OneMind Dogs handlers think of a course as a series of lines and running points, rather than obstacles. Each course has critical points that a handler should reach when their dog is in a specific position on the course, so that they are able to cue a change in the dog’s line effectively.
Every dog and handler team has different strengths and weaknesses so finding your own “signature” within the OneMind Dogs method really allows you to play to your strengths.
OneMind Dogs Coach Niki Drage and OneMind Dogs enthusiast Cornelia Kluck ran this exercise, designed by leading OneMind Dogs Coach Mikko Aaltonen, in Australia. They each tried a variety of different handling techniques until they found the perfect solutions for their teams.
Independent obstacle performance is also an important skill for reaching your running points more easily on a course like this. For example, Cornelia and Niki use Layering while their dogs are in the weaves and on the dogwalk, to be able to get to the next running points on time.
How do you find the Running Points?
Leading OneMind Dogs Coach Janita Leinonen tells her students to think of their dogs being at certain points of the course and staying there as if it is the startline. She then asks her students to stand where they would be if that were the startline of a course. That is the running point that the handler needs to reach when the dog gets to that position in the course. You can learn more about running points in Episode 10 of the International Training Week Video Series.
Let’s practice!
Leading OneMind Dogs Coach Mikko Aaltonen designed a training course where handlers can use a variety of handling techniques to reach the running points. Mikko has drawn red dogs on the course map; when you walk the course, imagine your dog is staying at these points and lead out to where you would like to be if that was the startline. These are the running points that you should focus on during your walk-through and your run.
Give this course a try yourself and see if you can make your running points!
If your team is not quite up to this skill level or you don’t have much equipment then you can break the course up and just set up small parts of it at a time. We would love to see some videos of your training in the Forum!
You can find a printable course map here!
Have fun training!
