Clean Run - May 2012 - 43

While the dog is on the dogwalk you should run as hard as possible to get to a deceleration position at #14 to cue the 180° turn back to #15. Being there before the dog commits to #14 gives the best physical cue. If, however, the dog is ahead of you as he leaves the dogwalk, the deceleration cue needs to be given from behind just before the dog commits to the jump. As the dog commits to #14, either by #14 or behind the dog, I can then execute the front cross for the change of side into the tunnel; this also blocks the A-frame as shown in Figure 10. Due to the left turn out of the tunnel we need to be careful that we do not teach the dog to flick away from reinforcement zone into the weave poles. So you need to cue this left turn behavior properly. There is a right turn in the tunnel so with the left turn out of the tunnel this can be handled as a serpentine. While the dog is in the tunnel you need to drive to the serpentine position at the exit of the tunnel and change from a left to a right arm. This cues a right turn which automatically happens in the tunnel. The main reason for this arm change is so that you can change back from a right to a left arm and therefore cue the left turn behavior correctly as the dog exits the tunnel. As the dog then passes the first pole, the rear cross can control the left turn into the weaves (although I would expect the dog to hit this weave entry regardless). See Figure 11.

10
13

16 15 15

Left to right arm changes cues right turn in tunnel (black). Right to left arm change cues left turn towards the weaves (green). The rear cross controls the turn into the weave pole entry (blue).

With the dog on your right as he exits the weaves, you need to drive forward to support the line to the refusal plane of #17 as shown in Figure 12. Once the dog has committed to the refusal plane there is a left turn, which is controlled by handler shoulder rotation.There is a left turn onto the A-frame and a right turn off the A-frame; therefore, serpentine cues can be given again and you can stay ahead of the dog. As soon as the dog commits to the refusal plane you need to give the shoulder rotation cue and accelerate away toward the A-frame. As the dog commits to #17 the right to left arm cue needs to be given to cue the left turn to the A-frame.When the dog meets criteria on the A-frame down contact the left to right arm change cue is given to control the right turn to #19. See Figure 13. This serpentine handling puts you ahead of the dog and the left turn #19 to #20 can be controlled with a shoulder rotation and you turning toward your dog. D

Greg Derrett has competed in agility since the late 1980s and has won many national finals in Great Britain. He has represented his country at many different world events as a competitor and team manager and has an advanced studies diploma in animal behavior. Several of his clients have won national finals in various countries and gold medals in international competitions. Greg has four videos on agility training and also offers online lessons. The Ultimate Handling e to courses are run in conjunction with UltimateAgility.com are designed and written by Greg and his wife, Laura Derrett. They live in the U.K. with their six Border Collies and run the organizations UK Agility and UK Agility International. Greg also is on the World Agility Open organizing committee. Visit www.gtagility.com to learn more. May 12 | Clean Run 43

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Clean Run - May 2012

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