Building Brilliant Start-lines

A reliable start-line routine is essential unless you can outrun your dog!

I've had my fair share of struggles building a reliable start-line routine - from having a rock-solid start-line with one dog to an 'understanding' with another than she won't take the first bar until I say so!

We've probably all been there - setting your dog up on the start-line, walking backwards facing your dog with your hand up saying "wait, wait, you wait!" or leading out and your dog suddenly passes you and you take off trying to catch-up after they've self-released.

It's not ideal, everything becomes rushed, and you can be on the backfoot before you even begin.

Before you begin

Before you even begin, you need to have a clear vision in your mind of what your start-line routine is going to look like, and what you are going to accept and not accept in terms of criteria from your dog. Will you accept any foot movement or movement from position, for example. Decide, and the...