jump width during practice

Chris's picture
Submitted by Chris on Wed, 2007-04-18 09:10.

Does the width of a jump matter for practice? Jumps at trials are 4 to 5 feet wide. Would it be a bad idea to use 3-foot jumps during practice for smaller dogs, i.e. dogs in the 16 inch or less class? Would it mess up the dog and/or affect the handler's timing as does jumping at a higher or lower jump height? (Back in my days of showing and training in obedience, using a narrow broad jump during training messed up the dog's timing for the turn to come to front - handler stands 18 inches or so from the side of the jump and the dog comes to front after jumping the jump.)

Thanks,

Chris

Problem 280's with Dog jumping to long when fast ›
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newfire's picture

Re: jump width during practice

Submitted by newfire on Thu, 2007-04-19 11:34.

Hi Chris! I have had to use 4' jumps when the diagrams called for 5'. Olga told me then to measure things from the center of the jump regardless of the width and that would be OK. With 3' wide jumps you will be making things much harder since you will not be able to slice the angles as tightly as you could for a wider jump. In addition, the feet of the jump will come more into play with the narrower jump. I think overall it is better to practice even with a narrower jump than not! at least thats what I would be doing!!

 

elizabeth

Olga Chaiko's picture

Re: jump width during practice

Submitted by Olga Chaiko on Sun, 2007-04-22 21:16.
Hi Chris,

3' jumps could be OK to train some stuff in a confined area, but if you want to set up the sequences, or parts of sequences from the video lessons, it would be better to have your jumps 4' wide. Narrow jumps will not reflect the challenges the handler and dog have to tackle, as the handler will have a much easier time navigating the course, assuming you are to keep the distances between the centers of the jumps true to the map. Where there is still a foot of the jump sticking out into the handlers path, you will have a clear way through, etc. No the other hand, where the dog should be able to jump just the corner of the jump, your dog will have to go out of her way another foot+..

Also, just like Elizabeth was noting, jumping at angles is very hard and maybe next to impossible for the mini dog, because if the jump feet being in the way.

All that said, I did train both Space and Luz on 3.5' jumps.. but in general I would not recommend it for students.

Olga.