
Flatwork Pendulum & Crosses April 2020



Pendulum Pattern
Expanding the Flank
Expanding 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... is making the flank bigger. This can be accomplished by throwing the disc out to 10 o’clock & 2 o’clock. The dog leaves the handler and moves laterally and towards the front. This makes the Working Flank
The 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... larger and reinforces a round pattern and an arcing retrieve.
Read the Release
Reading the dog’s release, or movement after the catch is a feature of the Pendulum pattern. After each catch, the dog’s directional movement is great intelligence for a handler and team.
Epic is fairly well balanced, so he tends to continue to move clockwise after a catch on the clockwise flank and counter clockwise on the counter flank. Loot, on the other hand, always releases counter clock.
This release is usually consistent but is also dependent upon the speed and direction of the throw and pressure from the size and shape of the field. Different types of throws and placements and field position or obstacles can and does impact the dog’s release.
Declare Direction Early
The handler should declare the next direction before the dog strikes a line on the retrieve. This should happen many yards from the handler. If the handler waits until the dog has arrived with the disc, then the team’s flow will suffer and the pattern may break down.
It’s very easy to position yourself for the next movement while the dog is catching the disc. Making this a habit will dramatically impact and increase a team’s FlowFlow is a key component of the modern day disc dog game. Keeping your dog moving with seamless, ever moving and flowing sequences with little to no set up time is the goal....
Around & Get Out Cue
The Get Out cue is a layered cue. It starts with a positional pressure cue. The rear foot of the handler should be closest to the dog. This creates a subtle plane of pressure that helps the dog approach on the proper flank and gives a clue about direction.
The verbal cue is given, followed by a hand signal of sorts, usually a flick of the disc behind the handler. Verbal then physical is a key cuing concept.
A verbal cue of “Get Out” is given, followed by the physical cue of the handler’s toe turning out a bit.
Layer this cue properly and the dog will know the difference between an simple around cue and an around to Get Out Cue.
Free Flowing Flatwork with Front Crosses
Law of Resonant Spins
The Law of Resonant Spins is one of the 13 Laws of Flatwork. It’s important. Throws that 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... Clock should be thrown to a dog moving clockwise. Throws that spin Counter Clock should be thrown to a dog on a counter clockwise flank.
Notice that Epic gets a very good look at the disc on each of these throws. When the spin resonates with the flank it is visible to the dog – the dog looks right at the disc and clearly sees it come out of the hand.
Discs that do not resonate – a clockwise throw to a dog moving counter clock – will be blind, meaning the dog cannot see the disc come out of the hand.
Sidearms and overhand wrist flips spin counter clockwise out of the hand and should be thrown to the left side of the handler, 12-7 o’clock. Backhands and other throws that spin clockwise should be thrown to the right side of the handler 12-5 o’clock.
Cross Changes the Working Flank
After each catch, notice that Epic & Ron are moving together. When Ron changes direction, shifting from one direction to the other, Epic changes with him. This change of working direction from clock to counter and vice versa is a 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.... Because the dog changes working sides with the handler in front of the line, this is a Front Cross
On 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....
To change directions, you must first be declared in a direction. Notice that Ron sets his movement with Epic before trying to change directions.
Directional change and the Front Cross are based upon the shifting pressure of the plane of the handler. The dog wants to play in front of the handler. Notice that Ron is pointing at Epic when the direction is changed. Dog and handler move as a team.
Throwing Poses Declare Direction
On the last throw of the video, Ron simply stands there in throwing position for a Sidearm throw and Eppie knows where it is going and breaks in the counter clockwise direction.
All experienced dogs know the direction of the Sidearm throw, but only the practiced dog will naturally break in the proper direction for a resonant, visible throw.
Dogs that are not well practice in flatwork and following the handler may break in either direction, and may break in either direction on any given repetition.
If you want the dog to be consistent, or to always break in the desired direction, you must have well practiced flatwork.
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