One of the interesting benefits of play in the TDAA that I’ve found is how so many of the small dogs are turning on to the game and having a wonderful epiphany. In the big dog venues the long transitional distance between obstacles are a bit of a drag on the dog; while in the TDAA the action comes fast and fantastic. An equally dramatic benefit is that the handlers of the big dogs in the TDAA (that would be 12” and 16”) become better handlers because their timing must improve in order to survive. This was one of objectives of the TDAA that the challenge for small dogs and their handlers compares to that for the big fast dogs in the big dog venues. Both dog and handler take back to the big dog venues these newfound discoveries of excitement and skill.

I thought it might be interesting to present a TDAA sequence side-by-side with a big dog sequence to compare and contrast the presentation of the challenge of timing in transitional distances between obstacles.

Indulge me if some of the discussion to follow is the kind of thing that you want to teach Novice handlers. Fundamentals is always an important training topic.

Handling #1

In this exercise the first interesting moment is at jump #3. If the handler encroaches too much on the dog’s path on the dismount of the A-frame then the handler must actually pull off of the dog’s path to get around jump #3. I’ve long noted that the first symptom of the Velcro handler is the propensity to glue himself 12” from the dog throughout the performance. If the handler is too close to the dog on the dismount of the A-frame then the dog might curl back to the handler creating the likelihood of a refusal at jump #4. I work with my students a great deal on establishing a parallel path that allows the handler to have clean and fluid movement.

The great difficulty these days is the establishment of the 2o2o position at the bottom of the A-frame. Too many handlers are practicing this skill in such a way that the dog only understands the performance if the handler is hovering over the dog’s head. Indeed the dog may come to believe after awhile that the performance should only be attempted if the handler is hovering in this manner. It is an important leap in training for the handler to begin asking for (and rewarding) the performance with the dog working at a lateral distance.

Handling #2

Indeed, we practice the lateral lead-out, relying on a basic principle and one of the Laws of a Dog in Motion that the dog tends to work in a path parallel to the handler’s path. Note that the handler assumes a tremendous advantage in real estate allowing him to move smoothly through the sequence and set up for the half-pinwheel turn to the pipe tunnel.

Handling #3

The dog-on-left opening was all about the Tandem Turn (cross behind the dog on the flat) after jump #4. Note that there is a subtle turn to the right after jump #3 which should not be taken for granted. The handler might treat the dog to a little counter-rotation (RFP) or even rely on a static Post (change of speeds – tap on the brakes).

Turning the dog away from the handler’s position on course is an important skill. Too many handlers think that this is a matter of a hand signal. In fact, it is a whole-body signal. The handler must make the turn (shoulders, hips and toes) and move in the new direction of the course. This is the part that the dog actually understands and to a greater extent than any hand signal will ever establish.

Handling #4

 

After getting the dog into the pipe tunnel at #6 the handler shouldn’t lollygag very long admiring his work. Note that the dog’s line-of-sight coming out of the pipe tunnel leads to a wrong course to the dummy-jump alongside the A-frame (red line). The handler needs to kick it into gear and get on the opposite side of the exit of the pipe tunnel and frankly, establish a path out to jump #7. At jump #7 the handler will either have to show a static Post or a counter-rotation to draw the dog neatly into an approach back to the A‑frame.

Handling #5

A number of handlers will survive on bending the dog, stepping in front of him, and relying on the dog’s sense of self preservation to sell the turn. In this short sequence the handler might have started out with dog on right and then stepped in front of the dog after jump #3 to bend away to jump #4. Somewhat more risky would be the handler stepping in front of the dog after jump #7 bending the dog away to the A-frame at #8.

I find this to be very novice and uninspired handling but the natural propensity of the untrained handler. My job as an instructor is to beat that noobiness out of them and show them a natural system of communication with the dog.

Occasionally someone will protest to that kind of speech. “Well it works for me!” they exclaim. They don’t notice little things like… their dog moves slower and slower over time because the handler will likely and in an unpredictable manner step in front of them when they are working. This makes the dog cautious and wary and makes him hold back from his full working speed. Furthermore, it’s one of those things that only works about 70% of the time (and I’m being generous in that estimate). And I, for one, try not to fill my day with things that have a 30% fail rate. It doesn’t take many challenges on course to make you NQ.