Rally – Serpentine – Weave Once – Exercise 24
As promised we will continue our lessons on the new AKC Sport of Rally Obedience. This month’s lesson is the Serpentine.
For this exercise, 4 cones are placed six to eight feet apart in a straight line. The dog and handler are to weave through the cones. Like agility, the entrance to the weaves (cones) is from the dogs left side. The handler/dog will go back and forth, weaving through the cones as demonstrated in the diagram below.
To execute this exercise without deduction, the dog/handler must be able to move through the weave cones without the dog interfering with the handler’s forward motion and the dog must not touch, tick or jump a pylon (cone). Working on the dog’s attention to the handler is essential to a successful execution of this exercise. Ticking, touching or jumping a cone will cost you and your dog a 1 point deduction for each infraction. Knocking over a cone will cost you a 3 point deduction. A consistently tight lead through this exercise could result in a non-qualifying performance. To avoid these type of deductions in your Rally performance, you will want to work on tight right and left circles with your dog. In actuality the serpentine exercise is a series of tight, left and right circles that are opened up around the cones. If the dog is trained to be comfortable executing tight circles with you, staying in heel position and keeping focused on where you are, the serpentine exercise is a breeze. If your dog is distracted and not focused on heel position, a tight lead and dragging the dog through the exercise will result in a NQ.
For a complete description of all Rally Exercises, visit the AKC website at http://www.akc.org/dic/events/rally/descriptions_and_signs.cfm Have fun with this exercise, and we will see you next month with more.