How I Began Teaching Directed Jumping

I like to introduce my young dogs to the concept of taking direction. I do this with ‘marking’ lids ( see my “Marking Lids for Glove Exercise” video on YouTube) as well as introducing them to the Utility Class Directed Jumping exercise.

Please note: I break down the Directed Jumping Utility Class exercise into many parts and do NOT combine any until my dog is performing each part to my satisfaction. For example: 

1. First I teach the ‘concept’ of the go-out to a specific target

2. I teach the ‘turn and sit’ part of the go-out completely on its own. I NEVER combine it with the go-out itself until I have considerable distance on the ‘turn and sit’.

3. Directed jumping is taught separately.

4. The ‘front’ for any recall is taught separately.

5. The ‘finish’ is taught separately.

{Note: Most of those skills listed above are also further broken down into their respective parts as they are being taught. Practically no single obedience skill/behavior is every taught in and to itself solely. }

I NEVER COMBINE ANY OF THE FIVE PARTS LISTED ABOVE UNTIL MY DOG IS COMPETENT ON EACH LEVEL—AND EVEN THEN EACH SKILL IS ADDED SEQUENTIALLY, NOT ALL AT ONCE!

I start teaching my own pups the concept of taking a directed jump as early as 4 months of age. Naturally there really is no jump at this age, as the bar and high are only 2-3 inches off the ground. (For a short-legged dog, merely having a PVC pole on the ground is adequate. We are, after all, teaching ‘concepts’, not the Full Monty, as it were.) But my pup is learning to take my signaled direction, which is wonderful and all I could hope for at this level. Yet it’s a fantastic foundation for ultimate conception and execution of the Directed Jumping Exercise.

The following video fully explains how I approach teaching a young or new dog to the directed jumping aspect of this Utility Class exercise. I sincerely wish you the best in teamwork!