Dana Pike Training Courses

I've been fortunate enough to train with Dana Pike for several years. She has helped me take my handling, understanding, and teaching of Agility to a higher level. Dana has always been encouraging me on the Agility field and in my writings on Agility. With her approval, here are some of her training courses along with my comments on handling them.

Dana Pike had another great course this past week; I liked it because it had an interesting and challenging sequence leading up to the weave pole entrance. I've pulled it "out of context" and added obstacles 1, 2 and 3 to get you into position for the part I liked best. Cut out this way you can set it up in a smaller space than a full course.

Sequence Setup

Course Legend

Don't pay strict attention to the dimensions in the diagram, they are rough estimates from my memory. Here's how you should set it up. The distance from jump 8 to the weaves should require that your dog collect to make the Weave Entry. To make the sequence more interesting the distance from the tunnel to jump 5 should make it a real stretch for you to properly execute a Front Cross [FrontCross, LearningFrontCross] between jumps 5 and 6. If you do those two things you'll have set up the course as Dana did for us. See the final section of this article for some ideas on changing the jump rotations.

Handling Options

Here's a quick run down of some handling options. For the opening you can Lateral Lead Out to the landing side of jump 2 and you dog will collect as it turns in to you and should enter the weaves without a problem. Otherwise you run with your dog on your left and Front Cross at the location of the Lateral Lead Out. A Rear Cross [RearCross, LearningRearCross] on the take off to jump 2 and then Rear Cross the entrance of the weaves (with tight jump to weave spacing some dogs will require the handler pause as they approach the weaves to make sure they aren't pushed past the entrance). A final alternative is Rear Cross 1-2 and Front Cross on the exit of the weave poles.

If handling the weaves with the dog on your right, then if you have independent weaves you can fade toward the tunnel a little. Once your dog is committed to the tunnel you can run to get a Front Cross between jumps 5 and 6 (as shown by the X in the diagrams below). If you can't get in position for the Front Cross then a Rear Cross between jumps works just as well.

Sequence 6-7-8-9 is a nice little drill. It is a 180 blending into a Serpentine [Serpentine, SerpentineHandling] with the weaves as the final Serpentine obstacle. The layout of the obstacles and the handler's approach into the 180 pretty much requires that the sequence be handled entirely with the weaves on the handler's right side.

The cross (Front or Rear) between 5 and 6 turns the dog over jump 6. The turn over jump 7 is a Jump Wrap which is best handled as Front Cross wrap so you pick up the dog on your right hand as they come over the jump.

At this point there are two primary handling methods (shown below) for getting your dog into the weaves. The one I was successful with Meeker is shown on the left. I just turned and moved with him on my right, sent him over the jump and slowed sharply to cue collection into the weaves. With Milo that method didn't work as well because as soon as I turned toward jump 8 he took the jump in full extension and ended up at the second weave pole every time. So for him I used the method shown on the right below. Once he came over jump 7 I stayed facing jump 7, extended my left arm and moved backward to the take off of jump 8. Milo reads this "backey-uppy" correctly as a jump wrap (see Single Sided Threadle Handling to see this in action) so he took jump 8 collected. I then turned to my left and he turned back to the weave poles.

Another approach noted (but not shown) in the right figure above is to use just enough of an RFP or False Turn after jump 8 to get your dog to check in and not miss the weave entry.

Alternate Layouts

To change the difficulty of the exercise not only can you change the distance from the weaves to the jumps, you can also change the angle of jumps 6/8 and 7 in relation to the weaves. The diagram below shows some options in red and green.

Alternate Weave Entry Jump Locations

If you are interested in more weave pole entries you might want to play with this sequence too.

I just realized it has been over a year since I featured one of Dana Pike's class courses. I assure you that is only due to my lack of time (and energy!). I greatly enjoy training with Dana and she always has challenging courses in her classes. I liked this one a real lot and Dana very kindly sent me her Clean Run Course Designer file for use on my site.

What really makes this course interesting are a couple places where the obstacle spacing and location is just a little bit "off" and it really makes the handling more challenging. So I highly recommend you carefully set up this course and give it a try. As usual Dana's courses allow for multiple handling approaches. In this article I've tried to detail the interesting approaches for the various challenges.

Course Setup With Obstacle Coordinates

Course Legend

Course Sequence

For the opening you can either treat 1-2-3 as a Single Sided Serpentine with the dog on either the handler's right (green handler below) or left (blue handler below). Or you can use a Lateral Lead Out to between jump two and the tunnel and call the dog to your right hand (LLO and orange man below). My personal bias is the later.

Opening Sequence

The 4-5-6-7 sequence has an awkward jump spacing. Jump 5 is an Over-Come jump; to avoid a long stride over the jump the dog has to have cues from the handler to indicate they are wrapping the jump (it does help that there are no off course obstacles in that direction and the dog knows it is moving toward the edge of the course). Adding to the handling difficulties is the short horizontal distance between jumps 5 and 6. If the dog goes wide around jump 5 the dog has a very sharp approach to jump 6 which results in a sharp approach to the weaves (the dog's path for both cases are shown in red below).

Over-Come to Weaves

There are many ways to handle this section. I'd like to think I could send the dog from the tire while staying back this would make it clear to the dog that I want a tight wrap of the jump. I'd then move toward the standard of jump 6 nearest the A Frame. Then pick up the dog on my right arm before jump six. An RFP is probably needed for most dog's here to get them to the take off side of jump 6. My forward motion would then get the dog to turn toward the weaves on the take off side of 6. But this is a tight balancing act; take a step past jump 6 before the dog is committed to the jump and the dog will go past the jump. If the dog takes jump 6 it is then a push out to the weaves. This would be a Single Sided Serpentine handling (handler path is shown in green above). Unfortunately, I couldn't be successful with this handling with either Milo or Meeker. Milo has the send but he turns wide over jump 5; Meeker doesn't yet have the send but he will wrap a jump standard very tight.

So the next "best" handling for us is to Front Cross [FrontCross, LearningFrontCross] between jumps 5 and 6 and then Pull the dog and Rear Cross [RearCross, LearningRearCross] on the approach to the weaves (handler path shown in blue above). Again, there is a balance, if you don't pull hard enough the dog will miss the weave entry, the same can be true if you push too hard on the dog's line once they've turned toward the weaves when performing the Rear Cross.

From the weaves if your dog understands to go around to the back side of jump 9 (what Dana calls an "out" command) you can Front Cross the weave exit and handle through to the tunnel with the dog on your left. Meeker and I were successful with this approach. I never trained Milo with an "out" so I Pulled him from the weaves on my right and Rear Crossed the landing of jump 8 to turn him toward the back side of jump 9.

Weaves to Tunnel

Of course the wrong side of the tunnel is facing the dog coming over jump 9. So a shoulder pull to the tunnel followed by a Rear Cross gets you both going the right way after the tunnel.

The 11-12-13-14 sequence is one of those sequences where it really looks like you should be able to handle it all from one side - but none of us could. Depending on your dog's ability to send; you are pretty much required to do two or three Front Crosses (the green and blue handler paths shown below - the blue path starts the same as the green path). If you end up with a cross on the landing side of 13 you are stuck on the "wrong" side of the A Frame (although in this case it isn't that bad). If you can send your dog over 13 and into the tunnel while remaining "north" of the A Frame you can cut to the other side of the A Frame. Then you are nicely positioned both for the turn out of the tunnel to the A Frame and have a Post Turn into the weaves (which is nice if you have running contacts). This is a case where your dog has to see you moving to the other side of the A Frame before they enter the tunnel or they will likely turn the wrong way coming out of the tunnel looking for you.

"Almost" Serpentine and A Frame Handling

From the weaves it is a straightforward ending. I added jump 21 to Dana's original course to take the dog's out near the start jump.

I really like this course a lot; I've just set it up in my backyard and maybe I've have time to video tape a couple of these handling approaches for fun. So try it yourself, I think you'll like it too!

Dana Pike designed an even more challenging sequence using basically the same equipment setup as one of her previous courses. So if you set up this one don't forget to try the other course too. The teeter has been turned around and a table was added as the last obstacle.

We had guest instructor Anne Riba coaching us through the course. I've trained with Anne since Mr Peabody and I first started in agility, it is always fun to work with her. The funny part about this course (in the incredulous sense of funny) was it was taking advanced dogs and handlers several minutes to get through the course on the first attempt. Milo and I retried some sections 2 and 3 times :^).

The jump-jump-tunnel opening was followed by a tough On Side weave entrance, followed by a classic three jump Serpentine [Serpentine, SerpentineHandling]. At the exit to the Serpentine was a tight and challenging scoop or cross to the teeter. A send to the tunnel followed by an Around jump back into the tunnel sets the handler up for a Layering opportunity at the A Frame. Then it is run-run-run through the dog walk and a careful handling into the tunnel for the last time. One last run-like-hell stretched Serpentine ending at the tire. The closing wraps the dog out of the tire, over a jump to the table. This is definitely a course to set up and try running the sections with different handling approaches. Here's her course:

The opening two obstacles are setup so they can be handled as a straight line with the handler either on the right or the left. Handling down the left of the jumps allows for a Post Turn [PostTurn, LearningPostTurn] to the far side tunnel entrance (shown in green below). Handling on the right, one could Rear Cross [RearCross, LearningRearCross] on the take off of jump 2 (shown in yellow below). Or for the distance inclined, Lead Out or Lateral LeadOut and Push or draw the dog Across The Feet into the tunnel (shown in blue below).

Handling Options for the Opening Sequence

Coming out of the tunnel and into the weaves was all about timing and handler location. There were two primary handling options. The handler could get to just past the landing of jump 13/18/11/7 (green X below) and direct the dog to their right hand and Rear Cross to the on side weave entrance. This approach was difficult for many of us as the dog is turning toward you from the tunnel and clearly sees the jump. It is a classic handler focus vs obstacle focus "training opportunity". One benefit of this handling was it gives the dog a good view of the weaves once they are passed the jump, but you have to set your dog up for the weave entrance and be patient on performing the Rear Cross.

Alternately, the handler can position themselves to closer to the weaves and further from the off course jump and pick up the dog on their left hand (blue X below) and Push/Post Turn into the weaves. A very slight Half Cross at the X location could be helpful to clarify your intentions for dogs looking hard at the off course jump. Or from the same location pick up the dogs on the handler's right hand and Front Cross-Post Turn to turn the dog into the weaves (not shown - substitute a Front Cross at the blue X).

Weave Approach Handling Options

Coming out of the weaves is a classic three jump Serpentine with the added challenge of an offset teeter entrance. As is so often the case, the handling of the Serpentine could/should be dictated by the handler's plan for getting to the next obstacle. In this case, the most viable options for the final jump to the teeter were to handle from the left of the jumps and scoop the dog on the landing and push to the teeter or handling from the right of the jump and Front Cross over the jump. With either option the handler had to find a way to be ahead of their dog at that last jump.

For a fast dog and/or slow handler coming out of the weaves a Go command was invaluable. There really were few other options for the dog to take so sending the dog out to the jump and moving "briskly" to jump 6 was a safe way to get ahead of the dog.

Handlers taking the jumps on their right had to run hard to get to the take off side of jump six. The handler had to be in position to direct their dog to the correct side of the jump and not push it around to the backside of the jump. The handler also had to be far enough ahead of the dog at jump 6 to still beat their dog to jump 7. For the scoop to work the handler has to be approaching jump 7 ahead of their dog, call the dog into them (verbally and/or physically with a shoulder/arm signal) and then meet the dog just past the far jump standard (the green S in the diagram below). The dog has to have room to land tight to the jump and understand they are turning upon landing. In my opinion (once the handler and dog have the basic skills) this handling is one of those that the handler just has to believe they can do. It is a pretty good distance and with a fast dog the handler is running full out while directing the dog, so if the handler has any doubts in their mind approaching that last jump they'll "chicken out" and try to Rear Cross on the landing of the jump which just didn't turn the dog tightly enough to get to the teeter (shown in red below). There were a number of encouraging "whooo hooos" shouted from the handlers watching as teams were successful in executing this sequence.

Handling with the jumps on the handler's left was no less exciting (shown in blue below). If the dog had a good long send ("Go") to jump 5 the handler didn't have to be as fast to get to the landing side of jump 6. Once the dog was committed on the take off side of jump 6 the handler should be moving fast to get in position to direct the dog over jump 7 while cuing a short stride/wrap of the jump. The handler then executes a Front Cross as the dog comes around the jump to tighten the line to the teeter. Again the handlers who could get in position at the end of the Serpentine were successful, the others were not so successful.

For both handling approaches the most common failure was the dog running by either jump 6 or 7.

First Serpentine Handling

So you might think the fun was over at this point... From the teeter a send to the tunnel allowed the handler to stay on the landing side of jump 10. Although not required it was easier on the handler than escorting the dog and possibly getting caught on the take of side of jump 10. The handling options for jumps 10 and 11 to the tunnel were to either Front Cross to Post Turn (shown in green below) or to Post Turn to Rear Cross (shown in blue below) the Around jump at 11. The first maneuver gets the dog to turn coming out of the tunnel toward jump 10. The second sets the dog up for the Around of the jump 11. The Rear Cross seemed to set a better line for the dog to the entrance at the far side of the tunnel; it was easier to over-rotate the Post Turn after the Front Cross and direct the dog to the near side tunnel entrance.

Around Jump Handling

Coming out of the tunnel the handler needed to move just enough to pick up the dog and set the line to jump 13 and the A Frame. From there the handler could layer the teeter, if desired, send to the tunnel, and move straight to the dog walk. There should be no need to pickup the dog at the tunnel. At the end of the dogwalk the handler just rotated in toward the dog (Counter Rotate) and run to the tunnel.

The final Serpentine of the course was distorted with the tire as the third obstacle. There were a number of handling possibilities and again handlers had to decide on their handling for the tire through the closing sequence before choosing how to handle the Serpentine. One option was to Rear Cross on the approach to the tire and then Rear Cross on the take off of jump 21 to turn the dog to the table. Alternately a Front Cross on the way to the tire and then another Front Cross on the way to jump 21. For either handling the horizontal distance to the tire from the tunnel made handling the Serpentine with the jumps to the handler's right the most popular approach.

Once the dog was committed to the tunnel they handler could get in position to send the dog over jump 18 and, once the dog was committed, start running fast to get in position to direct the dog over jump 19. For fast dog handlers it was a real foot race to get in position for the Front Cross before the tire. If the handler was able to "get" the Front Cross they were also far enough down course to be in position for the next Front Cross and a good line to the table. The Rear Cross was also a successful approach but did seem to give a wider dog path. Rear Cross handlers could also use a Front Cross on the approach to jump 21.

Handling the Finish

This is another great Dana Pike training course, good flow, great challenges, and multiple handling options all throughout the course. Give this one and its partner a run!

Dana Pike has had a lot of good courses lately but I've been too busy to write about any of them. This past week's course had a number of challenges and Dana covered multiple approaches to their handling. An non-traditional Serpentine [Serpentine, SerpentineHandling] opening was followed by a tough On Side weave entrance, a Layering opportunity at the A Frame to get in position for the approach to the tunnel (and avoiding an off course). From the tunnel it was a long fast Serpentine [Serpentine, SerpentineHandling] back to the weaves. The course ends with a fade from the weaves to set the dog up for the correct tunnel entrance before the last jump. This is definitely a course to set up and try running the sections with different handling approaches. Here's her course:

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Dana Pike designed a fast, flowing, and challenging course for her advanced class this past week. At first glance the Serpentine [Serpentine, SerpentineHandling] at the opening and again at the midpoint may appear to be the only challenges... How would you handle it?

Dana also had multiple handling options for other areas of the course as well. Here's her course:

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I just found some time to write up my notes on Dana Pike's second advanced handling course from her handling seminar over Memorial Day weekend. She had two really challenging courses based on very similar equipment setups. Dana has graciously allowed me to present her courses here. I posted the other variation a month ago. If you have the opportunity, these are really great courses to work on, all handlers can get a lot out of them.

Same disclaimer as for the previous course, I might not have the course layout exactly correct, I just scribbled the layout in my agility notebook. So if you give these courses a try, play around with tweaking the equipment a little to increase/decrease the challenges.

Take a look at this course and come up with your handling strategy before I take a crack at discussing it.

Course Setup

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I finally made some time to write up my notes on Dana Pike's courses from her handling seminar over Memorial Day weekend. She had two really challenging courses based on very similar equipment setups. Dana has graciously allowed me to present her courses here. I'll post the other variation in the near future. If you have the opportunity, these are really great courses to work on, all handlers can get a lot out of them.

First a small disclaimer, I might not have the course layout exactly correct, I just scribbled the layout in my agility notebook. So if you give these courses a try, play around with tweaking the equipment a little to increase/decrease the challenges.

Take a look at this course and come up with your own handling strategy before I take a crack at discussing it.

Course Setup

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Dana Pike did it again - she designed another great course for class last night. But I'm just going to focus on the opening three obstacles. Dana made a minor changed in the location and rotation of the second jump in the opening sequence during class and it brought up some novel handling approaches.

Below is the initial opening sequence. The first two jumps are oriented so that the handler can lead out and stand on the Handler Line [UsingHandlerLine, HandlerLine] (the location where a Front Cross would have been located) as shown by the straight black dashed line. This type of lead out is often called a Lateral Lead Out. The handler's left foot and hips are oriented towards jump 2 and the handler reaches slightly back with their right hand and calls the dog to their hand. Once the dog is over jump one the handler completes the movement towards jump two. As shown below, the dog takes the second jump at a sharp angle is setup nicely for the dog walk. This was the fastest and shortest of the handling approaches.

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Dana Pike designed another great course for her advanced class this past week. As usual it was another learning experience. Pay special attention to sequences 3-4-5-6, 7-8-9-10 and 17-18-19. Here's her course:

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Here's another challenging Dana Pike Jumpers-style course. Dana always comes up with class courses where there are many valid solutions for the challenges on the course; but the experience of running the course teaches you why one handling is more beneficial than another. Pay close attention to sequences 8-9-10, 13-14-15, and 16-17-18-19.

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