Clean Run Magazine - May 2007 - 44

© MATTALLISONPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Front Crosses and Rear Crosses D o t h e s e m ov e s c a u s e your dog to slow down or hesitate? First, make sure that your dog understands the body © MATTALLISONPHOTOGRAPHY.COM than to the obstacle your dog is performing.This gives him room to land and gives him more information about where he’s going next. language involved. If your dog is unsure what your body language is saying, he will either slow down or assume an incorrect direction. Both moves can Communication How clear and timely is your communication with your dog? You can spot handlers with great communication skills (clear body language, timely cues, both verbal and visual) because their dog seems to have memorized the course map. He always seems to know where he’s going next. Contrast that to the dog that seems to be constantly surprised by the direction his handler is moving and which obstacle is next. You’ll see a lot of zigzag lines, wide turns, and, in the extreme, a dog that eventually slows down because he has lost confidence in his handler’s communications. This area is one where a lot of time can be lost without even realizing it. Any time your dog has to turn his head toward you to ask where to go, he’s losing time either by slowing down or because the motion draws him off the correct path to the next obstacle and causes his line to bow and increase the distance he has to travel between obstacles. Be sure 44 be taught and practiced on the flat. your timing of verbal cues is such that you are telling your dog where he’s going next, before he has to ask, not just naming the obstacle he’s about to do. Your body position in relation to the obstacle your dog is performing and in relation to the obstacle that’s next can give your dog a lot of information. If your dog needs to take a hard left turn to jump “B” after jump “A, don’t drive up to or past ” the plane of jump A. Your dog will correctly read that body language as saying he should continue straight ahead when he lands. If, however, you slow down, stand up a bit, and hang back behind the plane of jump A while signaling the jump with a roll of your shoulders toward jump B, you’ll be alerting your dog to the change in direction. He’ll shorten his stride going into jump A, turn his focus toward your body position, and be prepared to land and move toward jump B. No surprises. Check the timing and position of your crosses. A well-executed front cross requires your dog to work laterally away from you while you rotate into position on the landing/exit side. Your rotation through the cross should be smooth and continuous with no lag or hesitation in the information you’re sending to your dog. Don’t stop halfway through and wait for your dog. Use the transition of your hand signals and the rotation of your shoulder to draw your dog through the turn. Aim for your rotation to occur closer to the upcoming obstacle A rear cross requires that your dog be able to commit to and proceed to an obstacle ahead of you. He doesn’t have to outrun you, he just has to be confident enough in his job to continue to the jump ahead without your moving alongside. The further back from the crossing obstacle you can begin your cross, the smoother the transition and the greater the time savings.This also gives your dog early information about where he’s going next and time to prepare for the turn. © MATTALLISONPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Clean Run | May 07

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Clean Run Magazine - May 2007

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