Training Tuesday: Four Jumps, Two Tunnels, Eight Sequences to Train All the Things

Setups, sequences and handling tips from AgilityNerd

This article was reprinted with permission from Steve Schwarz's AgilityNerd blog.

A recent course inspired me to setup a long skinny set of jumps and tunnels so I could practice serpentines, threadles, back sides, jump wraps and bypassing obstacles. I came up with eight sequences for this obstacle setup.

Setup

Here are the equipment setups in feet (40’ x 80’) and meters (12m x 24m):

  

Setup in feet (left) and meters (right)

As always, re-arrange obstacles to fit your space, your skills, and for your safety.

Handling Tips

The sequences aren’t in any particular order and each of them has some good challenges, I’ve put notes before each sequence. Here are some general things to consider:

• Can you handle these sequences from either side of the line of jumps?
• Can you handle these sequences all from one side of the line of jumps?
• Can you use front crosses, rear crosses and blind crosses in each sequence?
• On jump wraps can you wrap to either side of the jumps?
• I’ve written some articles to help you get the most out of any course you setup in my Backyard Mastery articles.

The Sequences

In Sequence 1, crossing on the landing side of 4 in the opening turned out to be trickier than I expected. If I didn’t support the back side and get my cross done quickly, Snap! would take the jump in a very flat line.

Sequence #1

Jumps 8-9 to the far side of the tunnel at 11 needs you to cue the back side wrap at 9, send to the tunnel and get moving to the jump wrap at 13. Push to back side to blind cross at 13?

Sequence #2

Sequence 3 is all about the jump wraps!

Sequence #3

In Sequence 4, I practiced moving from 2-3 with my dog on my right and my left to keep him with me and out of the off course tunnel. Otherwise, it’s a nice serpentine practice sequence.

Sequence #4

Back sides and threadles in Sequence 5:

Sequence #5

I have some video of 11-year-old Flyer and me running sequence 6. Dog on right 9-12 into a threadle wrap at 12 was a fun solution.

Sequence #6

Three threadles and a back side if you handle it on a line between the jumps and the tunnels.

Sequence #7

A fun mix of threadle, serp and back sides in the final sequence:

Sequence #8

I hope you enjoy running these sequences!

About Steve Schwarz

Steve Schwarz has been training and competing in agility and flyball since 1997. He focuses on helping handlers improve their communication with their dogs on course in a positive and light-hearted manner. Steve brings an analytical approach from his engineering background to the study and training of agility. In order to stay knowledgeable about current agility training techniques, Steve trains regularly with top agility handlers and attends multiple dog and agility training seminars each year. Steve competes in USDAA, AKC, UKI, and CPE venues and has competed in NADAC and UKC. Steve also writes the longest running dog agility blog, AgilityNerd, with regular articles and videos on agility training, handling, and course analysis.