It All Kind of Blends Together But Discrete Actions Move Dogs
Pushing Applies Pressure | Slow Down and Back Off
if the handler turns towards, moves towards, leans forward, is angle towards or otherwise applies pressure to the dog, the dog will slow down and back off. learn to apply pressure to move the dog away from you and have sharp set ups.
Pushing the dog around is something that not too many handlers get to experience. It’s often a bit of a skirmish or small battle or it’s an olé type move to let the dog slide by.
In this situation I have already kind of let the horse out of the barn on getting old Loot here to slow down, he’s backed off alright, but he’s pressuring me here. It’s cool, I’m just going to hold here and Block. He can run on by if he wants, but nothing’s gonna happen over there.
Pulling Removes Pressure | Go Fast and Get In Here
pulling the dog makes the dog go faster and draws the dog in towards the handler. this is fine if you want the dog there, but if you want the dog to stay out you’ve got to slow down and not pull to sharply. I’m gonna let Loot chill here for a sec…
If you’re facing away from the dog, at all, you’re pulling. Pulling increases the dog’s speed. When the dog is coming in fast and you move and Pull to try to stay ahead of her? You’re pulling her in closer to you and making her run faster.
If you’re working the dog on the Flank and you want the dog to stay out there and not slide in? If you’re hand and body are too far out in front of the dog, that dog is coming in and coming in hot.
Blocking Pressure | Hold Fast or Switching Directions
if the handler Blocks the dog has no choice but to stop or switch directions. why? because the handler’s not going that way anymore or has switched directions. if the dog blows past this Block he will wind up out of position and unable to follow the play.
This Blocking move is critical for Team Movement. Front and Rear Crosses are excellent skills to tune this Blocking move without flat out stopping the dog. That shifting of pressure from side to side, in concert with a prepared and competent handler followed by a nice catch is highly motivating. It asks the team to demonstrate some finely tuned communication with Pressure.
The groovy smooth Flatwork moves are excellent for working on the skills in this Triad, but the Block is also employed in close on Interior Moves and is especially important for holding the dog in position while lining up the vault and for Triggering skills.