34. The Broad Jump
It is assumed that your dog is familiar with the BROAD JUMP, having learned to leap the individual hurdles in play, as described in the JUMPING exercise. To prepare your dog for the BROAD JUMP as it is done in Obedience Trials, place the individual hurdles close together and tip them on their sides. This will take away temptation, teaching your dog to clear the hurdles from the very beginning.
Put your dog on leash and leave her on a sit-stay in front of the first hurdle. Take your position to the right of the jump, with your left shoulder turned slightly away from the dog. Hold the handle of the leash in your right hand, and support the weight of the leash in your left, held at arm's length, directly above the center of the jump. WITHOUT MOVING YOUR ARMS, give the jumping command, which may be "Hup!" "Jump!" or "Over!" Follow the command with "Good Girl!" and snap the leash forward. While the dog is landing, command "Come! Good Girl!" snap the leash toward you, then coax her to come close and sit squarely in front. So she can do a proper finish, make a quarter turn to the right while the dog is jumping. After she is sitting in front, pat her, then complete the exercise by having her go to heel position. If your dog will start on the jumping command, don't jerk the leash, but give praise just the same. |
The two things to remember when teaching the BROAD JUMP are: (1) Give the command without moving your arms; and (2) give praise while the dog is jumping, whether you jerk the leash or not.
The show ring procedure for the BROAD JUMP requires the handler to stand two feet away from the jump, facing it, and within the area of the first and last hurdles. While the dog is jumping, the handler is permitted to make a forty-five-degree angle turn to the right, to enable the dog to sit squarely in front and do a proper finish. To accustom your dog to the BROAD JUMP as it is done in Obedience Trials, follow this procedure in practice as you increase the over-all length by stages with the hurdles upright, in their proper position. The required BROAD JUMP length is twice that which your dog jumps in height.
During practice, set up the BROAD JUMP in a new location. Give the dog a single chance, then move the jump again. Make her leap the jump in reverse direction, jumping from the high point to the low. Turn the individual hurdles on their backs to give the jump an unusual appearance. This prepares a dog for unexpected situations at Obedience Trials, where conditions are not always ideal.
Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...