The mini-courses we played tonight:
Fast Pace: At sign, team’s speed increases at a noticeably faster than normal pace in heel position until next sign, which must be a Normal Pace sign.
Normal Pace: At sign, team’s speed returns to normal pace in heel position.
Halt, Down: Handler stops, dog sits in heel position. At handler’s command and/or signals Dog downs from sit. Handler pauses. Team heels forward from down.
The second mini-course we played:
Slow Pace: At sign, team’s speed decreases at a noticeably slower than normal pace in heel position until next sign, which must be a Normal Pace or Finish sign.
Normal Pace: At sign, team’s speed returns to normal pace in heel position.
270 Left: Team makes a small 270-degree circle turn to the left in heel position.
It’s helpful to pay attention to the bolded, underlined portions of each sign directives, as that is the essence of the movement and should be the focus for the team.
Tonight we also played finishes both right and left. Gunner does an amazing job at following hand cue directions so the left “Finish!” he saw for the first time tonight came easily. His right “Around!” finish is coming along nicely as well.
Our coach pointed out that enthusiasm is to be valued above precision. In other words, it is better to see the dog enthusiastically playing the signs rather than a dog who is in “perfect” heel position but that is performing with lack-luster. We want to see a happy dog, willingly and confidently playing along with the handler.
Pearls:
- Enthusiasm is to be sought and valued over absolute precision
- Show a definitive, marked difference in gate between normal pace, fast pace, normal pace as well as normal pace, slow pace, normal pace
- Within each individual pace, begin with and maintain the same tempo in the pace; immediately and markedly move into the new pace rather than gradually building to get up or down to the new pace
- Give your dog an early heads-up cue for changing paces: “Hurry!” before going fast pace, and “Sloooow” before going slow pace, and “Heel!” to return to normal pace
- As well as the verbal cue, use body language to indicate a pace change: slightly lean forward to indicate fast pace, and slightly lean back to indicate slow pace.
- Be sure to give your dog the cue before you get the the next cone so he has a heads-up that the pace is about to change
