Pass Evaluation

 

  
  When your dogs know how to play flyball, and can run a heat with other dogs, that's all there is too it - right?   Well not quite.  We are always training to get that little bit more, to have a well tuned racing machine. A Pass evaluator is someone who stands at the start line (usually outside of the ring), and watches the dogs pass each other, and signals to each handler how wide (or how close) each pass was.  This enables handler to adjust the distance they release their dog from to get a closer pass (and a better racing time).  Having a pass evaluator can make all the difference, especially when a race is close.  A pass evaluator is also an important part of troubleshooting passing, and may pick up potential problems so we can work on them before they turn into big ones.

If you have a pass evaluator giving you a hand, it is important to glance in their direction as your dog comes back to catch their signal.  Why not have a go at this one night at team training (it can take a bit of concentration and a keen eye to see how closely the fast dogs pass).

If your dog is new to the sport or a little uncertain, don't push for a really close pass straight away, take it slowly and let the dog build up confidence in what it is doing and learn to trust the dogs it is racing with.   A pass that is too close for the dog can make one or both of the dogs defensive and snappy, or they may swerve out of the way and miss jumps to avoid the oncoming "traffic".  Even an experienced dog may take a while getting used to passing a new dog.  Some dogs automatically slow down a little if they see a dog coming their way, so adjusting the distance for a closer pass doesn't improve the pass at all.  These are all things to keep in mind when being a pass evaluator, and a handler.

Passing workstation training is designed to help dogs gradually become more comfortable passing each other at speed and in proximity, without having to run a full run each time, so make sure you have a go at it, and use it for troubleshooting if you or the pass evaluator notice any potential problems.