When walking the course, first assess what order the obstacles are, then decide how you will play by considering your dog and your handling options. Sometimes a front cross works well, while other places a rear cross will work better.
Guide your dog's line as though you are pointing it out with a laser pointer, and support it with full body cues and verbal cues as needed. Mostly the dog runs based on the handler's body language.
Pearls:
- Give Jackie space to run, allow her room at the jumps
- Be a confident leader: believe in Jackie and allow her to run
- When cueing contact behavior, be sure to get past the contact out front enough that Jackie can stop in 2o2o so she can see me while staying in the 2o2o contact position
- Timing is important, cue early enough so that Jackie knows where she is going
- Keep moving smoothly forward, indicating to Jackie where her line of travel will be
Jackie playing hoops, 2o2o, and jumpers:
