A Dog’s Eye Perspective | The Flatwork Compass & Crossing Pass with Loot

The movements of the Flatwork CompassThe Flatwork Compass is a disc dog form that separates the Flank from the Pass, creates a reliable trigger, and exposes the team to all of the key elements of Team Movement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW7Czz-7ows&list=PL8zWXaJfi1-synGOkBJ7u4p-WkotsL3LR... are both how humans move to throw and how humans move dogs. The stepping forward for the FlankOut to the side of the handler is the Flank. If the dog is out to the handler's right or left the dog is on Flank. If the dog is moving with the... pushes the dog out and in the direction we’re stepping and the switching and opening up pulls the dog towards us for the PassA Pass or Passing is a linear Team Movement maneuver that has the dog running or moving past the handler in close proximity, crossing or breaking the plane of the handler's body..

Let’s take a look from a dog’s eye perspective.

Seeing the Release

This is a key element of successful disc play. If the dog sees the disc from hand to mouth, there is a high likelihood of making a catch.

A big part of the FlatworkFlatwork is the stuff that happens between the catches. How the team moves and transitions, often without the disc, is flatwork. Flatwork concepts in disc dog are taken from the agility and herding... Compass is creating this habit for both dog and handler. This habit is not installed on many dogs because the dog learns to predict, quite accurately, the direction of the throw based upon the handler’s movements building up to the throw. The feet and the start of the backswing are two common movements that trigger action.

The trigger for action in the Flatwork Compass is the disc shifting from vertical to horizontal. Once that happens, it’s on. This is the same trigger for the Low High toss and can be considered an extension of the concept.

As a result, the dog gets a chance to see the disc leave the handler’s hand, dramatically increasing the likelihood of a catch.

Working with Pressure

In the Flatwork Compass we teach the dog to respect and read pressure. It’s not just feel the pressure and bolt. In the image below the pressure is quite obviously pulling Loot to where the two arrows would meet. Most dogs would bolt into this pressure gap, blasting by the handler and making a 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,... hook up a tough proposition.

But Loot has experience with the Flatwork Compass and he knows that this position looks familiar. It will either be a Clockwise Flank (off to the left of the image) or a Clockwise Pass because that is how it works.

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... that Loot has gotten the cue we are hooked up. And he will continue to read the situation until the disc comes out of my hand.

A Deeper Interaction with Pressure

The same situation is setting up here. Loot is reading the Counter Clock Flank from me and is moving in that direction, but he is doing so thoughtfully, as he knows that things could change in a moment. He’s looking to see what I do with my hands and feet…

This deeper, more sustained interaction with pressure will Allow Loot and I to do a real smooth 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.... Not some spinny, skidding thing in front of me, but a real pretty and elastic 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... that we can work out of for a nice leaping catch or another Crossing Pass.

Where’s My Dog?

Match and Switch

Make the Throw

This type of smooth Flatwork and Team Movement is made much easier by the continuous and clear communication on the approach and the consistent communication that comes from experience with the Flatwork Compass.

Flatwork Compass and Crossing Pass

There it is. All set up in one neat little package. Navigating with the Flatwork Compass and moving with the Crossing Pass. Most all flatwork and Team Movement is made far more simple with these two simple tools.