Clean Run - April 2013 - 62

© teri anD JaCKie photographY/DoUg DUKane

OUT SPOT OUT!

teaching independent

Obstacle

Performance, Part 1
By Lorrie Reynolds
Photos by Katelyn Scott except where noted

Independent obstacle performance is the ability of the dog to complete an obstacle and maintain criteria
regardless of the handler’s motion and position relative to the obstacle. It is essential for all facets of agility
and is particularly important for distance work. A dog cannot perform at a distance if he cannot perform the
obstacles independently.
This article is for teams who have already trained obstacle performance but
do not yet have dogs that will perform
the obstacles on their own; however, if
you are just beginning to train obstacle
performance, you can use the principles
explained here to teach independence
during your dog’s initial obstacle training
and be a step ahead of the game.

stop at the top, turn around, and return
to you? Now, put your dog in a stay in
front of the A-frame. Walk 10' beyond
it and call your dog over the obstacle.
Did your dog run around the obstacle?
Did he come over the top and ﬂy over
the contact zone to catch up to you? Or
was he able to complete it and maintain
his criteria?

testing for
indePendent obstAcle
PerforMAnce

Test 2: Place a chair near the weave
poles. Put your dog in a stay in front of
the poles, go sit in the chair, and give
your command to weave, with the appropriate body language. Did your dog
start the poles and then pop out to
come see what you were doing? Did he
run directly to you instead of entering
the poles? Or was he able to complete
the poles?

Two simple tests can help you determine if your dog can complete obstacles
independently.
Test 1: Stand with your dog in front
of the A-frame. Give your command for
the A-frame, with the appropriate body
language (leaning forward, arm extended
to the front), but do not move.Was your
dog able to complete the A-frame and
maintain his contact criteria? Or did he
62

If your dog completed the A-frame and
the weave poles successfully, congratulations! You have not made yourself part
of the “picture” your dog requires

to perform each obstacle correctly. If he
didn’t, don’t worry—it’s fixable!

four criticAl sKills for
obstAcle indePendence
In addition to running with your dog
while he is performing obstacles, your
team should have these four skills:
· You should be able to send your dog to
an obstacle while remaining stationary.
· You should be able to move to or
past the end of an obstacle and call
the dog to you.
· Your dog should be able to perform
an obstacle when you are parallel to
him but at a distance laterally.
· Your dog should be able to perform
an obstacle when you are moving
away from him laterally as long as you
are maintaining the body language
and position to support the obstacle.
Clean Run

|

April 13

Clean Run - April 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - April 2013

Clean Run - April 2013
Contents
Editorializing: A Letter to my Husband
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Power Paws Skills: Lead-out Pivots
Eating to Win
The 10-Minute Trainer
Iliopsoas Injuries and Prevention
Awesome Paws Drills
Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 2
The Judge’s Debriefing
Puppy Agility Games, Part 2
Class Challenges for Rising Stars: Snooker Roulette
Competing in Different Championship Events
Living Room Agility: Come, Out, and Go
Can You Handle It
Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 1
Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 1
Clean Run - April 2013 - Clean Run - April 2013
Clean Run - April 2013 - 2
Clean Run - April 2013 - Contents
Clean Run - April 2013 - 4
Clean Run - April 2013 - Editorializing: A Letter to my Husband
Clean Run - April 2013 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - April 2013 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - April 2013 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - April 2013 - 9
Clean Run - April 2013 - Power Paws Skills: Lead-out Pivots
Clean Run - April 2013 - 11
Clean Run - April 2013 - 12
Clean Run - April 2013 - 13
Clean Run - April 2013 - 14
Clean Run - April 2013 - 15
Clean Run - April 2013 - 16
Clean Run - April 2013 - 17
Clean Run - April 2013 - Eating to Win
Clean Run - April 2013 - 19
Clean Run - April 2013 - 20
Clean Run - April 2013 - The 10-Minute Trainer
Clean Run - April 2013 - 22
Clean Run - April 2013 - 23
Clean Run - April 2013 - 24
Clean Run - April 2013 - 25
Clean Run - April 2013 - Iliopsoas Injuries and Prevention
Clean Run - April 2013 - 27
Clean Run - April 2013 - 28
Clean Run - April 2013 - 29
Clean Run - April 2013 - 30
Clean Run - April 2013 - 31
Clean Run - April 2013 - Awesome Paws Drills
Clean Run - April 2013 - 33
Clean Run - April 2013 - 34
Clean Run - April 2013 - Knowledge Equals Speed! Teaching Verbal Directional Commands, Part 2
Clean Run - April 2013 - 36
Clean Run - April 2013 - The Judge’s Debriefing
Clean Run - April 2013 - 38
Clean Run - April 2013 - 39
Clean Run - April 2013 - Puppy Agility Games, Part 2
Clean Run - April 2013 - 41
Clean Run - April 2013 - 42
Clean Run - April 2013 - 43
Clean Run - April 2013 - 44
Clean Run - April 2013 - Class Challenges for Rising Stars: Snooker Roulette
Clean Run - April 2013 - 46
Clean Run - April 2013 - 47
Clean Run - April 2013 - Competing in Different Championship Events
Clean Run - April 2013 - 49
Clean Run - April 2013 - 50
Clean Run - April 2013 - 51
Clean Run - April 2013 - 52
Clean Run - April 2013 - Living Room Agility: Come, Out, and Go
Clean Run - April 2013 - 54
Clean Run - April 2013 - Can You Handle It
Clean Run - April 2013 - 56
Clean Run - April 2013 - 57
Clean Run - April 2013 - 58
Clean Run - April 2013 - Ultimate Instructors: Lesson Planning & Foundation, Part 1
Clean Run - April 2013 - 60
Clean Run - April 2013 - 61
Clean Run - April 2013 - Out Spot Out! Teaching Independent Obstacle Performance, Part 1
Clean Run - April 2013 - 63
Clean Run - April 2013 - 64
Clean Run - April 2013 - 65
Clean Run - April 2013 - 66
Clean Run - April 2013 - 67
Clean Run - April 2013 - 68
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