syndrome Traumatic fragmented medial coronoid process is a condition in the elbow that appears to be common in performance dogs. By Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, DACVS and Donald Hulse, DVM, DACVS 23 Handling Your Dog in Awesome Style: Direction Cues This month we begin a series on the specifics of the handling system used and taught at Awesome Paws. The first article focuses on direction cues. By Linda Mecklenburg 30 Trainer’s Forum Teaching your dog to perform obstacles independently at a distance is just one skill that our trainers recommend for those who are often running behind their dogs. By Brenna Fender 34 Tent Ownership Dos and Don’ts Most agility competitors rely on tents to protect them from the elements at trials. Learn how to take care of your home away from home. By Rena Barrett Features 5 Editorializing: Dog Friends Are the Best Friends Many people in agility form lasting friendships through the sport. By Kristine Gunter 65 Shelter Champs: Reno While many competitors dream of earning titles, animal shelters continue to house dogs that were relinquished because they are too energetic, too smart, or too busy for most pet homes. Many of these dogs are great agility prospects. This month meet Reno. By Lisa Barrett © MATTALLISONPHOTOHGRAPHY.COM 18 Pre-Agility Skills: Laying the Foundation, Part 2 It’s time to teach your dog some groundwork and basic jumping skills. By Mandy Book and Cheryl S. Smith 38 Foundation Fundamentals: Teaching Agility Cues Learn how to teach the dog to respond to cues that we’ll ultimately use to tell him to move ahead to an obstacle. By Mary Ellen Barry 50 Classes Gone Wild Teaching an agility class can be a wonderful experience, but difficult students can pose challenges. By Diana M. Barber, PhD 53 Cece’s Gym Exercise of the Month: Powering Up the Rear Legs Increasing your dog’s hind limb strength helps generate speed and power for jumping, turning, and running. It also helps prevent injuries. By Debbie Gross Saunders, MSPT, OCS, CCRP 54 Spy Kids: Rules for Access and Off-leash Control Agility training comes pretty easily once young dogs learn to stay with us off-leash and to delay gratification. By Nancy Gyes 59 When Pigs Fly: How to Use Your Dog’s Natural Behaviors to Train Him Learn how to use the ICE principles to transfer your dog’s passion for sniffing or chasing squirrels to running an agility course. By Jane Killion 73 Power Paws Patterns: Number Four Number four is full of front-cross, threadle, and serpentine drills. By Nancy Gyes 80 Conquering Ring Nerves: Want to Remember the Course? Focus! Anxiety and nerves interfere with your ability to remember agility courses. Learn some exercises that will help you think clearly and focus better so that you can stay on course. By Diane Peters Mayer Columns 6 7 8 Tip of the Month By Rick Parry Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility… Backyard Dogs By Mary Ellen Barry 45 Say Yes to the Learning Curve: Starting as a Team, Part 1 The outcome of any agility run is often determined in the first few seconds when you and your dog enter the ring, long before the dog ever takes his first obstacle. Entering the ring with confidence is a rehearsed skill. By Susan Garrett 42 Skill of the Month By Karen Holik 83 In Cider By Bill Gates 87 Agility Organization Update Compiled by Brenna Fender 90 Letter to the Editor 90 Course Diagram Keys Cover Dog CH Windstar’s First Impression NA, NAJ, CL4, ChCL, ChSN, ChFH, ChJU, PD1, a.k.a. Karma, a Field Spaniel owned by Judy Pollard of New Hampshire. Photo by Lesley Mattuchio, www.lesleymattuchio.com Clean Run (ISSN 1089-8506) is published monthly by Clean Run Productions, LLC. Principal ofﬁce: 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. Periodicals postage paid at South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075-9902 and additional ofﬁces. © Copyright 1995-2008 Bud Houston and Clean Run Productions, LLC. All world rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Clean Run, 17 Industrial Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075. April 08 | Clean Run 3

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Clean Run Magazine - April 2008

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