Clean Run - October 2010 - 82

7
Out!

9
3

3 1

3 4 2

5 1

When your dog comes out of the tunnel, use your left arm and rotate on your right foot (by stepping with your left foot) to indicate a push away from you.

When backpedaling, don’t move back too far or it will draw your dog’s attention to the incorrect jump.

If you stand too far to the right on the gamble line, your dog will be looking directly at you when he exits the tunnel and is likely to take the off-course jump.

Using Out in Gambles
Now let’s talk about Out in the context of a gamble. There are two factors to consider: your body position and your body motion. Gamble 1 In the first gamble example in Figure 7, use the same body position and motion you’ve been practicing. When your dog comes out of the tunnel, you are directly in front of him. Use your left arm and rotate on your right foot (stepping with your left) to indicate a push away from you and a change in his path. You can also use your motion to help him understand you want him to change his path. While your dog is in the tunnel, move backward so that you are about 5’ from the gamble line. This gives you room to move forward toward the correct jump when the dog exits the tunnel. This forward motion is important because it applies pressure to your dog, helping him understand you want him to change his path and take jump #3. You don’t want to get stuck standing directly on the gamble line when your dog comes out of the tunnel because you won’t be able to move to help your dog.

Note: A word of caution about backpedaling or running backward to give yourself space in front of a gamble line: Be subtle in your movement. If you race backward, your dog will pick up on your rushed movement and drive right to you out of the tunnel. Also, don’t move back too far or it’s likely to draw your dog’s attention to the incorrect obstacle as shown in Figure 8. Gamble 2 The next gamble is similar to the first; however, take a look at the gamble line. You now have more options of where to stand when your dog comes out of the tunnel. If you stand too far to the right, your dog will be looking directly at you when he exits the tunnel and is likely to take the off-course jump as seen in Figure 9. But if you stand as shown in Figure 10, and give your dog the Out command as soon as he enters the tunnel and again when he comes out, you can change his path to the teeter.

10
3

Out!

4 2

5 1

To get the dog to the teeter, give him an Out! command as soon as he enters the tunnel and again when he comes out.

port the obstacles you want the dog to take; allow yourself room to move forward and use your Go command. If you are presented with a recall gamble where the dog is coming toward you, remember to use your body rotation and Out command to change your dog’s path. In the next article, we’ll discuss lateral gambles, how to teach your dog to stay on his path, and how to work the gamble line. D

Decision Time
When you look at a gamble or a distance handling challenge, decide if you’re dealing with a send or a recall. If it’s a send, you want your body to sup-

Kristy Netzer owns Happy Dog Agility in California and Happy Dog Ranch in Tennessee. Her BC, Jubilee (ADCH Bronze) was a finalist in the 2001 USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility. Kristy has been in the USDAA Top Ten in Gamblers and Jumpers with two different dogs (Zippity and Dabbie). Although Kristy has coached some of the top handlers in the U.S., her special interest lies in helping physically challenged handlers be successful in agility by using her methods for handling and teaching distance. Look for Kristy’s DVD, Dial Up the Distance, soon to be published by Clean Run Productions. Contact Kristy through her website at www.happydogagility.com.

Clean Run | October 10

http://www.happydogagility.com

Clean Run - October 2010

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