Clean Run - December 2011 - 31

With a shorter striding or slower dog (or a faster handler), it may be quite possible to perform two separate front crosses effectively. If the handler can stay ahead of the dog and cue both crosses appropriately and in a timely manner, a double front cross is often preferred. See Figure 6. With a longer striding or faster dog (or slower handler), it may be difficult to stay ahead and complete both front crosses in a timely manner as previously noted. If front crosses are the preferred strategy for the sequence, in almost all cases it is beneficial to perform the first front cross as close to the location of the second as possible. This helps prevent the dog from being miscued with forward cues on the second front cross. In some cases the efficiency of the first cross is slightly compromised, but the quality of the second cross will greatly improve as a result.

Depending on the configuration of the jumping sequence, the proximity of the two front crosses may result in the cues for both crosses blending together as one cue combination, rather than a separate cue combination for each cross. In a blended front cross, the handler moves to the location of the second front cross before rotating toward the dog. She cues the jump with deceleration (usually associated with one to two steps of backward motion), her shoulders rotated toward the dog, a blend of inside and outside arm signals and a verbal Jump cue. The shoulder rotation of the first cross is never completed and there is no true change of side; the dog remains on the same arm throughout. This maintains the turning cues for the second front cross. For slower dogs, these turning cues may not be ideal and a double front cross may be more appropriate. See Figure 7.

Double Front Cross
3

blenDeD Front Cross
3

4 2 2

In a well-executed double front cross, the handler performs a front cross between #3 and #4. She completes the front-cross rotation before the dog commits to #4 (orange). She cues the second jump with deceleration, her shoulders rotated toward the dog, a blend of inside and outside arm signals, and a verbal Jump cue. This combination of cues alerts the dog to a turn (purple, black). Compare to Figure 2. (Note: there is no video available for this figure.)

In a blended front cross, the handler moves to the location of the second front cross before rotating toward the dog. She cues the jump with deceleration, her shoulders rotated toward the dog, an outside (left) arm signal, and a verbal Jump cue. The shoulder rotation of the first cross is never completed and there is no true change of side; the dog remains on the same arm throughout. This maintains the turning cues for the second front cross. Compare to Figure 6. Click link for video: http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature. display&feature_id=190

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Clean Run - December 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - December 2011