Planning Your Dog Agility Path for Distance Courses

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Planning Your Dog Agility Path for Distance Courses

Written by Lorrie Reynolds

Lorrie has been an agility enthusiast since 2002 and has taught tricks, family obedience, agility, and canine conditioning since 2005. When she's not writing articles, developing courses, or training dogs, you can find her curled up with a book in her hands and a dog warming her feet.

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Planning Your Agility Path to Stay Away From the Distance Line

We were walking a Chances course at an agility trial together and I noticed that her handling path was taking her way too close to the distance challenge line. “Stay off the line,” I reminded her.

“You know,” she laughed, “I hear you saying that in my head every time I walk a Chances or Gamblers course.”

I heard someone snicker behind me. “Me too,” said another of my seminar students. “That and ‘The line is not your friend.’ – every time I walk.”

Although I think it is hilarious that students “hear me” inside their heads, I am grateful that one of my most important lessons sticks with them.

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Why the Distance Line is “Not Your Friend”

When you are planning your handling path on a course with a distance challenge, it’s important to maintain a few feet between you and the line. If your dog can perform the challenge from 10 feet, I promise that he can perform it from 12 or 14 feet as well. Giving yourself a little extra room can help you in several ways.

Dog agility handler sending his dog to a tunnel

Dog Agility Distance Course showing a trap

Agility Course Designs With “Line Traps”

Some courses are designed “trap” people who are running right on the line. The course shown is a good example. If you take advantage of the closest point to jump #4, the action of moving around the jump that is on the line pulls your dog toward the off-course A-Frame rather than the tunnel. Staying out of that pocket gives you a much better chance of using your motion to push to the outside #5 tunnel.

Saving Room for Motion Cues

Sometimes agility runs just don’t go as planned, and your dog gets stalled out or starts coming toward you instead of moving away to the correct obstacle. If you are right next to the line, your only options are to yell verbal cues at your dog or wave frantically with your arms to try to get him to move away. However, if your planned path kept you a few feet away from the line, you have room to step toward your dog’s path and use your motion to give him clearer direction about where to go.

The Dreaded “Line Dance”

One of the things I preach is consistent cues with no extra motions or unrelated body language. Getting too close to the line can cause handlers to lose track of their position or overbalance, resulting an a lot of flailing about and gyrating to avoid stepping on the line. All of that extra (com)motion is confusing to your dog and doesn’t help him stay on course. Line dancing should only be done in C&W bars.

Today’s Dog Agility Trialing Tip

When you are walking a course with a distance challenge, make sure you are planning a path that keeps you at least a few feet away from the line. Doing so will make sure you don’t get stuck in a trap, you have room to move if you need it, and you will avoid the funny but unproductive line dance.

In Three Ways to Regain Distance From the Line in Dog Agility, I talk about how to regain distance from the line if you happen to venture too close.