A Sample Lesson | Basic Disc Dog Positions: BSP and BFP
A sample lesson from Disc Dog Jamming Class.
Basic Standing Position Counter Clock is the "standard" disc dog position. It keeps the dog from taking the clockwise release that is the traditional direction of play. *Click the Image for full size
Basic Standing Position – BSP
Basic Standing Position BSP is the standard disc dog position. Dog standing in Front position attending to a vertical disc presented by the handler. This position means Stop and Wait. It may also be a Drop cue in various training methodologies. We retain a verbal cue for the Drop to keep continuity between Basic Standing Position and Basic Flatwork Position BFP.
Switching from BSP clock to BSP counter is as simple as switching which foot is forward. Putting the right foot in front creates a counter clockwise tug on the dog, while putting the left foot forward pulls the dog into the handler in a clockwise direction.
The hand closest to the dog is going to be the positional cue. The throwing hand doesn't matter. The throwing hand doesn't matter until the handler decides to throw. *Click the Image for full size
Notice that the hand and disc placement looks quite similar to BSP. It's just extended out towards the dog from the handler's side instead of pointing towards the dog from the front of the chest.
The dog can be pulled with the flanking hand or can be pushed. If your hand is out in front of the dog, you are probably pulling. Pulling the dog too hard or too fast will tug them right in to your heel. If your hand is behind the dog slightly while on the Working Flank, then you are pushing that dog around. Pushing the dog will allow the dog to stay out at a distance where reinforcement normally happens.
BFP can be nice and proper or a little bit sloppy. The next images are good illustrations of this. In the first image below, the handler is fairly proper. Nice straight arm, the handler utilizing the pressure of the plane of his body to control and push the dog along.
BFP is a Moving Wait
This position can be thought of as a moving wait to maintain continuity with Basic Standing Position. It can also be thought of as a moving position. The green arrows indicate a clockwise flank, and the blue signify counter clockwise movement. Notice that Loot's eyes are glued to the handler. This is an attentive position. After all, the dog must be looking at the handler to take the pose...
Pre-Posing for Us...
This video like most of our work is "pre-posing" and pre-13 Laws of Flatwork. So the finish doesn't look quite right, blind throws all over the place... but it is a great illustration of a young dog being introduced to disc dog flatwork.
"If the dog GOES, DON'T THROW!" If the handler doesn't throw the dog must stalk the disc. The dog must be looking at and moving with the handler to stalk the throw. *Click the Image for full size
A Cross is a change of working sides. Both BSP and BFP can be used to cross. Basic Standing Position crosses are used to adjust Front Position, and Basic Flatwork Position crosses change the working line. *Click the Image for full size
BFP Perspectives
Here are a few looks at Basic Flatwork Position in action with Loot. Again, notice that the dog is pegged on the handler. Any time the BFP cue pops up, the dog knows that a disc is going to be happening somewhere on that line.Of course, Loot is a border collie, and border collies run circles naturally. But this works with all dogs to develop team movement, slow down beastly, aggressive dogs, and to provide a framework and team support to dogs that have engagement issues.
BFP and the movements depicted in the images in this lesson are traditionally thought of as Flatwork skills, or skills that are used in the "Big Game" and on longer throws. While it is true that is where it has the most impact and weight, these skills are extremely important in creating interior sequences and linking sequences together.
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