Big Air articles by the crew at Sportmutt
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Contributed by The Team at Sportmutt
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Sep 07, 2006 at 12:00 AM |
The sport of Big Air is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s getting more media attention and dogs are jumping farther and farther every day. The sport is also bringing out more and more new handlers and dogs. As SportMutt continues to travel the country observing and helping people get involved, we’ve noticed handlers using a technique that is commonly described as “what top handlers do.” Very often we hear “I see the big jumpers use it, so I figured it must be the technique to use.” This technique is commonly known in the industry as ”The Chase.”
First of all, let’s get a good understanding of what this technique is and why it is so common among the top handlers. There are three aspects to a successful Big Air jump: Speed, Lift, and the Ability to Hit the End of the Dock. ”The Chase” is a technique that helps ensure the dog gets that ever elusive Lift. The idea is to set the dog at the start point, the handler stands at the jump point, the handler releases the dog and times the throw so the dog will Chase the object at the moment the dog jumps. The purpose is for the dog to jump up and out after the object, thus getting the Lift. The motivation for the dog is to try and catch the object. It’s that simple.
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Last Updated ( Feb 13, 2007 at 09:17 AM )
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Read more...
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Contributed by The Team at Sportmutt
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Sep 07, 2006 at 12:00 AM |
The sport of Big Air is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s getting more media attention and dogs are jumping farther and farther every day. The sport is also bringing out more and more new handlers and dogs. As SportMutt continues to travel the country observing and helping people get involved, we’ve noticed handlers using a technique that is commonly described as “what top handlers do.” Very often we hear “I see the big jumpers use it, so I figured it must be the technique to use.” This technique is commonly known in the industry as ”The Chase.”
First of all, let’s get a good understanding of what this technique is and why it is so common among the top handlers. There are three aspects to a successful Big Air jump: Speed, Lift, and the Ability to Hit the End of the Dock. ”The Chase” is a technique that helps ensure the dog gets that ever elusive Lift. The idea is to set the dog at the start point, the handler stands at the jump point, the handler releases the dog and times the throw so the dog will Chase the object at the moment the dog jumps. The purpose is for the dog to jump up and out after the object, thus getting the Lift. The motivation for the dog is to try and catch the object. It’s that simple.
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Last Updated ( Feb 13, 2007 at 09:17 AM )
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Read more...
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Contributed by The Crew at SportMutt
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Nov 28, 2005 at 09:07 PM |
Simple dog obedience in the sport of Big Air is an often over-looked skill and training technique. Many dogs are good with their basic obedience skills “at home,” but a new environment is really where the dog proves if the obedience skills are solid or need work.
It is fairly easy for a dog to do well with its basic commands in an environment that is predictable and the dog is completely acclimated to. When a dog is in a new environment the level of possible distractions increase greatly. A dog needs to be able to focus on the handler and block these distractions out. When a dog can focus directly on its handler, it will become much easier for the dog to perform its basic commands successfully.
Crucial obedience commands in the sport is the “sit” and the “stay” command. A great way to prepare for ensuring a dog will obey these basic commands in a Big Air environment is to first practice these commands in other distracting locations. First, practice the “sit” and “stay” commands at home in the dog’s natural environment—both inside and outside the home. Once the dog has proven success with this, it is time to move the training to the next level. Be creative taking the dog to a new environment that is sure to provide plenty of distractions for the dog. Practice these two commands with the dog until there is success. Depending on the dog—this can take a few days to a few months to reach that level of success. Again, once a level of success has been achieved look for another environment to practice these commands in.
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Last Updated ( Feb 13, 2007 at 09:20 AM )
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Read more...
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Contributed by The Crew at SportMutt
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Nov 28, 2005 at 09:07 PM |
Simple dog obedience in the sport of Big Air is an often over-looked skill and training technique. Many dogs are good with their basic obedience skills “at home,” but a new environment is really where the dog proves if the obedience skills are solid or need work.
It is fairly easy for a dog to do well with its basic commands in an environment that is predictable and the dog is completely acclimated to. When a dog is in a new environment the level of possible distractions increase greatly. A dog needs to be able to focus on the handler and block these distractions out. When a dog can focus directly on its handler, it will become much easier for the dog to perform its basic commands successfully.
Crucial obedience commands in the sport is the “sit” and the “stay” command. A great way to prepare for ensuring a dog will obey these basic commands in a Big Air environment is to first practice these commands in other distracting locations. First, practice the “sit” and “stay” commands at home in the dog’s natural environment—both inside and outside the home. Once the dog has proven success with this, it is time to move the training to the next level. Be creative taking the dog to a new environment that is sure to provide plenty of distractions for the dog. Practice these two commands with the dog until there is success. Depending on the dog—this can take a few days to a few months to reach that level of success. Again, once a level of success has been achieved look for another environment to practice these commands in.
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Last Updated ( Feb 13, 2007 at 09:20 AM )
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Read more...
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Contributed by Tom A. Dropik
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Oct 05, 2005 at 02:31 PM |
 Tom and Tucker IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DESIRE Dogs are incredible athletes and jumping comes naturally to most of them. They jump to clear obstacles, they jump to express themselves, and YES, they jump off docks.. They jump when they’re happy, when they’re excited, and when they’re curious. Jumping builds a dogs confidence and gives them an overall feeling of strength and energy. What makes a successful Big Air Dog? Why does a dog run full speed off a forty foot dock, execute a powerful 30+ degree push off the end, stretch the torso in mid flight, only to make a drastic explosive water entry that looks as though the dogs head is about to be stretched back over its tail? Is it the Retrieve? Is it the fact that they get to do it all over again once the retrieve is made? Is it the fact that they love the water? It has to be something more than that. It has to come down to one thing. It comes down to DESIRE. Dogs with a strong, intense desire will have a much better chance to take it to the next level than those with a lesser desire. It not the ability to retrieve, it’s not the fact that they love to swim, and it’s not the fact that they have an over abundance of energy. It’s the fact that they want that object so bad, they will do almost anything to get it. It’s this desire that ultimately builds the speed and the lift which are the two most critical factors for big jumps. Not only must we build this desire, we must continuously strive to keep this desire at its peak. |
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Last Updated ( Nov 04, 2005 at 06:46 PM )
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Read more...
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Contributed by Tom A. Dropik
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Oct 05, 2005 at 02:31 PM |
Tom and Tucker IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DESIRE Dogs are incredible athletes and jumping comes naturally to most of them. They jump to clear obstacles, they jump to express themselves, and YES, they jump off docks.. They jump when they’re happy, when they’re excited, and when they’re curious. Jumping builds a dogs confidence and gives them an overall feeling of strength and energy. What makes a successful Big Air Dog? Why does a dog run full speed off a forty foot dock, execute a powerful 30+ degree push off the end, stretch the torso in mid flight, only to make a drastic explosive water entry that looks as though the dogs head is about to be stretched back over its tail? Is it the Retrieve? Is it the fact that they get to do it all over again once the retrieve is made? Is it the fact that they love the water? It has to be something more than that. It has to come down to one thing. It comes down to DESIRE. Dogs with a strong, intense desire will have a much better chance to take it to the next level than those with a lesser desire. It not the ability to retrieve, it’s not the fact that they love to swim, and it’s not the fact that they have an over abundance of energy. It’s the fact that they want that object so bad, they will do almost anything to get it. It’s this desire that ultimately builds the speed and the lift which are the two most critical factors for big jumps. Not only must we build this desire, we must continuously strive to keep this desire at its peak. |
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Last Updated ( Nov 04, 2005 at 06:46 PM )
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