Puppy bump grids - Day 1

Fizz just turned 6 months, and I've done no jumping work with her yet at all.    We have no plans for agility (it just doesn't fit in my life right now), so I've had no reason to start her on anything.   However, recently, I've seen her make a few jumps that have really impressed me.  Not because of their height or massive ability,  but because of what I thought I was seeing in HOW she jumped.   Most dogs pull from their front, rather than using rear impulsion.   A front-loaded breed like the Rottweiler, especially so.

Today, I took Fizz out to test what I thought I was seeing, and after some 'jumping,' and some video analysis, there it was.   A dog who is NOT on her forehand.  At all.   Nope!  :) :)  :)  Jumping on the forehand means harsh ballistic landings.  Bad on the frame of the dog, not what you want in a long term working dog.  Dogs are equally able to pull from the front as they are able to push from the rear.  However, most seem to naturally want to pull from the front.   Dogs, like horses, can be schooled, and taught good solid jumping technique.   They can be taught impulsion, collection, compression and extension.   And while it can be taught, I'm very excited to see it naturally occurring in my girlie. :)

I use jump in quotations because there is no height to the grid that Fizz is working, nor will there be til she's closer to a year old.   However, in that time, using low, 6" jump bumps, she will learn scope, stride, and task.   Pay attention to what's ahead of you, so that you can properly work it.   Figure out where your best take-off point is, be sure you're on the correct lead both front and rear, round your jump, no matter its height.   The footwork, the reading, the thinking can all be taught low, and then brought up when age appropriate.   We are following Susan Salo's teaching in doing all of this.

In looking at how a dog jumps, you want to see them with their head low and their back rounded.  Head held high = on the forehand.   It also leads to a stiff, hard, pastern on landing, rather than one that is relaxed and able to absorb shock.   Efficient jumping comes from maximum compression.   Just like a spring, what is compressed releases forward with great energy.  A dog who is able to compress and release is far more efficient in jumping than a dog who must put in extra strides to cover the same line.  Compression is seen in how close the hind feet are planted to where the front feet are.  Maximum compression is when the hind feet land forward of the front.  This photo is a still grab from the video.   While its quality is poor, you can definitely see how compressed she is, and that her hind feet are landing well forward of her front.   This is her VERY first step into the grid, on the first time.   It's just naturally there. :)

Here is video of our work today:    (this is 8min long)