Distance Skills in Standard Course Work

If you train a dog for independent performance you should find opportunities to practice those skills in standard course work. Resist the temptation to resort to “traditional” handling strategies that demand for you to drag your dog along behind you.

Here’s a simple example:

Study this sequence, imagining how you might handle it. Resist the temptation to use comfortable and familiar drag-the-dog-around handling. What independent performance skills might you use to solve? Using these skills allows you to practice with them in competition; grow your confidence when they work, (and learn valuable lessons in timing when you aren’t.)

I’ll share a short video below; and talk through the handling plan after.

My old boy Kory and I ran this sequence as part of a larger course about eight years ago. The most interesting bit in the handling strategy was using a Back Pass to set up for jump #7 to solve the interesting transition to #8. The opening serpentine was solved using Left and Right directionals. We also had good practice sending to pipe tunnels.

How does that strategy compare to your own? If you get a chance to set up this sequence, please share a video.

Facebook

A Facebook page (The Jokers Notebook) has been set up to share homework and discussions of training a dog for independent performance. This is a private page which will require you to ask permission to join. If you have ANY difficulty getting access, please email me so I can figure it out.

BLOG1615 JNh02

Wrapping Transitions

Wrapping Transitions ~ This is a simple conditioning exercise intended to teach and practice a transitional “wrap”, from a pipe tunnel onto the dogwalk; and from the dogwalk, into a pipe tunnel.

In this exercise the handler is expected to work from the side of the jumps away from the dogwalk. When first teaching a dog these skills the handler might begin by working closer, and then gradually move back until working exclusively on the other side of the jumps.

If you are very confident in your directional commands, “Left” and “Right”, these commands should neatly solve the riddle of the exercise.

Directional commands should be supplemented by strong handler movements (albeit, from a distance). In the transition from the dogwalk to the #4 pipe tunnel the handler should show technical tandem movement. The technical tandem was introduced in Module #16; and reviewed with more complexity in Module #29.

Mirror Image

This exercise was designed so that it can be mirrored to practice the transitions using Left turns.

Generously reward your dog when he gets it right.

Facebook

A Facebook page (The Jokers Notebook) has been set up to share homework and discussions of training a dog for independent performance. This is a private page which should require you to ask permission to join. If you have ANY difficulty getting access, please email me so I can figure it out.

BLOG1614 JNh01

Questions Comments and Impassioned Speeches to Bud Houston, Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Connect with me on FaceBook!