Mastering Jumping Skills

The sport of dog agility has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Improved training and handling techniques have produced much better communication between us and our dogs. As a result, dogs are traveling at much greater speeds. Course designs have become more complicated and the jumping challenges our dogs face have significantly increased in level of difficulty, variety, and frequency. Multiple changes of direction, variable distances, wraps greater than 180°, pull-throughs (threadles), and every imaginable approach (including angled and landing side), all contribute to more difficult jumping efforts. Having the option of a front or backside approach leads to tougher discrimination challenges. The mechanics of these more difficult jumping skills are not only technically challenging from a handling aspect, they can be physically demanding for the dog.