WAO Team USA Practice Inspired Course - Video

29 Mar 2013Steve Schwarz

This week’s class course was inspired by the interesting A Frame jump sequence in WAO USA Team Practice Course #4. I only have a 60’ x 60’ space to work with so I came up with this sequence:

Full Course

Full Course
Obstacle Legend

As you can see by the course layout I also wanted my students to work on staying connected with their dogs as they maneuvered past off courses - it is also more wide open, so they could get more speed up prior to the weave entry.

Set Up Notes:

  • Put jumps 1 & 2 close to the tunnel so they might be viable off courses when coming from 14.
  • Move jump 3 closer/further from the off course tunnel 16 to make that Back Side more/less difficult.
  • The table is optional - you can move it in closer to act as more of a distraction.
  • You want 13-14-15 to be almost a straight line when turning the dog left over 14.
  • Pull tunnel entrance 16 out to discourage handling A Frame with dog on right...

Handling Notes:

  1. Dog on right 1-9. Show proper motion to next obstacles and, if necessary, put dog in Handler Focus when moving past off course obstacles.
  2. Depending on how you set it up the course you may need to bring the dog in to you going from 5-6 or 6-7.
  3. Now the fun starts! Push to Back Side Handling the Quad Back Side - Patrick Bucher Course/VideoThe Connection Between Threadles and Back SidesBack Side/Back Side JumpBack Side of Jump Handling Combinations - Video of 10 and get moving - dog on right over A Frame.
  4. A bunch of options for 12-13-14-15:
    • My fave was Blind Cross the exit of A Frame (dog on left over 12), Rear Cross Learning the Rear CrossRear Cross between 13 with deceleration to cue a collected turn. Pick up dog on left arm as dog Wraps Jump Wrap Handling TipsJump Wrap Handling - With VideoJump Wrap/Wrap 13 to bring dog through the gap. As soon as the dog starts to come through gap: RUN! Dog on left to 15.
    • Handler slower than dog or needing to manage A Frame contact: Front Cross Learning the Front Cross - VideoFront Cross A Frame downside (then into Rear Cross/Wrap as above).
    • Handler slower than dog with running A Frame: you could Rear Cross on approach of 12 and then Rear Cross again on approach to 13 (then into Wrap as above).
    • Dogs that don't read collection/rear cross before 13 would either not turn and continue over 13 to the right or turn so wide/slow it was best turning them right over 13 to begin with. Then it is Front Cross Wrap over 13 to put dog on right to 14. Small dog handlers could pull the dog from 14 to the tunnel and then Rear Cross. Big dog handlers who got behind would send their dogs over #2. I encouraged big dog handlers to go for a front cross between 14 and the tunnel if they turned their dog to the right over 13 - good practice and puts the handler in a better position to support 16.
  5. The rest is "Easy Peasy". Dog on left out of tunnel, bring dog on left to take off of 17. Then either Ketschker or Front Cross Wrap 17 to have dog still on left to 18.
  6. Front Cross over jump 19 of 270 Handling 270 Degree Jump SequencesBack Side Entry to 270/Training Opportunity - Video270 Degree Jump Sequence - dog on right.
  7. Either Pull 20 to 21 or "go for" the Front Cross between 20 and 21!

It runs fast and was fun!

Video

Here’s video of Meeker and me trying the intermediate class sequence after I set up the course (it’s shorter than the diagram above). The Blind to Rear to Wrap works nicely with him because he reads deceleration so well - he is ready for the Rear Cross cue as he approaches 13. Thanks Ellen for videotaping!

I hope the weather in your part of the world let’s you set this course up and play with it!

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