Jumping is a complex skill. Like any complex skill, jumping needs to be systematically taught. Even if your dog has all the enthusiasm and drive in the world, that does not mean they are a skilled jumper.
Jumping also takes a toll on your dog’s body, and poor jumping style or a lack of skills can put your dog at risk for injury.
The Natural Jumping Method creates skilled and confident jumpers in a way that protects and strengthens the dog’s body, encourages correct biomechanics, and builds the dog’s confidence. Start your dog right! or improve their jumping style naturally.
This one-day workshop is focused on Suzanne Clothier’s Natural Jumping Method. Developed back in 1990 to help dogs learn to jump with skill and confidence, the Natural Jumping Method has been used to train dogs around the world for more than 30 years! This is also the method that has helped retrain dogs with jumping issues or lack of confidence (sometimes due to falls or accidents).
EXAMPLE: This ring sport dog had multiple falls over meter high jumps in ring sport, and had lost her confidence. Using the Natural Jumping Method, this dog regained her joy in jumping, improved her jumping style, and was able to return to competition, winning a national title, and going on to compete on the world team.
BEFORE The dog exhibits a jumping style that reflects serious issues that did lead to falls. Despite her big hearted willingness to try, jumping problems kept the dog out of competition.
AFTER While one jump had been a struggle and just about at the top of her ability, correct work in the jumping chute built straightness, confidence and tremendous power. This meant that the performance demand was well within the dog’s abilities.
HELPING YOUR DOG BE THEIR BEST
The Natural Jumping Method systematically helps dogs find the best way to use their body to jump with confidence for any sport that requires jumping, from agility to ring sports.
This is a 3-phase program:
- RHYTHM We begin using consistently spaced jumps to allow the dog to experiment with all of the variables involved in jumping, such as the specific use of their body, speed, take-off point & more.
- POWER Jumps become deeper with width that requires strength. This is a conditioning phase that builds impulsion.
- PROBLEM SOLVING This is the longest phase that provides specific set-ups to help dogs learn to shorten and lengthen strides, deal with varying approaches and heights, diagonal approaches, long distances, one stride distances and even bounces.
Participants will learn:
- Jumping mechanics
- What is good jumping style and why does it matter?
- How to measure each dog to find their stride distances
- Setting up the jump chute
- Common jumping problems and solutions
- Appropriate conditioning schedule
- Sport specific considerations
This workshop is limited to 15 working spots, with no limit on auditors.
We will be measuring each dog, determining stride length, and all participants will be actively helping to set up the jumping chute for each dog.
To be eligible for a working spot, your dog must be:
- At least 16 months old
- Have no known structural problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia, patella issues, OCD or arthritis
- Sound, without any signs of lameness
- Able to work in the presence of other dogs & people
- Bitches in heat will be jumped last
Each working dog will be jumped with the goal of discovering any issues, of building confidence, and finding the appropriate working height for that dog.
Please come prepared to keep your dog comfortable for the day. Because the working dogs will be off leash and moving fast, dogs not working at that time need to be crated or in your vehicle. Crates may be set up beside your chair.
Light refreshments will be available all day, as well as cold and hot beverages. Please bring your own lunch, or buy lunch from one of the many local options.
This facility is wheelchair accessible.
NOTE: ALL fees are non-refundable.
