4 5 RC Using the go-round post next to the teeter while doing a front cross. Using the discrimination station I will front cross before the dog loads on or rear cross as he is loading. I toss a toy or cookie to the dog at the table, or I might continue forward and ask the dog to do a two-on/two-off on the step side. Front Crosses and Rear Crosses Before Contacts is great for that kind of training as you can see in Figure 5. You can also use the go-round post when practicing front crosses prior to the contacts. The post can help the dog get lined up for the board instead of him cutting the corner when you do the front cross. Figure 4 shows using the post next to the teeter when executing a front cross. I introduce front and rear crosses while still in the backchaining stage of contact training. My discrimination station Rear crossing contacts and having your dog continue to drive forward without checking in with you is a skill that I think is undertrained by most handlers. Your goal should be to be able to send your dog ahead of you on all three contacts and have your dog's speed and completion time of the obstacle be the same with a rear cross as it is without a rear cross. Good methods for rewarding your dog off of June 14 | Clean Run FC the contact and training your dog not to add a stride at the bottom while looking for you to catch up is a skill you will greatly appreciate! My dogs are rewarded for their release at the end of the contact just as often as they are rewarded for being in the contact. Reinforcing your dog off the contact with a toy or Manners Minder/Treat & Train is a great aid to teaching rear crosses at contacts because it encourages the dog to look forward for most releases. 17http://www.ntiglobal.com http://www.ntiglobal.com