How and where we throw the disc has great bearing on how and where our dog moves. This sounds elementary, but the application of this knowledge is not nearly as simple as it sounds. Or maybe it is just as simple, it’s just not super easy to understand.
Obi has come a long way. He is paying attention to his handler, he’s following his handler’s movements and respecting and responding to positional pressure and body language. As a result he’s playing much more safely and successfully, and his leaping is coming along. That said, he’s still apt to get ahead of himself and run too fast. This could easily spiral out of control and lead to a return to unsafe and unsuccessful play.
We have been working this week on collection and thoughtful pursuit using upside down throws. Putting that into a pattern or flowing flatwork is a bit different from doing it in single disc Throw N Go. In this session, Eppie & I work on “Making the Play” using an upside down toss with the goal of getting him to slow down and thoughtfully pursue the disc so he is in a better position to leap for the catch.
Creative releases are often quite difficult to drop into your Team Movement flow, especially counter clock releases. The Flamingo and Flamingitis throws both spin counter clock and both happen while the handler is upside down and all crooked and backwards. Usually these throws are just chucked out there somewhere after the dog goes around or is making a Pass. Eppie and I are working on making these throws with Intent and flowing Team Movement for the leap – on the flank and with shapes.
Flatwork with Obi, aka: “Not a Border Collie”, has been almost a weekly feature on DiscDogger Weekly. Obi is Apryl’s dog, so the videos are pretty much the only work I do with Obi, and the only freestyle training he’s been getting. Apryl runs him in toss and fetch and does some dock stuff with him. This is our 7th Team Movement training session, mainly Disc Quan Do stuff, since the beginning of August, you can watch the transformation in this playlist.
The movements of the Flatwork Compass are both how humans move to throw and how humans move dogs. The stepping forward for the Flank pushes the dog out and in the direction we’re stepping and the switching and opening up pulls the dog towards us for the Pass.
Go Around is a standard Set Up Move in disc dog freestyle. It creates timing and position with movement and is the standard set up for toss and fetch. It is this standard set up for toss and fetch that dominates the movement and as a result, most Arounds resolve or release to the front of the handler at 12 o clock in clockwise fashion.
Shapes are more than just the trail left by the dog on the field, and the patterns created by the dog after the catch. Shapes differ from Flatwork, and higher level Shapes should not rely solely on how the dog releases after a catch. Shapes are how the dog moves to navigate the catch.
Shaping 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.
To view this content, you must be a member of Pawsitive’s Patreon at $1 or more Unlock with PatreonAlready a qualifying Patreon member? Refresh to
Patrons Only Sneak Peek… Public Access Jan 10 | Contracting the Flank reduces the lateral outrun of dogs and tightens up the around movement. It is a simple operation at heart – just send the dog around and do nothing — don’t throw.
Patrons Only Sneak Peek… Public Access Jan 10 | Where, when, and how the disc is placed while Expanding the Flank depends greatly on what the handler wants to do with it. There is a difference between Setting the Flan and Throwing on Flank.
Patrons Only Sneak Peek Access… Public Jan 9 | How does your dog perform the Around? It it tight as a drum with the dog hugging your knee-pit and brushing your calf? Or is it real loose with the dog running down the throwing line before turning upfield? Does the dog go around and bolt downfield without a look back? Or is your dog Goldilocks, a just right distance with a look to the handler to see the release?
All go Around behaviors are not equal. There are situations where each of these types of Go Around set up moves are required or desired.
Sneak Peek for Patron’s only… Public access Dec 27th | Functions of canine leaping and how leaping catches function by Ron Watson
Sneak Peek – Patrons Only… Public Release Dec 16th | Think Forms Not Drills – A drill is something an athlete does to get better. Drills help you build the skills you will need in the future. This focus on getting better and the future is putting the cart before the horse and values skill over knowledge.
A form is something an artists studies. Forms help you understand what the reality is in and around an activity. Forms are about uncovering the essence and understanding of a skill or activity.
An illustrated look on the effects of reward placement on the shapes and lines that a disc dog runs during a round of disc dog freestyle.
An illustrated look at the mechanics of the Flank in disc dog freestyle and flatwork.
1st Law of Disc Dog Flatwork There is Always a Flank If the handler has a toy, there is always a flank. It might be
A handy list of Disc Dog Flatwork and Routine terms.
The Pendulum pattern is created using alternating clockwise and counter clockwise “Arounds”. This balanced approach slows the dog down and helps dog and handler hook up as a team on the flank (out to either side of the handler).
Please confirm you want to block this member.
You will no longer be able to:
Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
