Jumps

Teaching correct jumping and wall scaling technique is important for the safety of the dog as well as points. A young dog should not start formal jumping until he is fully co-ordinated around 1 year to 18 months of age, although a couple of low jumps as a puppy will not hurt. I begin by setting my solid schutzhund jump at the height just above the dogs knee. This height will not tip him over onto his face if he knocks it, but by starting over a solid jump, he learns to clear the jump, since it will not fall if he knocks it. I gradually work up to around shoulder / wither height. At this point I begin working the dog over PVC agility jumps at around 24" for a German Shepherd. I use Suzanne Clothier's natural jumping method which consists of various exercises over a sequence of jumps. At this point it is important that the jump can fall if the dog judges a stride wrong. I use a ball or food for reward and only reward if the dog jumps the whole set cleanly.

Once the dog is jumping confidently and arching nicely over the sequences, I add the retrieve to a single jump of 24". It is important that the retrieve has been fully taught by this point so the dog understands that reward will be withheld for not jumping in one direction. To begin with, you can practise next to a fence on one side with wings or barriers on the other so that it is easy for the dog to get the exercise right, and then begin removing the props.

I move up gradually to the full size schutzhund jump around a month before the trial. It is important that the dog jumps this height, or even a few inches higher as they acquire muscle memory for that height, and if you routinely jump lower than full height, you will find that the dog knocks the jump at the trial.