Disc Dog Flatwork | Mechanics of the Intercepted Release

Jumping off from the Flatwork Mechanics piece yesterday, the Mechanics of the Intercepted Release looks to be a crazy, complex operation, but it’s not at all. [Click the image for full sized version]

If the dog marches on, the handler peels off. If the dog peels off the handler marches on.

Creating the Working Flank

When Intercepting the ReleaseRelease has many meanings in disc. Throws and throw variations can be referred to as releases. Sometimes you talk about the dog releasing something, the toy, or the environment, as in to stop... More, the handler needs to hook up with the dog on the Working FlankThe Working Flank is a moving position. On a Working Flank the dog is out to your side some distance and holds position, moving with you as you move around the field. The... More. This Working 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... More creates a starting point of connection. Dog and handler are moving in the same direction as a team. This is a key element of successfully Intercepting the Release.

Without the Working Flank, the team is not connected and it is quite difficult to get a move started. If you have tried to do an over or a vault while your dog is arcing in towards you as opposed to coming straight in, you probably know that the dog is likely to slide outside of your position to maintain the flank. Doing a Leg OverAn Over is any leaping catch that happens over top of the handler’s body. Overs are usually named by the part of the body over which the dog flies, i.e - Leg Over,... More while the dog is arcing in usually leads to the Over happening outside your leg, going over nothing but air. The same happens with a vault.

Getting a straight line approach for the vault or over is key. This is normally accomplished with 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... More (Squib) or a twisting maneuver to line your dog up and get the trick started. This is cool, but not necessary.

Front Cross as Trigger

If the Working Flank is established, the dog can be pulled in to a straight line approach with a Front CrossOn a Front Cross, your dog switches Flanks in with you in front of them. From Clock to Counter Clockwise Flank or vice versa. Taken directly from the canine agility world, the Front... More. This FrontFront is a stable position directly in front of the handler. Front is an traditional obedience skill. Usually your dog sits in this position, but standing is often acceptable as well, especially in... More 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... More from the Working Flank is the trigger.

If the dog is on a clockwise release after catch, the handler should be too. So get hooked up on that flank and pull the dog a bit. Once some team movement is established, changing to the Counter Clock Flank with the Front Cross will set up the linear approach needed for a vault or over.

Without an established Working Flank, there can be no cross, and getting the dog off their Strong FlankThe Strong Flank is the flank that the dog wants to run. Most dogs are unbalanced and prefer to move in either a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion. The Strong Flank can also... More to drive towards the handler will be near impossible

Handler Peeling Off

If the dog continues on the flank, the handler peels off. This movement allows the handler to set up the Working Flank for a moment. By turning in the opposite direction of the flank, the handler sucks the dog in a bit while orienting the team onto the Working Flank. This sucking in movement keeps the dog arcing until you decide to start your trick with the Front Cross.

Simply make your throw and 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... More in the opposite direction of your dog’s flank. If the dog is on the Clock Flank, you will peel off counter clock. While peeling off, you will wind up with your left hand towards the dog in that clockwise Working Flank PositionIn the Play+ philosophy, "Position" is the final stage within the "Next" phase of a Cycle of Play. It acts as a pivotal link between the "Next" phase and a new "Now" phase. More. Hold there, grab the dog on the flank, and work for a moment. When you’re in position or otherwise ready to go, switch flanks with the Front Cross and you’re straight line approach is all set up.

Handler Marches On

If the dog peels off from the Weak to the Strong Flank, simply walk forward with your body oriented in the same direction as your dog. So if your dog is counter strong and has peeled off to the Counter Clock Flank, orient your body so your right side is towards the dog. From this counter clock Working Flank, a Front Cross to the Clock Flank will line the dog up and trigger the start of the trick.

Almost Better Than a Wait

Done well, Intercepting the Release is almost better than a WaitWaiting on cue and situationally is extremely important for disc dog freestyle training. The competition field might not see too much waiting going on as everything is supposed to be happening in flow,... More. It gets the team in position and lined up without the trouble of timing the start or trigger from a Wait. It creates a rolling start, and it’s smooth, as rolling starts tend to be.

Balanced Dogs, Disc Placement and Pressure

Balanced dogs are tough to do this with. You can’t really trust them to go in the same direction every time. To confidently and successfully Intercept the Release requires confidence in the directional choice of the dog. Balanced dogs are far more sensitive to pressure and disc placement and tend to make their directional decisions on the fly. This makes it hard for the handler to commit to a direction while the dog is making the catch. Unbalanced dogs are very reliable on their directional preference.

Field pressure, or pressure coming from something on the field or adjacent to the field can dramatically alter the dog’s Release. Even the most unbalanced dogs will go in their weak direction if the field or an obstacle puts enough pressure on them. If something weird happens and your dog goes the wrong way, look for some form of pressure that may be impacting the dog. Agility equipment on the UpDog field, a pole or tree, and the sidelines of the field, are a few common illustrations of these anomalous pressure situations.

Disc placement can also be quite key in the reliability of the Release. Too far or too fast a throw can alter the Release. There is a difference between throwing to set the flank and throwing on the flank. More on that later.

ShapingShaping is a learning technique where successive approximation and a Positive Marker are used to teach behaviors and communicate concepts. Successive approximation essentially means continually closer to the target behavior. So Shaping is... More a Leaping Catch can, and should be a full time job. Always throw with the intent to deliver the leaping catch unless working something specific that requires a specific approach, speed or distance that is incompatible with a leaping catch. Out throws are glory, not afterthoughts.

Within a game of disc dog freestyle there are many opportunities to reinforce and shape the leaping catch and to turn the speed regulation required for the leaping catch into a habit that is ever present in your freestyle game.