17. Recall Over Three Hurdles

As your dog progresses in the JUMPING exercise, set the three jumps in a row, approximately fifteen feet apart. This is a fun-exercise that is enjoyed by both dogs and owners. Place the Broad Jump on one side of the Solid Hurdle and the Bar Jump on the other. With your dog on leash, leave her on a sit-stay in front of a NARROW Broad Jump. Face her on the opposite side. Tell her "Jump!" then snap the leash toward you with praise. Tell her to sit, then pat her.

Lead her to the LOW Solid Hurdle. Tell her "Stay!" and face her from the opposite side. Stress the JUMPING command when you call her. After she jumps, make her sit, pat her, then move on to the Bar. The Bar Jump, too, must be absurdly LOW.

When your dog is reliable and will jump all three hurdles on leash, try them with the leash off. Use the command "Come!" and then encourage the dog to leap each hurdle by calling loudly "Jump!" "Hup!" or "Over!" Try one jump at a time until your dog knows this part of the exercise, then try two hurdles. Leave her in front of the Broad Jump while you go to the opposite side of the Solid Hurdle. Call her, and if she jumps the two, lead her to the Bar, and make her jump that. If she starts around the jumps at any time, run forward and block her, then coax her to come over the top.

After sufficient practice, try all three. Leave the dog sitting in front of the Broad Jump. Face her from the far side of the Bar Hurdle. Kneel, then call her. As she approaches each of the three hurdles, call out a loud jumping command, and follow each command with praise. The Bar Jump will be the most difficult of the three, un­less you have taught your dog STICK JUMPING and she is familiar with a single bar. Stand close to the last jump, and be ready to block her from going around the end or from ducking under the bar. If she attempts either, cuff her nose gently with the back of your hand, then pat the top of the bar and encourage her to come over the top. With practice, your dog will soon learn to leap all three hurdles on command, a useful exercise for exhibition work.

Owners who have trouble with their dogs running around the hurdles in this exercise should ask six people to assist, one standing at each side of the three hurdles. If there are not enough assistants available, chairs or other objects can be used. The fact that someone is standing in the way or that some obstacle blocks each side of the jumps, will encourage the dog to leap over the top instead of running around the ends.

An alternate method is for an assistant to hold the dog's leash when she is left sitting in front of the Broad Jump. The owner, from in front of the Bar Jump, calls the dog while the assistant runs with the dog and guides her over each hurdle. Timing the command with the correction is important. The owner calls out the jumping com­mand as the dog approaches each hurdle. The assistant tugs on the leash if the dog starts around the end.

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