Stages of the jump-

Each jump taken by the dog has a series of movements that make up a successful execution. (see video for visual support)

1.     The stride before, the dog will have his weight in his front feet and shoulders as he prepares for the jump, he shifts his weight into his hips. 

2.     To achieve this weight shift his head will raise slightly, his back feet will place together with weight distribution spread equally between them if going straight ahead. 

3.     With the weight now towards the back of the dog, his rear legs act as a spring to create the appropriate elevation to clear the jump. 

4.     As the dog’s shoulders raise up and he lifts from the ground, his head will lower and reach forward slightly creating a rounded shape over the jump, his forelegs fold neatly under him. This allows an ease of motion and efficient jumping.

Often dogs that do not use their body in the correct way for jumping (or have not been taught to do so) will jump with their head high, creating a more bowed shape with their back. This means their jump style is inefficient, taking them more time and energy to get over the jump without knocking the pole than the dog with good jumping style. Other things we regularly see that demonstrate a lack of knowledge or jumping ability include - over jumping (jumping much higher than is required) and extra steps on course or stuttering before take off. Weaker jumping mechanics means the dog’s body will also need to compensate more, eventually leaving the dog with greater chance of soreness or injury.

Jumping arcs -

A jumping arc is the dogs trajectory over the jump. The aim is for the dogs take off point to be the same distance from the jump as the landing spot, with the dogs highest point of the arc arriving over the bar. High enough to clear it but not too high as this is not efficient and obviously not too low as to take the pole down.

Jumping arcs can be short and rounded in collection or long and flat for jumps made in extension. The goal is for our handling to cue these in a timely fashion in order that our dogs can achieve them or if in a sequence with very little handling for the dog to vary his jumping arc appropriately. This is where jumping exercises can help to teach your dog how and when to adjust his jumping to ensure his take off point and therefore landing is appropriate and give your partnership increased chances of a clean run.

You can see in the diagram that if a dog takes off earlier than is appropriate, the highest point of the arc comes before the jump and there is the possibility that the dog will hit the pole on the way down to his landing point. Whereas in a late take off, the highest point of the arc is after the jump and the dog is likely to hit the jump on this way up or be forced to hyperextend his back legs (over extend and flick out his rear legs) in order not to take the jump, which can put him at increased risk of injury.