Momo Studies 3D Course Map
Tips continued...
Plastic Holder. Get a plastic holder and insert the map into it. Then draw lines and notes on the plastic using a white board marker. Use different colored pens.
White Board. Get a small
white board and draw your own course map.
Retrogressive Chaining. A technique developed by Profession B.F. Skinner. Study the last 3 obstacles, then close your eyes and imagine yourself and your dog taking those obstacles -- call out the number of each obstacle as you imagine it. Also, call out the name of any special technique you will use, like for example, a front cross.
Next study at the last 6 obstacles and do the same. Then study at, say, the last 12 obstacles and test your memory again. Keep working back in this way until you can recite and imagine the entire course.
Studying Dog Agility Course Maps & Learning Agility Courses
Be Early.Get to the trial really early so you have plenty of time to study the course map.
Take Picture. Take a picture of the course map for future reference. Sometimes paper course maps are not given out, but course maps are posted on a wall so you can study them or photograph them.
Grab Extra Copy . If possible get an extra copy of the map and draw a line on the map showing the basic path.-- see line in red on illustration below.
Get Maps.Get course maps for study that are similar to ones you will encounter in trials. You can find and download them from online sites.
A good source for course maps is:
http://agilitycoursemaps.com -- click here to visit site.
Since Magic Momo is now running in the AKC Premier class, I downloaded the PREM (premier) course map you see on this page from agilitycoursemaps.com.
Using
Retrogressive Chaining, I studied the last part of the course first -- 16 through 21 .
NOTE: this is an old course map, so the chute is now obsolete.
Talk to Yourself. When studying a map talk to yourself. For example: "Approach to 15 is easy after the
A-frame at 14. I will be leading with my left in the inner circle for 15, 16 to 17. The circle curves to the right. 13 is a possible off course "trap" so I must give a strong right turn cue to Momo.
At 17 I will do a Front Cross as soon as Momo commits to 17. I will lead the backside move first using my right hand to cue the backside run around and then my threadle arm to cue the jump over 18. Then I will use Run on the Dog's Line cuing the final obstacles with my right hand.
In the video on this page you can see me leading Momo over obstacle #2 with a K9 Arrow -- where she jumps directly at me. I position my body so I am ready to run to Momo's right when she commits to the jump. This cues Momo (and me too) where we will go next!
NOTE: One Mind Dogs calls this a "Human Arrow."
Coaches Eye. Use the Coaches Eye App on an iPad or Android tablet. (More on how to do this later.)
Walk-Throughs. The timing of when walk-throughs happen can be really confusing. Don't be afraid to ask questions so you do not miss your walk through! Sometimes "free" walk through happen. Who knows why, but they do happen, especially when there are two rings and only one judge. If you see people walking a course and it doesn't make sense, ask someone what is going on! A "free" walk through is an extra one and it is not timed like a normal walk-through.
Small to Tall. This can be confusing, especially when you see handlers of 20" jumping dogs walking first, and you have a 16" inch dog. Apparently the correct description should be: "Handlers of large dogs will walk first and then run first. Within the large dog class, the handlers of smaller dogs will walk, then run first."
Chunking and Techniques If you have a bag of handling techniques, they can help you memorize a course! For example, if you know the Hungarian Cross, you can say to yourself something like this: "I'll use the Hungarian Cross for obstacles 13, 14, 15." This helps to chunk 13 through 15 into one thing to remember
If you use, say, the K9 arrow at obstacle #2, you will not need to remember where obstacle 3 is because the K9 arrow has embedded within itself the direction of your next movement. (See video.)
Think in terms of lines. Do you see a left turning circle? Is there a U shape? Do you see a sprinkler * turn? A sharp turn? A straight line. Try to identify 4 to 6 lines that appear in the course. It's easier to memorize the lines than to memorize 18 to 21 obstacles.
(
*A sprinkler turn is a gradual turn as opposed to a sharp 90 degree or 180 degree turn. (The famous Susan Garrett dog agiity handler even has a verbal cue that sounds like a water sprinkler, which alerts the dog to prepare for a gradual turn off the current line.)
Brain Warming. Place the palm of your non-dominant hand on your forehead. Using your dominant hand trace the path of the dog through the course. Consider using retrogressive chaining as you trace the path. Seems silly? Try it and see if it doesn't help you focus and master the course.
Take a Comb Break. Pause your course memorization work for a few moments. Take a deep breath to the count of 6; then, hold your breath for 2 second. Then, exhale to the count of 8. Repeat this a couple of times. Finally, roll up your sleeves (if necessary) and run the teeth of a comb across the back of your hand and up your arm. Feel and enjoy the tingling feeling that runs all the way up your arm. Repeat on the other arm. Return to your course memorization. You mind will be renewed and sharp!
Vanishing. Learn how to vanish the course map gradually as you memorize it. This is explained in detail in our premium dog agility course here. <=click
Coaches Eye.
Coaches eye is a helpful system for helping you study and memorize a course. You can even record your voice and build your own self-study quiz using the Coaches Eye. A full tutorial on how to use it is included in our
premium tutorial on memorization.
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