Front Matter

Chapter 2 Locomotion and Athletic Performance 33

ground without poles, after which they should
stop, turn toward the dog, and stop again prior
to making the next pass. This is important
because the dog needs to learn to start moving
immediately at a trot, so stopping at the end of
each pass gives the dog experience with multi-
ple starts in any given training session. The
poles will force the dog to move in an efficient
trot gait, picking its feet up and balancing its
center of gravity. The client should be encour-
aged not to look at the dog so that the dog will
then look forward at the poles.
During the early stages of training many dogs
will amble or pace toward the poles. However,
the poles will force the dog to trot. If the dog
continues to amble or pace over the poles, this
can be rectified by elevating the poles to carpus
height or in some cases, a little higher. Once the
dog is consistently approaching the poles at a
trot, the client can give the dog a cue word as
they start trotting. That word should be differ-
ent from any previous cue word used for gaiting.

Have the client move the dog in both direc-

tions over the poles, working with the dog on

both the right and left sides. One training session

consists of 10–12 passes. The dog should practice

on different surfaces and with a variety of dis-

tractions. After 15–20 training sessions, the dog

can begin to be weaned off the poles by having

the client move one pole from the middle to the

end, leaving a double‐sized gap that requires the

dog to take two strides across the gap.

After another three to five training sessions,

have the client move a second pole to the end,

leaving another gap. Continue until there are

double‐length spaces between each pair of

poles, at which time the poles can be randomly

removed every three to five training sessions

until all are removed. At this point, when cued,

the dog should trot forward a few feet without

the handler moving.

Once the dog understands the basic trot, the

same eight‐pole exercise can be used as a condi-

tioning exercise for the thoracic limb, pelvic

Figure 2.14 To train dogs to trot, poles can be laid parallel to each other about as far apart as the dog’s height at the
most dorsal point of the scapula. The dog is then trotted over them, starting 20 ft away from the poles and continuing
20 ft past.