Create Flashy Disc Dog Transitions & Sequencing with Aggressive Defense

This sequence was inspired by a fellow jammer’s fun video on FB. I thought the sequence was a Rear CrossOn a Rear Cross, the dog switches Flanks with the behind her. From clock to counter clockwise Flank or vice versa. Taken directly from the canine agility world, the Rear Cross is a... to FakieAn athletic Set Up Move, the Fakie is a flip off of the handler's body (normally the chest) with no disc in flight or intended to be caught. It is usually named by... or JakieThe Jakie is a trick where the dog intercepts the disc on the way to the handler's body and then uses the handler's body to safely and stylishly flip to land the trick...., which I really liked, but it was simply her dog bum-rushing her. The whole situation is interesting, and inspired not only a super cool trick, but my coverage of this topic. I’ll lay it out below, but check out the lesson first:

When Inspiration Hits… Literally

So Chloe West shared this video with Pilot where Pilot smashed into her after a Rear CrossA Cross is an canine agility term that describes a change of working sides. Your dog moves from your left to your right (Heel to Side) or from Clock to Counter. Crosses are.... I thought it was just a Fakie/Jakie mistake but as I learned later, it was just Pilot coming in hot and wild for a HoopA Hoop is an Over or Vault that travels through a hoop made from your arms or body. A Hoop expresses great teamwork and connection between dog and handler. Most Hoops are done... or Arms with a bit too much space, super funny.

The movement was really slick for a Fakie or a Jakie, something I had not really done from the Rear Cross. The video also brought to light the idea of playing Aggressive Defense because Chloe’s spinning away from her dog created a bit too much space, inviting a hot and wild approach. I figured I’d give it a shot with the Jakie and with spinning towards the dog using some Aggressive Defense movement.

NowThe Now Phase is an integral part of the Play Cycle in the Play+ training philosophy. It embodies the current, immediate interaction between the handler and the dog, anchoring them in the present... here we are with a bevy of moves:

 Prevent Defense

A Prevent Defense seeks to simply allow the opponents to not score. It is about giving all kinds of space to the offense to stop them from making the long play.

In dog frisbee, that looks like standing around waiting for the dog to come to you, or moving away from the dog to create space for an interception or a coming together after some space has been given.

Most of the time it is the former, with the handler simply standing there waiting for the dog to get back for the move. This is boring and not an efficient nor creative use of your time and movement.

It’s cool and fine and whatnot, but it could be better and more interesting. It’s kind of whatnot…

Regular Defense

Regular Defense has the handler moving towards the dog but stopping far enough away to not get burned by the offense. Usually this is 1-2 strides away for the dog, maybe 2-5 yards or so.

This is much more appealing than the Prevent Defense, as it shows an active handler with Team MovementTeam Movement is how dog and handler move, as a team, out there on the field. It is a judging category in some organizations and certainly is a focus of many judges, players,..., but it is fairly standard, a bit loose, and could be much more.

Aggressive Defense

Aggressive Defense has the handler driving forward on the dog all the way up until the move is made. If we were playing defense in a team sport, the technique would risk the offense getting past us and if they did so, they’d score. In team sports terms it would be a tremendous gamble that would stop the offense in their tracks and give momentum to our team.

But in the case of disc dog freestyle, while we are utilizing the pressure and position of defense to intercept and meet the dog head on, we are ultimately on the same team and we both know the play. This means the fix is in and we can sell the fake defense while actually working together. We essentially fool the fans while play the odds in Vegas – it is no gamble at all, it’s a plan that surprises everyone.

One Step Over the Line

In simplest terms, you just take one, maybe two extra steps from where you would normally set up for Regular Defense. It is just a little bit more driving forward to close the gap between dog and handler.

Stop & Setting as Trigger

Once you cross the line the idea is to use an abrupt stoppage as negative pressure to suck the dog into the move. This is really well illustrated in the through and flip move in the 2nd video at 25 seconds.

This really makes moves POP! It’s surprising and exciting for the fans and generates tremendous momentum for the team.

Appear in Position

If the move you are doing does not have a Set Up Move the idea is to appear in position rather than get close and set up as you would with Regular Defense.

Essentially you stop and settle into the position using the movement and spacing while closing the gap as you would your standard set up for that move.

This is how I’m using the spinSpins and Twists are tricks where the dog spins 360 degrees in a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion. Spin is clockwise and Twist is counter clockwise so it is important to have a... with Eppie in most all of these moves. My spinning is the set up.

Cue Clearly & Early

According to poetry, that rhymes. And if you cue clearly and early, Aggressive Defense will be poetic and beautiful. GiveThe Give is a retrieve to the hand. A cued Give is a foundational skill that is not super useful in the actual performance of disc dog freestyle, and has huge applications for... it a shot.