Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I have only used them after a tunnel
Do you use Blind Crosses in trials?
- Thread starter Sharon
- Start date
Wow. We definitely use a lot of BCs over here and all trainers teach them, too. I'm surprised it's such a taboo for some. 
I of course use FCs too, but it depends on the situation. BCs seem to be a bit harder to execute correctly, but if you get it right, it's great and fluent. It's hard to say in what situations I use BC, but I use it a lot. My dog is also very attentive and notices even the slightest movement from my side, so it's usually no problem for him to read where he's supposed to run. I didn't use a lot of BCs in the past, because I wasn't too confident and always struggled with timing, but now I started to use my shoulders a lot more while doing BCs and everything's better. I use them at trials with no hesitation. We - competitors in general over here - don't think about it that much. You walk the course and you see what's the best. If it's BC, then be it. 
I of course use FCs too, but it depends on the situation. BCs seem to be a bit harder to execute correctly, but if you get it right, it's great and fluent. It's hard to say in what situations I use BC, but I use it a lot. My dog is also very attentive and notices even the slightest movement from my side, so it's usually no problem for him to read where he's supposed to run. I didn't use a lot of BCs in the past, because I wasn't too confident and always struggled with timing, but now I started to use my shoulders a lot more while doing BCs and everything's better. I use them at trials with no hesitation. We - competitors in general over here - don't think about it that much. You walk the course and you see what's the best. If it's BC, then be it. 
2GoodDogs
Forums Enthusiast
the real reason I've not done agilty... I don't know a front from a blind from a surfers cross!
Wow. We definitely use a lot of BCs over here and all trainers teach them, too. I'm surprised it's such a taboo for some.
Because many people stick to the theory that you NEVER take your eye off of your dog
Because many people stick to the theory that you NEVER take your eye off of your dog
I understand that.... but it's not acceptable POV for agility over here
I cannot imagine watching him all the time. BUT it's truth that a lot can go wrong if handler doesnt execute BC as he's supposed to do. 
Though, it can be trained as anything else.
Where I train, it isn't that so much as we just don't give our dogs permission to go behind our backs. I don't have anything against blind crosses, but I'm not at a place in my handling where I feel I need them or want to confuse my dog by introducing them. Maybe. Someday.Because many people stick to the theory that you NEVER take your eye off of your dog
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
it's losing the connection with your dog that is simply not consistent with the handling system I use. You do not flick the dog away from you, however I am starting to teach directional verbal queues to teach the dog to wrap around the jumps, etc (LOTS of work in progress, LOL) But for the amount of time we need to use them around here it's not worth the risk of an a$$ pass and confusion to the dog, lol
Plus I am not an experienced handler.
but hey, talk to me again when I know what I am talking about after I have some more real trial experience and an insane fast dog
BUT as things stand with the type of courses we have in Northamerica where we have space, straighter lines and more lateral distance, I'd find a way to put in a front cross, a rear cross or a proper placed directional queue (once I have them, lol) to keep everything consistent with what I have taught my dog! Like I said I see a LOT of people attempting it at the trials here, even when they are using the Greg Derrett handling system and all I see currently are butt passes, even with very trial savvy handlers who have gone to nationals
Plus I am not an experienced handler.
but hey, talk to me again when I know what I am talking about after I have some more real trial experience and an insane fast dog
BUT as things stand with the type of courses we have in Northamerica where we have space, straighter lines and more lateral distance, I'd find a way to put in a front cross, a rear cross or a proper placed directional queue (once I have them, lol) to keep everything consistent with what I have taught my dog! Like I said I see a LOT of people attempting it at the trials here, even when they are using the Greg Derrett handling system and all I see currently are butt passes, even with very trial savvy handlers who have gone to nationals
k9kreationz
Forums Celebrity
Since Koji has issues even doing the recall to heel correctly, oh we do blind crosses all the time. Are they asked for? Nope. Have they been trained, a little. I tend to stick to them only out of tunnels. I don't need to make things worse with his lack of recall to heel.
If I ever get that under control, I may work on and train the BC. Its a very useful tool.
If I ever get that under control, I may work on and train the BC. Its a very useful tool.
HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
We do them at my trainers though it is almost exclusively the masters class. We had a great set up for one last time. Pinwheel into a four jump offset line of jumps into a really bad weave entry. People doing a front weren't getting there to help their less independent weaving dogs as much as they needed, and the rear was worse. The blind really was the best option. You were wanting to show extension coming out of the pinwheel, and the blind bought you extra seconds by not having to do the front to be able to get down the line and set a better line to the weaves. I had suggested it. The rest of the class tried it for their second run and every one of them had a better run. Now, it does take good timing. You do want to do the blind while the dog is over the jump. It prevents you from teaching the dog to cross behind you on their own. My dogs also know to come up on the side they are being presented eye contact with. If I do a blind over a jump with eye contact and arm/shoulders on the left, and then come up with eye contact and use of my right arm, the dog should come up on the right side. There is a shift in my body, and I make sure to provide eye contact on the side I am switching to as soon as I make the cross.