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MAS ERING JUMPING SKILLS FOR AWESOME AGILI Y DOGS, VOLUME 1

Copyright © 2015 by Linda Mecklenburg

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced inany form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage orretrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

To purchase multiple copies of this book, contact:

Clean Run Productions, LLC

17 Industrial Dr. South Hadley, MA 01075 800-311-6503 Email: info@cleanrun.com Website: www.cleanrun.com

Edited by Monica Percival and Guiliana Lund

Book design and typesetting by Monica Percival and Marcy Rauch

Cover photos by Cathi Winkles Photography (main photo), Lynne Brubaker Photography (inset photo 1), and Donna Brian (inset photos 2-4)

Dedication photos by Dee Anna Gamel (portrait) and JT pawPrints (action photo)

rademarks: All service marks, trademarks, and product names used in this publication belong to their respective holders,including Agility Dog, which is a registered service mark of the United States Dog Agility Association, Inc.

ISBN 978-1-892694-37-9

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: e author and publisher shall not be liable in the event of incidental orconsequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions andsuggestions contained in this book.

To contact Linda Mecklenburg, visit her website at www.AwesomePaws.us or email awesomepaws@aol.com.

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Photo by Cathi Winkles Photography

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v Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

ContentsForeword .................................................................ix Preface .....................................................................xiAcknowledgments ..................................................xiiiIntroduction ............................................................xv Using this Book .......................................................xix

Drills .........................................................................xixSelection o Drills .............................................xix Progression o Drills .........................................xix General Guidelines or All Drills ..................... xix

raining Progression Summary ....................... xx Diagram Key ............................................................xxiiReading the Diagrams ...........................................xxii

Chapter 1: Te Dog ...............................................23Tis chapter describes the mechanical skills needed oragility jumping and actors that affect how your dog jumpsand moves on course.Te Dog on the Flat ................................................23

Striding on the Flat .................................................23Leads on the Flat .....................................................24Collection and Extension on the Flat ...................24

Te Dog Over a Jump .............................................26Jumping E ort .........................................................26Leads Over a Jump..................................................27Collection and Extension Over a Jump ............... 28

Handler Inuence on Dog’s Stride Length andJumping E ort .........................................................29Jumping Arcs ...........................................................30Jumping Arc Comparison .....................................32Takeo Point and Takeo Zone ............................33Flat vs. Round Arc Performance Comparison ....34Jumping Form .........................................................36Leg Technique .........................................................38

Forelimbs ..........................................................38Hind Limbs .......................................................40

Jumping Skills Overview ........................................42Collection ................................................................44

urns in Collection ..........................................45Straight Lines in Collection .............................45

Extension .................................................................46Straight Lines in Extension .............................. 46

urns in Extension ........................................... 47 Bending ....................................................................49

Bending in Collection ......................................49Bending in Extension .......................................51Bending on the Flat .........................................51

Slice ...........................................................................52Slice on a Straight Line ....................................52Slice with urns................................................ 52

Jumping Skills that Involve the Handler ...............54

Convergence ............................................................54Shaping ....................................................................54

Chapter 2: Te Jumps ...........................................57Tis chapter describes the agility jumps and explainshow the components o a jump affect your dog’s jumping per ormance.Components of a Jump ...........................................57

Jump Standards ......................................................57Jump Wings ............................................................59Jump Cups ...............................................................60

Jump Bars ................................................................61 Jump Bar Length ............................................. 61 Jump Bar Diameter and Color ........................ 62 Jump Bar Weight .............................................. 62Number o Jump Bars ......................................64 Jump Bar Height .............................................. 64

Jump Panels .............................................................65Ground Lines...........................................................66Ground Bars ...........................................................67

ypes of Jumps ........................................................68Winged Jumps .........................................................70

Wingless or Nonwinged Jumps .............................70Bar Jump ..................................................................72Spread Jumps ..........................................................72Comparison of the Jumping E orts Required forDi erent Jump Types .............................................74Double-Bar Spreads ................................................76

Parallel Double-Bar Spread ............................. 76 Parallel Double-Bar Spread (Extended) ......... 77 Ascending Double-Bar Spread ........................ 78 Ascending Double-Bar Spread (Extended) ..... 78Descending Double-Bar Spread ......................79

Triple-Bar Spreads ..................................................80Miscellaneous Spreads ...........................................82Tire ...........................................................................82Panel Jump ...............................................................85Wall and Viaduct ....................................................87Long or Broad Jump ...............................................87

Jumping Surface & Other Environmental Factors ....88Your Dog’s Vision ...........................................................89

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Chapter 3: Conditioning to Improve Jumping ....91his chapter includes in ormation and exercises or

designing an overall conditioning program or your dog,as well as targeted exercises or improving jumping skills.Designing Your Dog’s Conditioning Program ......92

Stability and Body Awareness Exercises ..............93Core Strengthening Exercises ...............................94Front-End Strength and Flexibility Exercises .....96Rear-End Strength and Flexibility Exercises ......98Exercises to Increase Overall Flexibility ..............100Targeted Jumping Skill Exercises .........................100

A Sample Conditioning Schedule ..........................103Useful Fitness Props ...............................................104Warm-Up and Cool-Down ....................................105

Toe Exercises ...........................................................105Head Bends ..............................................................106Circles on the Flat ...................................................106Weave Between Your Legs .....................................106Walk Front Legs Nose to Hip on the Flat ............107Sidestep ....................................................................107Back Up ...................................................................108Stand-to-Down .......................................................108Trotting ....................................................................108

he Exercises ...........................................................109Back Up and Back Up Over Poles.........................109Back Up onto a Slanted Board .............................110Bow with Front Legs Extended .............................112Canter or Gallop Uphill ........................................112

Cavalettis: Straight .................................................113Cavalettis: Curved...................................................113Crawl Forward and Backward ..............................114C-Stretch .................................................................115Hold a Sit on Stool, Balance Disc, K9FITbone .....115Lateral Movement Front Legs, Rear Elevated ....117Lie Over a Peanut Stretch ......................................118Lengthening Stretch, Front or Rear Elevated ......118Multidirectional Weight Shi ing ..........................119Roll Over (Slowly) .................................................120Rotation Around a Stationary Object ..................121

Same-Side Leg Stands: Handler Held ..................123Same-Side Leg Stands: Independent ...................124Side Sit-Ups ............................................................125Sidestep Uphill .......................................................126Sit Pretty ..................................................................126Sit Pretty to Stand on Rear Legs ...........................128Stand-to-Down and Down-to-Stand ...................128Stand-to-Down/Down-to-Stand, Front Elevated ....130Stand-to-Sit/Kick-Back to Stand, Front Elevated ....130

Tight Circles on Travel Plank or Bench ..............130Walk Down & Backward on Slanted Board ........132Walk Front Legs Nose to Hip, Rear Elevated ......134Weave Between Your Legs ....................................134

Chapter 4: Foundation Flatwork for Jumping .....137Tis chapter contains drills that are used to lay the oundation or success ul jumping per ormance be oactual jumps are introduced.Before You Begin ....................................................138Heel Position ..........................................................138Recalls on the Flat ..................................................138

Collection Recall (90° Turn) .................................140Extension Recall (Straight Line) ...........................142Back-Up Recall (180° Turn) ..................................144Circling a Cone and a Post ....................................146Increasing Dog Motion to Recalls on the Flat ....148

urns on the Flat .....................................................149Front Cross ..............................................................149Push ..........................................................................15Rear Cross ................................................................150Pull ............................................................................15Combining Turns in Succession ...........................151

Sends on the Flat .....................................................154No Motion ...............................................................154Adding Dog Motion ...............................................154Adding Handler Motion ........................................156Dog and Handler in Motion ..................................156

Combining Flatwork Skills Using a Cone .............157

Send Around a Cone Plus Recalls ........................157Send Around a Cone Plus Turns ..........................158

urns Around a Cone Plus a unnel .....................160Combining urns in Succession with Cones .........160Combining Flatwork Skills Using a Wing .............162

Sends Around a Wing ............................................162Turns Around a Wing ............................................162Combining Turns in Succession: Wraps ..............162

Recalls with urn Variations at the Wing..............164Sends with urn Variations at the Wing................166Commitment ...........................................................168Combining Flatwork Skills Using wo Wings ......170

Combining Turns in Succession ...........................170Send Variations with Two Wings..........................172

Combining Flatwork Skills Using aSimulated Jump .......................................................174

Recalls.......................................................................17Sends.........................................................................17Run-Bys ....................................................................17

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Combining Turn Variations ..........................................176Turns Plus Tunnel ...................................................178Recalls Plus Tunnel .................................................180

Handling Sequences on the Flat .............................181One- & Two-Jump Drills Using Simulated Jumps ...181Beginning Sequences..............................................181Sequencing with Puppies .......................................181Teaching Handling Skills .......................................183Intermediate Sequences .........................................184Practicing Mechanical Skills .................................184

Main Points of Foundation Flatwork Skills...........190

Chapter 5: Foundation Jump raining ................191Tis chapter introduces your dog to jumping.Age to Start ..............................................................192

raining Environment and Equipment .................192Jump Heights for Foundation raining .................192Stage 1: Offering .....................................................194

Stage 2: Collection and Bending ............................196Stage 3: Variable Approach Angle and Distance ...200Stage 4: akeoff-Side Location ...............................200Stage 5: Landing-Side Location .............................202Stage 6: Kneel to Stand ...........................................204Summary of Stages 1–6 ..........................................205Introducing Motion Cues ......................................206

Forward Motion .....................................................206Deceleration ...........................................................208

Lateral Motion ........................................................208Putting It ogether .................................................208Introducing rained Cues ......................................210

Chapter 6: One-Jump Drills .................................211Tis chapter contains drills that introduce your dog torecalls, run-bys, wraps, and sends on one jump with the ocus on jumping skills.Guidelines for the Drills .........................................213Recalls Over One Jump ..........................................214

Collection Recall .....................................................215Bend Recall ..............................................................219

akeoff Location or Bend & Double-Bend Recall ..222Double-Bend Recall ...............................................223Back-Up Recall ........................................................226Extension Recall ......................................................229Slice Recall ...............................................................233

Run-Bys Over One Jump ........................................236Sends Over One Jump ............................................238

Forward Send ..........................................................238Backside Send ..........................................................242

Wraps Over One Jump ...........................................246

Chapter 7: wo-Obstacle Drills: Obstacle on theApproach to the Focus Jump ................................249Tis chapter contains drills that add an obstacle be orethe ocus jump.

Guidelines for the Drills ..........................................249Performing Obstacle-to-Focus-Jump Drills ..........250

Tunnel-to-Focus-Jump Drill Progression ...........250Jump-to-Focus-Jump Drill Progression .............250

Recalls with an Obstacle Before Focus Jump ........252Collection Recall .....................................................252Bend Recall ..............................................................25Double-Bend Recall ..............................................256Back-Up Recall .......................................................258Extension Recall ......................................................260

About Extension Cues on Lead-Outs .............. 262Slice Recall ...............................................................26

Run-Bys with an Obstacle Before Focus Jump ......266Sends with an Obstacle Before the Focus Jump ....268

Forward Send ..........................................................268Using Pulls on Sends ..............................................268Backside Send ..........................................................276

Wraps with an Obstacle Before the Focus Jump ...278

Chapter 8: wo-Obstacle Drills: Obstacle Followingthe Focus Jump .....................................................283

Tis chapter contains drills that add an obstacle aferthe ocus jump.Guidelines for the Drills .........................................283Performing Focus-Jump-to-Another-ObstacleDrills ........................................................................284

Focus-Jump-to-Tunnel Drill Progression ...........284Focus-Jump-to-Second-Jump Drill Progression ..284

Recalls with an Obstacle After the Focus Jump ....285Collection Recall .....................................................285Bend Recall ..............................................................28

Double-Bend Recall ...............................................288

Back-Up Recall ........................................................290Extension Recall ......................................................292Slice Recall ...............................................................29

Run-Bys with an Obstacle After the Focus Jump ..296Sends with an Obstacle After the Focus Jump .....298Wraps with an Obstacle After the Focus Jump .....306

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Chapter 9: eaching the Specialty Jumps .............309Tis chapter explains how to introduce the specialty jumpsused in agility that present unique challenges.

raining Progression for All Specialty Jumps ......309Specific raining for Spread Jumps ......................312

Ascending Double-Bar Spread ..............................313Parallel Double-Bar Spread ...................................314Triple-Bar Spread ....................................................316Visual Considerations for Spreads........................317

Specific raining for the ire .................................322Specific raining for the Panel Jump .....................325Specific raining for the Wall and Viaduct ...........326Specific raining for the Long or Broad Jump ......328Electronic imers ...................................................331

Chapter 10: Jumps with Landing-SideApproaches ...........................................................333Tis chapter explains how the jumping skills you havebeen training prepare your dog or approaches where hemust move rom the landing side o the jump to the takeoffside, independent o your location.Crossing the Plane of the Jump ..............................334Landing-Side Approach Followed by Slice ............336Landing-Side Approach Followed by Bend/Wrap ....336Change of Bend on the Flat ....................................338Foundation raining ..............................................338Assisting Your Dog (Shaping) ................................340

Visual Considerations ............................................340

Appendix 1: Jump Height Reference for Drills ....343

Appendix 2: Determining Spacing for Drills .......345Extension Spacing ...................................................345Extension Bounce Spacing ....................................348Collection Bounce Spacing....................................348

Appendix 3: How Rewards Are Used in thisProgram ................................................................351

ypes of Rewards ....................................................352Treats (Food) ..........................................................352Obstacles .................................................................36Praise ........................................................................36Absence of Reward .................................................363Marking Unsuccessful Attempts ...........................363Placement of the Reward .......................................364

Appendix 4: About Leading Legs .........................367

Appendix 5: Circling a Cone or Post: ake 2 .......377

Lynne Brubaker Photography

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ix Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

Several years ago, when I was still a high schoolchemistry teacher, I saw a summer agility campadvertised on an email list. Linda Mecklenburg was oneof the instructors at this camp. I wondered if the camp

would be worth the drive to attend—it was in Ohioand I lived in faraway Oregon—so I wrote to a friendwho I thought would know more about it. I will neverforget what she said: “I don’t know why people aren’tparachuting down onto Linda’s property to get whatshe has to o er. She’s amazing, and you won’t regret it.”Truer words have never been spoken. By the end of mythree days in Ohio, I was begging Linda for continuedaccess to her instruction and information.

Before online dog training classes, before YouTube, andbefore easy instant communication, Linda was willingto help me with my dog’s jumping training needs. Herpatience, thoroughness, and attention to detail were,and continue to be, incredible. I would videotape mytraining sessions and mail the tapes to Linda. She wouldthen critique them and send notes back to me. atshe would take the time to help me out when she waspreparing for the FCI Agility World Championshipswith her own dog, was amazing. Her help with mydog’s jumping made it possible for me to achieve myown personal goal of representing the USA at thatsame international event. In 2007, I competed in theindividual event at the championships, and it was withgreat pride that I got to watch Linda and her teammatesearn silver in the team event that year in Norway.

Fast forward to over a decade later. Armed with Linda’shandling and jump training information, I have wonmultiple national championships and have enjoyedtop performances at international competitions onthree continents, with multiple dogs. I am no longera high school teacher and instead devote my life tohelping others learn to master the art and science ofagility handling and training—again, armed with theknowledge I have gained, and continue to gain, fromLinda. Her comprehension and instructional techniqueswith respect to jump training, as well as handling,continue to help me build my own skills and those of mystudents. As you will see throughout this book, Linda’sability to break down the mechanics of jumping, and tocreate processes for training the speci c jumping skillsa dog needs for our sport, is unparalleled.

Dog agility is continuously evolving and courses havebecome increasingly complex. The jumping effortsrequired by our dogs have also increased in complexity.Every agility handler needs to have a thorough grasp of

the mechanical and physical skills their dog needs tomaneuver through a course on the at, and to succeedin the various jumping e orts their dog will encounteron a course. is understanding is not only necessaryto be successful as a team at any level, but also to helpprevent injuries and maximize the longevity of a team’senjoyment of the sport together.

Mastering Jumping Skills or Awesome Agility DogsVolume 1 is the de nitive theoretical and reference textfor handlers to begin developing that understanding.You’ll learn about canine movement on the at and howit a ects your dog’s ability to accomplish the di erent jumping challenges on a course. You’ll learn about howthe appearance and construction of a jump a ects yourdog’s jumping. And, you’ll learn about the conditioningthat should be in place prior to beginning a jumpingprogram so that your dog is physically capable of the jumping skills he needs to learn.

In addition, Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1 is theultimate training text for handlers to begin to develop adog that is a thoughtful and accurate jumper and thento maintain those skills for the duration of the dog’sagility career. Every agility handler and dog, the worldover, will bene t from the timeless information in thisbook. e Mastering Jumping Skills program is the resultof decades of observation, hypothesis, experimentation,and revision by Linda. In addition to producing thisbook and continuing to teach and compete herself,Linda stills gives her time freely to help handlers betterunderstand the physical demands they are placingon their dogs, better train their dogs to meet thosedemands, and to become better with their handling sothey can help their dogs meet those demands.

Although the amount of information in this book andthe technical writing may seem daunting at rst, I urgeyou, to read this book cover to cover before gettingdown to the business of doing any training with yourdog. Read the book, dog-ear the pages you need to comeback to, and use your highlighter and pencil liberally, just as you would with a college textbook.

Foreword

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Jot down any questions you have, then as you keepreading, see if those questions aren’t addressed in someway. Chances are good that they will be answered, asthis volume is a complete source of information as wellas a training manual. And, if those questions are notaddressed, Linda is available through her website, heronline classes, and social media.

I didn’t end up parachuting down to Linda’s facilityin Ohio, all those years ago. I drove, with a friend, allthe way from Oregon and all the way back... and what

a drive it was. However, if I could attach a copy of Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1 to a parachute anddrop one to every agility handler in the world, I woulddo so. Whatever you may have paid for this book (ormaybe you were lucky enough to receive it as a gi !),its value is incalculable. I am proud to have been ableto realize tremendous success from having put Linda’swealth of knowledge into practice over the past several

years, and I’m con dent that you and your dog willrealize tremendous bene ts as well.

Daisy Peel

Photo by Cathi Winkles Photography

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xi Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

e sport of dog agility has undergone considerablechange over the last 10 years. As course designs andhandling techniques have evolved, so have the demandsplaced on our dogs’ ability to jump. The jumping

challenges have significantly increased in level ofdi culty, variety, and frequency. My rst book on jumping, Developing Jumping Skills,has evolved intoa comprehensive jumping program that will take yourdog from start to nish: Mastering Jumping Skills or Awesome Agility Dogs, Volumes 1 and 2.

Te Mastering Jumping Skillsprogram is appropriatefor young dogs just beginning their jump training aswell as for more experienced dogs that need to improvetheir skills. With a solid foundation and training, alldogs have the potential to become successful jumpingdogs. is rst book in the set is designed to be aresource for handlers of all skill levels and handlingbackgrounds, from the novice to the most accomplishedcompetitor. It is not a book that is intended to be readin one sitting; rather, it should be used as a reference foragility handlers and instructors to consult as needed.To get the most out of this program, you will need abasic knowledge of dog training and an understandingof agility handling, particularly the handling cuesand your dog’s expected responses to them. If youneed background information on handling, refer toDeveloping Handling Skills or Awesome Agility eams.

Dogs competing in agility come in all shapes andsizes and have all levels of drive and motivation. It isimportant to realize that this jumping program may be di cult for some dogs, especially those with a highweight-to-height ratio. At the other end of the spectrum,this program might seem easy for those exceptionalathletes that aspire to compete at the highest levelsof the sport. Although this program is designed to beappropriate for all dogs, there will be some dogs thatwill require modication of the techniques presented.

e sport will continue to evolve as course challenges,handling and training techniques, and equipmentdesigns change and improve. e Mastering JumpingSkills books were developed and written with the goalthat they will be useful in providing dogs with a solid jumping foundation for many years to come.

e focus of Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1 is onthe following topics:

Understanding how your dog moves and jumps: Tomost e ectively train your dog to jump, you shouldhave a basic understanding of how a dog moves on the

at and what he does during the jumping e ort. e jumping skills the dog needs to be successful today gowell beyond extension and collection; courses requirethe dog to be able to weight shi , collect, extend, bend,slice, dive, and shape, as well as perform a combinationof these skills. Chapter 1 is an examination of the dog —what he does, what he is capable of (or not), and whatmechanical skills are required for dog agility jumping.

Understanding how the jumps themselves affect yourdog’s performance: Dog agility jumps vary widely inappearance and the type of challenge they present.Understanding how the basic components of a jumpand the type of jump can potentially a ect your dog’s jumping performance and safety is important for youas a handler. Chapter 2 takes an in-depth look at the jumps themselves, from jump cups to bases to wings.

Preparing your dog for his jump training withphysical conditioning: Jumping in dog agility hasbecome much more physically demanding over the

years. Courses have more di cult jumping challenges,which are more strenuous to perform, and most dogsrequire more training time to achieve the necessaryskills. To maximize your dog’s ability to perform theseskills and minimize the risk of injury, he should befit and well-conditioned before starting a jumpingprogram. Adding a balanced conditioning programthat includes body awareness and stability exercises,core strengthening, strength and exibility training, andaerobic and crosstraining activities to build enduranceis an important part of a comprehensive jumping

program. Chapter 3 provides the elements you needto create an overall conditioning program as well astargeted exercises for improving speci c jumping skills.

Preparing your dog for his jump training withfoundation skills on the at: Flatwork is used to lay thefoundation for successful jumping performance beforeactual jumps are introduced. Having your dog learn to

Preface

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XI I Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

respond to your handling cues and motion without real jumps is essential to ease your dog’s ultimate transitionfrom jumping skill training to handling sequencesand running courses. As your dog is practicing oneor more of the mechanical skills needed for jumping,you are simultaneously developing his understandingof handling skills needed or jumping.But while thedrills included here are a critical aid in your dog’s jump

training, they are not intended to encompass the fullscope of the atwork you need to do for developingyour handling skills (see Developing Handling Skills).Work on the atwork sequencing in Chapter 4 cancontinue to be done to build your dog’s enthusiasm,understanding of cues, and responsiveness to motion,as you are separately progressing with your dog’s jumptraining and working through the other chapters inthe book.

Introducing your dog to jumping with little motion or

handler inuence: Your dog begins his jump trainingin Chapter 5 by o ering to jump a single jump from astandstill and walk, with as little in uence from you,as a handler, as possible. Allowing your dog to takehis time to gure out the necessary mechanics andproblem solve will develop his awareness of the bar,lay the foundation for his jumping form, and build adesire to jump cleanly. Natural handler cues such aslocation, shoulder direction, and motion may be quietlyintroduced at a rudimentary level followed by the moreformerly trained cues such as verbal and hand signals.

Building your dog’s jumping skills: Once heunderstands how to jump on cue, you will ask yourdog to perform many di erent one-jump drills usinga single-bar jump. Each drill in Chapter 6 allows himto practice speci c jumping skills. ese skills are thefoundation of this jumping program and will be usedthroughout your dog’s career. It is important to be sureyour dog is con dently and successfully performing jumping skills on one jump, before adding anotherobstacle, adding another skill, or changing the character

of the jump.Solidifying your dog’s jumping skills: The drillsin Chapters 7 and 8 have been carefully cra ed toincrease the di culty of the jumping e ort by addinga second obstacle while still allowing you to focus on

(and reward) your dog’s performance of the jumpingskill(s) being practiced. As your dog progresses throughthe two-jump drills in Chapter 7, you will begin torecognize your dog’s strongest and weakest jumpingskills. Use this knowledge to guide your selection ofwhich drills to work on in Chapter 8. e drills inChapter 8 are also well suited for experienced dogsneeding to refresh their jumping skills.

Introducing different types of jumps: e instructionsin Chapter 9 help you introduce the various specialty jumps used in agility that present unique challenges:spreads, tire, panel, wall/viaduct, and long/broad jump.

Understanding how a nontraditional approach toa jump affects your dog: Jumps that require the dogto approach from the landing side and cross the planeof the jump to reach the takeo side present your dogwith a di erent type of jumping challenge. Your doghas already been introduced to the foundation jumpingskills needed, but he must learn to combine those skillsto successfully perform this type of jumping e ort.

It is important to remember that jump training isongoing. Jumping skills require maintenance if youwant your dog to retain them. You can expect yourdog’s jumping prowess to continue to grow andincrease over time, so you should never stop strivingfor improvement.

In Volume 2For your dog to successfully run a course of jumps, hemust make the transition from jumping skills trainingto sequencing, followed by the transition to “real” agility.To sharpen his skills he may be introduced to grids,progressing to more advanced drills if more challengeis needed. Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 2 willintroduce sequencing, basic and advanced grids, andadvanced jumping drills designed to practice or perfect jumping skills. It also discusses jumping problems,on-going training a er your dog begins competing,

and more.

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xiii Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

Writing a book about dog jumping has been a challengeand I could not have accomplished it without help.Many have contributed to these pages, but there area few individuals to whom I’d like to express extra

appreciation because without them, Mastering JumpingSkills or Awesome Agility Dogs, Volume 1would still bea dream on my computer.

A special thank you is due to Bobbie Lyons for hercontribution of Chapter 3 “Conditioning for Jumping.”

e advanced jumping skills needed on present daycourses are not only more physically demanding buto en they require more training and practice time.While being a weekend warrior might have been doablefor dogs competing 10 years ago, today it is importantfor dogs to be t and in shape. With the increasedlevel of di culty in the jumping skills our dogs arebeing asked to perform in agility, and increased needfor training, I felt it was very important to includeinformation on conditioning in this book. I am not anexpert in the eld, so I contacted Bobbie who graciouslyagreed to share her expertise. I should also thankCatherine Kaufman and her dogs Gus and Kopi for themany demos necessary to get the photos for Chapter 3.

I want to thank all of my students and their dogs, pastand present, particularly those who came to me forhelp with their dog’s jumping problems. One can neverlearn all there is to know about jumping and I learnedso much from working with your dogs. ank youto those in the early years who trusted my judgment,even though some of your dogs ultimately taught methat not all jumping problems can or should be xedwith training. I am grateful and I’m sure the many dogsthat have since bene ted from the knowledge I gainedare too.

My past and present online class students’ dogs were

the test subjects for many of the jumping drills in thisbook. Having you and your dogs execute the drills andthen being able to watch your performances in slowmotion on video helped me evaluate the e ectivenessof both my instructions and the drills themselves; andof course your feedback was helpful as well. ank you.

To Mark Bills of Clip N Go Agility, who provided theuse of his wonderful agility facility and super jumps forseveral photo shoots, a big thank you! Clip N Go wing

jumps appear on the cover of this volume. Mark alsodonated a Clip N Go Ready jump for photos and usein my jumping classes. And, he went the extra mile, bymowing his grass so we could get that awesome outdoor

jumping photo for the cover.Many talented photographers contributed to thisproject. It is challenging to stage the perfect jumpingphoto, particularly when you are trying to create amistake! Sincere thanks go to Cathi Winkles who bravedthe cold weather and helped me stage many of the photosfor Chapters 1, 2, and 4. She was ever so patient with mydogs and me, as we tackled the overwhelming task overthe course of several photo shoots. She also met me onespring day to shoot outdoors and we got the gorgeousshot of Special on the cover jumping the spread. LynneBrubaker, who shot the cover of Developing HandlingSkills or Awesome Agility eams,graciously met me at acompetition along with Donna Brian to shoot outdoorphotos for the “skills” on the cover of Mastering JumpingSkills, Volume 1.Many of those images made it into theinside of the book as well. Mike Lifer, currently ownerof Game On Agility equipment but formerly a caninephotographer, deserves credit for most of the photosin Chapter 5. He traveled to my facility speci cally totake those photos. And I must once again thank JohnSpivey, whose photos were taken in a shoot we did backin 2005 or so. He shot well over 3,000 photos and I’vebeen drawing from that collection ever since. ankyou as well to the many photographers that contributedindividual photos, such as Karen Moureaux of DogSport Photos who provided photos of the breakaway tirein action and combed through her archives for severalother speci c shots we needed.

ank you also to Jennifer Crank for the use of herIncredipaws facility and equipment which allowedgetting last-minute photos.

All in all, there were several thousand images for this volume from which the photos you see gracing the pageshad to be meticulously selected one by one. It is notan easy task to get the perfect jumping photo or photoseries; these photographers all helped to make it happen.

ank you to Guiliana Lund for once again providingassistance in the review of many of the chapters;sometimes more than once! Her expertise and insight

Acknowledgments

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XI V Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

were invaluable in helping me organize these conceptsinto a logical progression.

Thank you also to Carole Allen who meticulouslyproofread several chapters.

ank you to Daisy Peel for her contributions to thebook which included eld testing some of the drillsand writing the foreword. In addition, I appreciate theencouragement she gave me along the way, convincingme that I had something worthwhile to contribute tothe agility community. Daisy also deserves thanks forher contribution of Appendix 5, which will undoubtedlyhelp many readers teach their dogs to circle a cone.

ank you to my mentors in horse show jumping,particularly Edna Lytle who taught me a lot aboutteaching horses to jump; I’ve adapted the knowledgeimparted to me by her many times over the years.

ank you to Clean Run team members Marcy Rauchfor the designing the cover of Mastering Jumping Skills,Volume 1and Maryann Groves for undertaking the hugetask of color correcting and editing all of the photos toget them ready for publication. Marcy also created the

dedication page, for which I will forever be grateful.roughout this project, Stellar was my inspiration and

constant companion, always at my feet under the desk.As this project drew to a close, so did the life he sharedwith me. He touched the lives of many and le behindan amazing legacy. ank you Marcy for the wonderfulimage I have to remember him by, and thank you tophotographers Dee Anna Gamel for the portrait and

John Spivey for the action shot.My final and most heart-felt thanks go to MonicaPercival of Clean Run. You cannot imagine what amassive undertaking this project has been. As she didwith Developing Handling Skills, Monica embraced thechallenge of publishing this book despite the enormityof the task. She personally devoted many hours todesign, editing, and rewriting, and patiently sortedthrough the sometimes multiple revisions I did onthe text and diagrams. With the unique subject matter

of this book, it is no small feat to organize the text,diagrams, and photos so a reader-friendly book is theend result. Once again, Monica went out of her wayto see that my vision materialized on the pages andexceeded my expectations.

Linda and Doodle at their first agility match in 1990.

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xv Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

My interest in dog jumping started at an early age. I canremember setting up makeshi jumps in our basementand running my mom’s Pugs over them when I was inelementary school. By the time I entered junior high,

my interest had shi ed to horses and horse jumping.My rst horse was a pretty little chestnut mare namedRibbons. She and I had some great times together, doinga little bit of everything from bareback swims in thestream along the bridle trails to competing at the localhunter shows. As my skills improved, I began ridingin some of the more competitive hunter and jumper events. I rode multiple horsesin my junior years.

To be a successful jumperrider, you must be ableto walk the course,decide the most ef -

cient path to take,number of stridesto take betweenthe jumps, whereto change yourhorse’s lead, andso on. At the bigevents, I watchedand learned as the topequestrians of the erawalked and subsequentlyrode the courses, and studiedhow they schooled their horses over jumps when not competing.

I taught riding lessons part-time throughout highschool. By the time I graduated, I was eager to assert myindependence. I moved out of my parent’s house, boughtmy rst car, and got the rst dog of my own. No, it wasnot a Pug. With my horse background where I spentlots of time around the barn, it seemed the most logicalchoice for me was between a Jack Russell Terrier and aPembroke Welsh Corgi. My rst dog was an amazinglittle Corgi named Honey.

I also got my rst full-time job. While I still had horsesof my own, I went to work for a very accomplishedequestrian trainer of hunters and jumpers. Riding forher taught me just about everything there was related to jumping; I learned about ground lines, cavaletti, grids,

jumping technique, how di erent types of jump a ectthe horse and more. is is where my education in jumptraining really began. She taught horses to jump loose,without rider in uence, in a round pen/oval chute. e

horses were allowed to jump low obstacles from a walkand trot ( rst one, then two, then multiple), progressingto cantering over jumps, allowing them to gure outtheir takeo points on their own without rider in uence(distances varied). Later I would follow this model withhow I introduced dogs to jumping, with the handler

being as inconsequential as possible and the dogo ering to jump on his own.

Working in the equestrianeld, I watched the vet -erinarians practicing

their cra and I be -came inspired togo back to schoolto attend college.Severa l yearslater, I sold all ofmy horses when Iwas accepted into

veterinary schoolat The Ohio State

University. While Iwas a student there,

Honey passed away. WhenI graduated in 1990, I got my

second dog, a Border Collie namedDoodle. Back then, most people had never

heard of a Border Collie and almost no one had heardof agility. Because of my love for Honey, I was endearedwith herding dogs. I researched the di erent breedsand ended up deciding a Border Collie was for me a erwatching them in action at a major sheepdog trial.

Agility was just beginning to catch on in the U.S. I hadfully intended to return to horse show jumping once I

nished vet school, but to compete at the level I aspiredto was going to require a considerable amount of money.A er competing in agility a few times, I quickly realizedthat for me, dog agility was the next best thing to horseshow jumping and much more a ordable.

Although dog agility has its roots in horse show jumping, the focus of each sport is slightly di erent.

Introduction

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XV I Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

While dog agility and horse show jumping both requirethe team to negotiate a course of obstacles without faultand to do it as fast as possible, in horse show jumpingincreases in challenge are accomplished by increasingthe size of the jumps. Jump height and width is basedon skill level, not the size of the horse. In horse show jumping, the challenges at the higher levels result fromthe jumps themselves. Course design revolves around

the strategic placement of jumps and spacing betweenthem, which creates subtle challenges that showcase thehorse’s jumping talent and the rider’s skill and nesse.

In dog agility, increases in challenge are accomplishedwith course designs that test the team’s ability tonegotiate the course accurately with speed. e jumpheight is based on the dogs’ size, not skill level. Jumps arenot as high as they are wide. In dog agility, challenges atthe higher levels result from more complicated coursesthat require increasingly precise communication

between the handler and dog. Course designs test thedog’s jumping skill and responsiveness to the handleras well as the handler’s timing and execution. The jumping challenges originate from the relationship ofthe jumps—testing speed, accuracy, and agility—notthe size of the obstacles. Jumping in dog agility requiresdiverse skills.

Doodle was very fast and quite the crowd pleaser;but she was not necessarily winning championships.Dog training was new territory for me, and trainingresources speci c to agility simply did not exist at thetime. Along with others who were starting down thisroad, we learned by trial and error and common sense.It wasn’t until I trained my second Border Collie, Ni y,that I began to enjoy some competitive success. Withthe success came requests for training advice and itwasn’t long before I found myself teaching agilityprofessionally.

At the time I was recognized for my handling expertise.Many students came to me seeking handling solutionsfor wide turns. What they really needed was jumptraining for their dogs. So, I applied my knowledge of jump training in horses to solve many dogs’ problemsand soon found myself busy with students travelingfrom long distances for jumping consultations.

When I rst began organizing my thoughts for whatwould become Developing Jumping Skills,few handlersactually taught their agility dogs to jump. Knowledgeof jumping was limited; dogs were considered to be

good jumpers if they did not knock bars. For mostdogs, their rst experiences over jumps were focused onbuilding speed, not learning to “jump.” Jump trainingo en amounted racing 5- to 6-month-old puppies infull extension with at arcs over low jumps. Teachingthe puppies to drive forward was the goal, so sequencestypically ended with a toy thrown ahead over the last few jumps. Little attention was paid to the actual jumping

e ort or whether bars fell. Early course designs wererelatively straightforward and owing so, at the time,this type of training was not entirely inappropriate.

As course designs began to include more turningchallenges, handlers began to realize the value ofdecreasing the distance their dogs covered rather thanincreasing velocity in order to achieve a faster time.

us they began looking for ways to achieve tighterturns. Most dogs were cued to turn reactively, withhandlers cueing the jump rst, waiting for commitment,

and then cueing the turn separately a er the dog wasairborne and no longer able to respond. is of courseresulted in wide turns and knocked bars. Handling hadnot evolved to the point where handlers could cue theirdogs to the turns proactively before commitment. Atthis time most handlers did not know what collectionand extension were, nor did they understand that dogscould change their jumping arc. A er much foundationtraining where they were encouraged to run as fast aspossible, in full extension with at jumping arcs, mostdogs didn’t understand they could either!

From my combined experiences as a dog agility trainerand veterinarian, along with my equestrian background,I began to formulate my ideas on jumping. Althoughmy veterinary training did not specialize in caninestructure, my knowledge of canine and equine anatomycontributed to my understanding of how dogs jump.Probably my most valuable asset was my practicalexperience with multiple dogs, testing various jump-training methods hands on. I set out to design a jumpingprogram to teach dogs to jump and educate the handlers

on the rationale and bene ts of doing so. By this time, Iwas already actively developing a handling program aswell. With a solid foundation in jumping skills for thedog, and good understanding of handling skills for thehandler, my goal was that the jumping performancesof the dogs would improve.

Developing Jumping Skillswas rst published in CleanRun magazine in 2006 as a series of articles. e articles

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xvii Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

were then compiled and turned into a book. With thatbook, my goal was to help handlers teach their dogshow to jump, not to teach handlers how to handle.However to ensure the dogs practiced the desired skillsappropriately, I designed drills based on natural cues:motion, shoulder direction, location. I wanted the dogsto learn good jumping mechanics, while at the sametime I did want to show handlers how easy it was to

in uence their dogs to jump in di erent ways using just a few simple cues. I remember teaching a seminarwhere I set up two jumps leading to a tunnel and hadthe students execute a variation of the drill now found inAppendix 1. ey were amazed that their dog’s stridingbetween the jumps and jumping arcs—and, therefore,their turns—could be so easily controlled simply bywhere they stood.

e sport of dog agility has changed dramatically overthe last decade. Vastly improved training and handling

techniques have produced much better communicationbetween the dogs and handlers. As a result, dogs aretraveling at much greater speeds. Course designs at thehigher levels are no longer straightforward and owing;in many cases they have become quite complicated,requiring precision timing between dog and handler.

With the more complex challenges our dogs face oncourse today, the importance of jumping skills hasincreased signi cantly. Multiple changes of direction, variable distances, wraps greater than 180°, threadles,and every imaginable approach (including angled andlanding side), all contribute to more di cult jumpingefforts. Having the option of a front or backsideapproach leads to tougher discrimination challenges.

e mechanics of these more di cult jumping skillsare not only technically challenging from a handlingaspect, they can be physically demanding for the dog.

e jumping skills required of our dogs are no longerlimited to collection and extension, our dogs must alsobe able to bend, slice, dive, shape, perform multiple leadchanges, transition uidly from extension to collectionand back to extension again, weight shi , and stillmanage to jump cleanly. e dogs must learn to lookdownstream on course and make striding adjustmentsaccordingly. And, they must make split-second

decisions about how to execute all of this at top speed,while paying attention to the handler’s cues!

After Developing Jumping Skills was published, Icontinued to observe, study, and experiment with jump training methods. I taught several online coursesthat included material updated to keep pace with theincreased level of jumping skills required. e classesprovided me with not only information about thedog’s performances, but also whether my instructionsfor the drills were being interpreted correctly. I soon

realized there was much I wanted to add to Developing Jumping Skills. Not only was there considerable newcontent, I wanted to add more detailed explanations ofthe fundamentals previously presented. Motivated bythe escalating jumping challenges on course, I wantedto share the information I had acquired by writing asecond edition.

Due to the overwhelming amount of informationI wanted to add, the modest 77-page paperbackonce called Developing Jumping Skills morphed intoMastering Jumping Skills or Awesome Agility Dogs, atwo-volume set.

Mastering Jumping Skills is a comprehensive jumpingprogram designed to prepare your dog for the jumpingchallenges that he will face in agility. The goal of Mastering Jumping Skillsis for your dog to become thebest jumper he can be.

Linda Mecklenburg

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Lynne Brubaker Photography

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xi x Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

DrillsTo provide the most comprehensive jumping programpossible, all relevant drills for jumping skills have beenincluded in this book; however, that does not mean youand your dog need to do every drill.

Selection of DrillsTo select appropriate drills for your dog, you need tounderstand the purpose(s) of each drill; for example,why the reward is delivered where it is, why the dogis stopped in a particular location, why the obstacle isplaced before and/or a er a jump, and so on.

Although it is recommended that all one-jump drills(Chapter 6) be mastered, most dogs will not need to

per orm every drill provided to become a success ul jumper. Each dog’s needs must be evaluated on anindividual basis. As your dog progresses throughthe program, particularly if he is being re-trained to jump, you will o en nd one drill is more e ectivethan another for practicing a given skill. You will alsobegin to recognize that many drills are designed to giveyour dog practice performing the same skill, with onlyminor di erences in execution. You must use your owndiscretion when considering whether it is appropriate toomit a drill as you continually evaluate your dog’s ability

to perform a jumping skill uidly and con dently. Youwill likely nd there are skills your dog needs morepractice with than others, and that some skills requiremore practice to maintain than others.

Progression of DrillsTo help your dog master each skill, most drills followa similar progression on the at and then over jumps.If your dog has di culty, it is useful to go back one ortwo steps in the progression until he is successful again.

1. e skill is introduced with minimal/zero dog orhandler motion—you and your dog are stationary.

2. Dog motion is added by placing the dog on a sit-stayat a gradually increasing distance from the locationwhere the skill will occur. You remain stationary.

3. Handler motion is introduced by placing the dog ona sit-stay and you moving (walking then running) toa location before releasing your dog. is progressesto releasing early and nally running with the dog.

4. e jumping skill is rst introduced on the at, thenperformed over one jump, then an obstacle is addedbefore the jumping skill, then a er.

5. e jumping skill is included in sequences andhandling is introduced.

Drill VariationsIn most cases, your dog should perform several variations of each drill (please note that all variationslisted below are not possible for every drill):

Ÿ Handle the drill from both right and le sides(where possible).

Ÿ Handle the mirror image of the drill.

Ÿ Vary your dog’s setup distance from the rst jump.

Ÿ Vary the spacing between the obstacles, particularlythe focus jumps.

General Guidelines for All Drills Ÿ Reward (or withhold reward if appropriate) in a

timely manner.

Ÿ If you inadvertently miscue your dog with handling,you must still reward if the jumping e ort was good.

Repeat the drill. Ÿ If you cannot cue the drill as described, modify or

omit the drill.

Ÿ Each drill in this book should be per ormed with thecue combination(s) recommended in the description.This will ensure that your dog performs thedesired jumping skilland that he learns the desiredmechanics of each skill.

Ÿ Speci c cue combinations that you intend to use

as part of your handling methodology can bepracticed on simulated jumps as part of your dog’s atwork training.

Ÿ Afer your dog’s jumping skills are rmly establishedand he begins sequencing jumps in Chapter 11in Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 2,you mayintroduce other cue combinations based on yourhandling methodology.

Using this Book

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XX Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

Training Progression Summary for Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

Chapter Pre-requisites Important Training Notes

Before youstart this

jump trainingprogram

Your dog:• Performs basic obedience behaviors (including sit, down, stay, and come) and responds to verbal cues such as his

name and a release word.• Has a basic understanding of offering behaviors with a clicker.

Chapter 3Conditioning

to Improve Jumping

Before beginning a condition-ing program, your dog shouldbe seen by your veterinarian toensure that he has no physicallimitations, no health conditionsthat might be aggravated byexercise, and no existing painor injuries.

Create a conditioning program and get your dog as t and conditioned aspossible before starting Chapter 4. Continue your dog’s conditioning program,changing exercises regularly and ensuring a balance of strength and exibilitytraining as well as aerobic and cross-training activities.

As you work through the Mastering Jumping Skills program, if your dog has a spe-cic weakness in his jumping skills, refer to the targeted strengthening exercisesfor jumping skills (weight shift, collection, bending, hip rotation, and so on).

A maintenance conditioning program appropriate for your dog’s activity levelshould be part of his training throughout his jumping career and into retirement.

Chapter 4FoundationFlatwork for

Jumping

Before beginning these drills,your dog is:

• Offering to circle a cone orpost (see sidebar in Chapter 4and Appendix 5).

• Continuing his conditioningprogram (Chapter 3) and isas t and conditioned aspossible.

• Condently and safely per-forming tunnels from up to15' away.

• Taking a reward on a verbal

cue (Appendix 3).

After successfully performing the skills in this chapter as they pertain to future jumping mechanics and working through the obstacle commitment drills, youwill practice handling sequences on the at using simulated jumps. Prior to do-ing the atwork sequencing drills in this chapter, however, your dog may benetfrom working through the drills in Chapters 6 and 7 using simulated jumps.

While sequencing on the at with simulated jumps, you can introduce cuecombinations and verbal cues specic for your handling methodology.

When you complete Chapter 4:• Your dog should be successfully performing sequences on the at.• Your dog should be comfortable with your handling when you are both

in motion.• You can begin to include obstacles other than jumps, such as contact obstacles

and weave poles, in the atwork sequences as long as your dog is condently

performing those obstacles.

Chapter 5Foundation

Jump Training

Before beginning these drills,your dog is:

• Sequencing with simulated jumps in his atwork training(Chapter 4).

• Offering to circle a post.• Continuing his conditioning

program (Chapter 3) and is t,exible, and conditioned.

In this chapter, you will train your dog how to jump. You will encourage roundform over the bar and help your dog develop his ability to collect and bend, aswell as increase his awareness of the bar and ability to jump cleanly.

When you complete Chapter 5, your dog should:• Be offering jumps set at shoulder height.• Be offering both collection and bending skills.• Have a desire to jump cleanly.• Have a basic understanding of your location, shoulder, and motion cues.• Be jumping on cue at shoulder height.

Chapter 6One-Jump

Drills

Before beginning these drillsusing a jump (rather than asimulated jump), your dog is:

• Jumping on cue (Chapter 5) atshoulder height.

• Continuing his conditioningprogram (Chapter 3) and is t,exible, and conditioned.

Training begins with the jump set at chest height (or with a simulated jump ifbeing done along with Chapter 4) and progresses to shoulder height.

Each drill should be performed with the cue combination recommended in theinstructions to ensure that your dog performs the desired jumping skill. (Whenyour dog begins sequencing jumps in Chapter 11 in Mastering Jumping Skills,Volume 2, you may introduce other cue combinations based on your handlingmethodology.)

When you complete Chapter 6, your dog should be comfortable performingone-jump skills at shoulder height.

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xx i Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 1

Chapter Pre-requisites Important Training Notes

Chapter 7Two-Jump

Skills: ObstacleBefore

Focus Jump

Before beginning these drills us-ing jumps (rather than simulated jumps), your dog is success-fully performing one-jump drills(Chapter 6) with the jumps set atshoulder height.

The training in this chapter begins with jumps set at chest height and progressesto shoulder height (or with simulated jumps if being done along with Chapter 4).

When you complete Chapter 7:• Your dog should be comfortable with two-jump skills at shoulder height.• You may begin specialty jump training (Chapter 9).• If you are retraining your dog and he has been trained for reliable, indepen-

dent performance of the table, wait-for-release contacts (not running), and/orweave poles, you may use these obstacles as the rst obstacle in the two-ob-stacle drills rather than a jump or tunnel. Independent obstacle performance isrequired because you must be able to appropriately cue the focus jump.

Chapter 8Two-Jump

Skills: ObstacleAfter

Focus Jump

Before beginning these drills,your dog is successfully perform-ing one- and two-jump drills(Chapters 6 and 7) with the jumps set at shoulder height.

As your dog progresses through the one- and two-jump drills in Chapters 6and 7, you will begin to recognize your dog’s strongest and weakest jumpingskills. Use this knowledge to select drills to work on in this chapter. Focus ondrills for the jumping skills that need improvement.

The drills you choose should be practiced in moderation over an extendedperiod of time. You may proceed to Chapter 11 in Mastering Jumping Skills,Volume 2 to introduce sequencing while continuing to use these drills to improveyour dog’s performance of specic jumping skills. These two-jump drills are alsosuitable for experienced dogs as a refresher of jumping skills.

Chapter 9Teaching the

Specialty Jumps

Before beginning this training:• Your dog is successfully per-

forming one- and two-jumpdrills (Chapters 6 and 7) withthe jumps at shoulder height.

• You have completed “Deter-mining Your Dog’s ExtensionSpacing” in Appendix 2 so youknow what jump spacing touse in the two-jump drills.

Specialty jump training begins with your dog offering the jump as he did inChapter 5 and progressing as dened for each specialty jump.

When you complete the training in this chapter, your dog should be condentlyperforming specialty jumps at the height specied for each type of jump.

Chapter 10 Jumps withLanding-SideApproaches

This chapter is designed to help you understand how the jumping skills you havebeen working on have prepared your dog for landing-side approaches to jumps.Reviewing relevant drills from Chapters 4 and 6 will help you prepare for moreadvanced training and drills in Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 2.

Mastering Jumping Skills, Volume 2

Chapter 11Introduction to

Sequencing

Before your dog begins se-quencing as described in thischapter, you have completedAppendix 1 to determine your

dog’s extension drill spacing. Inaddition, your dog is:

• Sequencing on the at withsimulated jumps.

• Comfortable with one- andtwo-jump skills (Chapters 6and 7).

• Continuing his conditioningprogram (Chapter 3) and is t,exible, and conditioned.

These drills are designed to introduce your dog to sequencing more than twoobstacles so he is performing the jumping sk ills he has learned with added dogand handler motion. Although the sequences begin to resemble “real” agility,the emphasis continues to be on your dog’s jump training. Your dog begins this

sequencing with the jumps set at chest height or shoulder height.While doing these drills, you can introduce other cue combinations based onyour handling methodology.

When you complete Chapter 11, your dog is• Comfortable with sequencing jumps at shoulder height.• Comfortable sequencing more than two obstacles with added dog

and handler motion.• Comfortable with your use of cue combinations based on your

handling methodology.• Ready to begin “real agility.”

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Diagram Key Reading the DiagramsThe figures in Mastering Jumping Skills have beenprovided to illustrate examples of di erent concepts.Following are some tips to help you interpret thesediagrams.

Ÿ Drills may not be drawn to scale. Use the distancesgiven in the drill instructions if speci ed.

Ÿ Where speci c distances between obstacles shouldbe used for a drill, they will be given in the drillinstructions. If not specified, any reasonabledistance with a minimum of one stride betweenobstacles should be acceptable.

Ÿ e setup location of the dog and handler icons issometimes omitted to make the diagrams simplerto follow.

Ÿ When obstacle numbering has been omitted for adrill, follow the dog’s path.

Ÿ Where the dog’s path is speci cally depicted on adrill with numbering, for example, the option ofturning le or right over a jump exists but the pathdepicts a right turn, your dog should follow thatpath when he performs the drill.

Ÿ Where dog and handler icons are shown, theirlocations represent approximations of actual dogand handler interaction. It is impossible to depictprecise relationships between the dog and handlerwith complete accuracy in a two-dimensionalillustration.

Ÿ Where multiple dog and handlers are shown onone diagram, in some cases they are color coded toshow how the dog and handler would be positionedrelative to one another at a given moment in time.For example, a green handler icon shows thehandler location corresponding to the green dogicon’s location.

Ÿ

e obstacle numbering re ects the sequence ofobstacles in the diagram, not necessarily how theobstacles would be numbered on an actual course.Do not assume every sequence shown is an openingsequence of a course.

Winged single-bar jump

Wingless single-bar jump

Winged and wingless parallel double

Winged and wingless ascending double

Winged and wingless triple

Long jump or broad jumpPanel jump

Tire jump

Wall jump

Viaduct jump

Treat

Open, pipe, or tube tunnel

Handler

Dog

Dog’s main path

Handler’s path

Obstacle plane & other imaginary lines

Treat or toy

Cone or post

Jump wing (assorted colors are used)

T

Possible dog path

Jumping arcs:To make it easier to identify whicarcs would be successful and which would liketo contact with a bar, the illustrations show thebeing jumped as if they were located at the ver

of the standards—that is, as if the bars were thhighest point of the jumps.

*