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JUMPING OVER A HURDLE
OR A 1 METRE HIGH FENCE

At the IPO as well as the KNPV program, hedge-jumping is part of the roll-call or the OBEDIENCE PRACTICE. With IPO this always takes place in combination with the fetching block, at the KNPV the hedge-jumping itself is the exercise. For both disciplines applies that it is started by taking down the upper shelves of the hedge, or in this case fence, with the young dog, so this way an obstacle of only some tens of centimetres remains. The dog is taken over the obstacle on the leash, using the command HIGH. The owner walks closely besides the dog, so that it is not able to escape sideways. At the IPO usually is made use of a ball, which the dog must pick up and bring back immediately with the return jump. When the dog is more experienced, no command is given for the return jump, he has to do the return jump promptly with the fetching block. The starting position is SEVERAL metres in front of the hedge, so the dog has enough space for the run-up.

At the KNPV the starting position is ONE metre in front of the hedge and the dog must jump directly over the hedge without a run-up at the command “JUMP” . The dog has to wait directly behind the fence for the command RETURN. In both disciplines it is not allowed for the dog to touch the hedge / fence.

This touch-and-go or sometimes bumping into the upper side of the hedge / fence with the back legs appears often with many dogs, especially IPO-trained dogs. This is because the dogs are not trained to jump DELIBERATE but only during the fetching and bringing. Because of its catching-drive, the dog is fixated on the block and therefore he is not aware of the fact that he is jumping the hedge. Due to his temperament, in his catching-drive, the dog will not pay attention to the way he jumps. At the KNPV-method, jumping is DUTY.

SIT, JUMP, COMMAND WAIT and RETURN. After this the reward/treat follows. This way, full attention can be paid to the way the dog jumps. Touching of or supporting on the hedge can be unlearned by putting up an (electricity) wire on the upper side of the hedge. The dog will now learn how to jump over an obstacle with his full attention. A dog that has been taught to jump this way will undoubtedly also do the IPO fetch- and bring exercises since he knows what fetching- and bringing is after all, after the command FETCH there is never the command RETURN.

Do not think that a dog that has been taught to jump the KNVP-way does not like to jump. They love it, and the biggest problem is the pushing ahead while free following to the hedge! You can always let a dog, that has been taught to jump in this way, at home jump over all sorts of obstacles, the most difficult ones are road barriers that are open at the bottom. I teach young dogs to jump over fallen down trees etc., and they really love it!

ROLL CALL PRACTICE is OBEDIENCE PRACTICE and with this comes DUTY

It can never become just all work duty and no fun! The teamwork between owner and dog plus the joy that both have in taking these assignments depend on the character of the dog, but just as much on how well the owner understands his dog!

Werro v Soeburcht IPO Sph2 with 98 points (van Gijn)

My Werro v Soeburcht – (Rakker x Gina v Soeburcht) – at a KNPV jump exercise. To my deepest regrets, I had to put down this dog at the age of 3, because for the third time he had bitten someone so bad that this person had to be hospitalised. He bit right through the biteworker suit, and there was no one willing to get in the suit for him anymore so because of this I became a “persona non grata” at the KNPV. When he was with me he was like a puppy dog, but with any other person he was just too dangerous.

Benzy from Ashley’s Home PH1, met lof (cum laude) 421 points. Owner: Marco van het Hul www.risenstarkennel.nl

Picture: Benzy form Ashley’s Home – (Rakker x Ashley v.d. Mahler-Meister) takes the KNPV jumping exercise. In the sauce pan there are pieces of sausage. At the KNPV there is, during the roll call exercise, spread throughout the exercise area, food. Dogs are not allowed to respond to this.

Jacques

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