Early Takeoffs In Dog Jumping
Early takeoffs in dog jumping are often misunderstood. Without extensive experience working directly with a number of dogs that display early takeoffs, even the most seasoned professionals (both dog agility trainers and veterinarians) still do not recognize early takeoffs. They often assume early takeoffs are related to mechanical jumping skills (correctable with training) or health problems. However, early takeoffs are characterized by an early takeoff. The takeoff distance is increased, but the landing distance is decreased and the dog is usually on the descent phase of his jumping effort before he reaches the bar (see photo). The dog may inappropriately shorten his final stride or simply omit the stride in order to take off early and achieve a longer takeoff distance.
Dogs jumping in extension, with an increased takeoff and landing distance, with a jumping arc that is flat and mostly centered over the bar, are not taking off “early”. A longer takeoff distance is totally appropriate for the jumping effort and these dogs are not omitting the stride, which happens with an early takeoff. To the untrained eye, these dogs may look similar. However, the landing distance will be decreased in the dog with early takeoffs; not with the dog that’s jumping in extension. These dogs may not understand how to mechanically add a stride and jump with more collection, or they may not understand the cues to do so, or the handler is not communicating the need to do so, and so on. But, these dogs can and do respond to training and the jumping issues resolve. Dogs that display early takeoffs will not, and the jumping issues do not resolve.
Dogs jumping with physical pain will often add strides on the approach to a jump in order to decrease the takeoff distance and make the jumping effort easier. These dogs are not taking off “early”; in fact they are delaying takeoff in many cases. To the untrained eye, these dogs may look similar to dogs that stutter or “measure” the jumps (that take off early by inappropriately shorten the last stride in order to achieve a longer takeoff distance). However, the takeoff distance will be increased in the dog with early takeoffs; most often decreased in the dog with a physical problem. But, these dogs can and do respond to treatment for the physical problem and their jumping issues resolve. Dogs that display early takeoffs will not have a physical problem (unless it is secondary to the character of the dog’s jumping), and the jumping issues do not resolve.
For more complete information on early takeoffs please check out the May 2010 article “What is Early Takeoff Syndrome?“ By Linda Mecklenburg (pdf, reprinted with permission from Clean Run).
For the most current information on early takeoffs as of November 2011 please also read the following Update on Early Takeoffs by Linda Mecklenburg (pdf).
For information on early takeoffs and breeding as of December 2011 please also read the following Early Takeoffs: Breeding Concerns by Linda Mecklenburg (pdf).
Please check out these videos:
VIDEO 1:
This video shows footage of a Sheltie owned by Marq Cheek that exhibits early takeoffs when jumping. This dog had a normal eye exam, but does have abnormalities detectable via retinoscopy, which were then treated with contact lenses. This particular dog thus does not have “classic ETS”, however the footage is very valuable because it
1) Shows the importance of having a thorough eye exam including retinoscopy
2) Clearly demonstrates that this dog has a VISION problem not a training problem.
VIDEO 2:
This video shows footage of a Sheltie owned by Jean Lavalley that exhibits early takeoffs when jumping that got progressively worse over time. This dog had a normal eye exam and normal ERG. Several individuals related to her were also affected. This dog has “classic ETS”.
VIDEO 3:
This video shows footage of a Border Collie owned by Rosanne DeMascio that exhibits that exhibits early takeoffs when jumping that got progressively worse over time. This dog had a normal eye exam. Several individuals related to her were also affected. This dog has “classic ETS”.
VIDEO4:
This whippet is Javelin owned by Penny Spencer from Melbourne, Australia. The dog always jumped abnormally. An eye exam was normal, but retinoscopy revealed farsightedness in both eyes.
VIDEO 5:
This is Murphy owned by Tina in Denmark. He started out jumping very nicely and was winning events but suddenly developed jumping issues. He did suffer a tire crash which made him insecure and worsened the problems. He was examined and physical problems were ruled out. His eye exam was normal. Retinoscopy was not done. In addition to jumps, he would also misjudge stairs. Eventually he was retired from agility.
VIDEO 6:
For more examples of early takeoffs click HERE
Feel free to ask a question or comment. You are welcome to submit a video link of your own dog below (include your name, your dog’s name and age, results of testing that has been done if any, and a brief history.
I don’t know where you find the time, or how you find the energy but I for one am incredibly grateful that you continue to strive to help others find solutions to real problems, including this one. Thank you for taking on the challenge, setting the stage for discussion, educating so many through your insightful observations and research, asking questions and searching for real answers, maintaining this webpage as a resource for everyone and selflessly answering questions from those who dogs experience these issues, hoping to provide direction, support and resources for those in need. Here’s to you Linda . . . despite your countless agility achievements and accolades worldwide, your continued interest in providing the best possible experience for our dogs is undeniably humbling and appreciated!
thanks for all your work on this topic. Blue, who is an experienced obedience and agility competitor, has jumping issues that developed over the past couple of years. Especially on the retrieve over the high jump, he stutter steps badly and looks like he is trying to approach the jump from an angle rather than straight on. I am finding some success with putting dangling ribbons over bar jumps (the motion giving him a better chance of seeing the jump?) and a mat on the floor before solid jumps (the mat width to show him where to take off). In addition, I’ve changed dumbbells – his new dumbbell has smaller bells, so his vision isn’t obstructed by the bells. His jumping is holding up – do not know whether these aids have helped to restore his confidence. .
Hi Linda, Really like the articles u have written on the subject, thank you.
Curious as ur thoughts on the running surface during training playing a part in stutter stepping at jumps, not ets but previously precieved as ets.
Recently we were at an ASCA trial on rubber flooring that was slick, near the end of our 5 runs that day I noticed my 4 yr old sheltie starting to stutter step before jumping which she normally doesn’t do, and since then hasn’t been doing. My thought was for those that train primarily on a slick flooring are they not teaching the dog to stutter step at jumps, which previously has been thought to be ETS?
Dennis,
A slick or unstable running surface will potentially cause a dog to add strides to try to take off closer to the base of the jump. However, the dog should return to normal jumping when it is run on a good surface.
Hi Linda,
I have read your information on ETS and am now pretty sure it is what one of our dogs is suffering from.
Copper has just turned 6 and this started when he was about 4 years old.
We, and others, noticed he was having difficulty with power during agility (close up work no problem) and he was putting in a stutter before take off. Obviously our initial thought was he had some sort of problem so we got him checked out. He was diagnosed as not having enough muscle in his back to support his structure and so underwent over a year’s worth of treatment – muscle building exercises, water treadmill, acupuncture. When returning to agility he seemed to be much better, but over the last year the symptoms have started to come back again.
We noticed that some of his siblings have a similar ‘strange’ jumping action and one in particular jumps higher and higher the more of the course she does.
Here are a couple of links which were taken a couple of weekends ago:
http://youtu.be/SHFHdYmWuhg
http://youtu.be/pcdUdpTUcVM
I’d love to hear if you think our diagnosis is correct.
For your information, we are based in the UK and Copper is just one win away from Kennel Club Grade 7.
Thank you for your input.
I don’t understand why the dog in video one does not have ETS but the others do. Is it because its vision is corrected with the lenses?
Thats for all the info you have provided to everyone. I have a Border Collie, Flirt, that I believe has ETS. Here is the link to a video if anyone would like to look and comment. Her jumping problem has gotten worse as she has aged.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AroeIpKW_FY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Thank you for studying this problem. i had 2 Belgian sheepdogs with ETS and normal eye exams from board certified ophthomologists, not just CERF exams.
. The first dog would jump into the back seat of my car and smash into the opposite door. On stairs, he would run up to the stairs, stop and back up and charge again. It would take him 3-4 tries before he would then actually charge up or down the stairs. He had to jump 36 inches, 1 and 1/2 his shoulder height, at the time, in obedience, so was retired after his CD.
Second dog only had to jump shoulder height. . Retired after getting his UD. These dogs were not related but dog number two had a half sibling with the same problem.
Lori
The first Sheltie has an abnormal retinoscopy, meaning there is clear evidence that he has a vision problem that explains his early takeoffs. Dogs with “ETS”, meaning they have the classic signs associated with the “syndrome”, have normal vision tests (but that doesn’t mean the vision is normal).
Susan,
Flirt definitely has early takeoffs that I would suspect are vision related.
Here are two videos of Minnie the Pug. One jumping 8″Perf in USDAA the other jumping her regular 12″ jump height (which she jumps in AKC). I have several pictures of her like the one at the top of this page also. One particularly bad one is of her at the tire. Its taken from the side and you can see her jump ark is completely horizontal and she is a good 2 feet from the tire. She also tends to over jump. Her eyes had been treated for pigmentation (very common on pugs) before these videos and she is on daily drops for that. She has also been diagnosed and treated by a board certified ophthalmologist for cataracts, but they are in very early stages and she feels we should wait for surgery
Her jumping has gotten worse over the years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZapEXvTbD5I&feature=email
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WLZ9m-9eyo&feature=plcp&context=C374b2c1UDOEgsToPDskLD5vVM2aCGrZmgME_MMnp3
Minnie has her AKC Masters titles and her USDAA MAD. We’re currently working on our MAD and MACH.
Thanks for your work on this topic. Its been very educational to learn about this. Anything I can do to help, I’d be happy to
I’
Hi Linda,
Here are a couple videos of my young Border Collie, Charm. She has not had any eye testing and though she does have several siblings out of the same litter, I don’t know if any of them are doing agility. In the videos Charm is about 19 months. She has had a couple tire crashes getting hung up as well as misjudging a couple spread, board and the table. Thankfully she has not been seriously hurt physically though it has taken a toll on her confidence. In the first video, she is jumping 22″ Steeplechase Rd 1 and 2. That was in May 2011. In June 2011, about 3 weeks later, she is jumping Rd 1 and 2 PSJ jumping 16″. Although there are no crashes in these 2 videos, it does make me cringe a bit just watching them again.
Thank you for letting me share these with you. I’m finding this study very interesting and educational.
–Shirley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAzSw27bcBE&list=PL1ADBD846C8702E0F&index=10&feature=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=393bnXF2pUI&list=PL1ADBD846C8702E0F&index=7&feature=plpp_video
Thanks for your info on Flirt. She always takes off early but doesn’t “stutter step” all the time. When she stutter steps she leaves bars up. She’s 71/2 and has limited success in agility due bars coming down, but she is a great gamble dog! Have your Handling book and all the jumping exercises from Clean Run. They have been invaluable with Flirt and a great start for my young boy. Thanks again for all you are doing that benefits all of us.
Hi Linda, I have a similar problem with my BC Katie. She started off jumping fine but over the past 6 months has deteriorated. She lacks confidence, especially in dimly lit areas. We have had her eyes tested and have found her left pupil dilates slower than her right and she has two extra eye lashes growing inwards, one in each eye. The eye specialist said they were not a problem. I have put tow video’s of her on facebook and have asked for you to be a ‘friend’. I would really appreciate any comments you have. I have also started re-training with heaps of rewards (tugging and toys) after a couple of jumps. She is quite a soft dog who also a dog who likes to get things right. Thankyou for your time. Helen
[...] NJG: First, make an appointment for a full eye exam. There is no diagnostic tool yet for ETS, that is one of the goals for the trainers and veterinarians who are interested in helping owners with ETS dogs. Go to Linda Mecklenburg’s webpages and read the three articles on ETS and leave your name and information about your dog in the comments section at the bottom of the ETS pages. Awesome Paws- ETS [...]
In an earlier post I shared 2 videos of my BC, Charm, demonstrating her jumping style at 22″ and 16″. In that post I mentioned that she had not had any eye tests. Since then I decided to have a CERF and Refraction eye test done. The results of her CERF are normal. The Refraction test results showed that she is slightly near-sighted in both eyes. Otherwise her eyes are healthy. –Shirley
Hi Linda, I just wanted to say I appreciate you compiling all this information and I have a couple questions for you if you don’t mind. In your observations, is there a correlation between littermates showing ETS symptoms around the same age (if these symptoms develop in more than one puppy in the litter) or can there be a wide variation? Also in your experience, is there an age range where no tendency for early take-offs having been shown usually results in not developing ETS (unless another condition causes ETS-like symptoms and is therefore not ETS)?
Here is a quick update to my earlier post about Charm. I recently had her eyes tested. She had a CERF test (which was normal) and a refraction test which showed she was slightly near sighted in both eyes.
I have a very fast 6 year old Sheltie that was doing great until she turned 3. Her early take off issues have significantly increased which lead me to start over in Preferred at a lower height but she is still dropping bars. I live and train in SW Portland, OR. My dog has had an eye exam but not a retinoscopy. I will look into that, however, where/how would I get contacts for her if her retinoscopy is positive? Thank you so much for all of your research and sharing information.
Hi Linda,
I have a question about early take off syndrome as it has been coined. My young BC (Raven) from world class herding lines (DNA clear for eye issues) is exhibiting signs of this I think. She is fit just turned 3 can herd like a demon…strong eye, tracks a disc very well for long distances ( up to 160 feet possibly further only I can’t throw further). She is quick, but tiny. Weighs about 30 pounds and about 18″ at withers must jump 22″ in AAC competition. She blazes around courses eagerly but then stutter steps at times and takes off early. I am trying to decide what to do to help. Working jump grids low with stride regulator currently. Do you think it is to do with the height of jump at 22″? Should it alleviate at lower height? She has good hind end awareness but also does not enjoy stairs. Will choose to jump from landing to landing if she can rather than do the steps (she never miscalculates). Also noted is that she LOVES to play catch and have things thrown to her and caught in mid air with no hesitations or misses. I’d very much appreciate any input you had. I did a short video of a low jump grid last night at 10″ height. The distance is actually 8′, 12′, 12′, 16′ no 10′ as I made an error even when I put in the caption on distance in the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Immt_3v3BH4
Victoria
ETS results because of a vision problem and it will not resolve with training (ie jump grids). It may improve with lowered jumpheight/removal of spread jumps. The first thing to do is have a thorough eye exam/vision check by a Board Certified Veterinary Opthalmologist. Retinoscopy should be done. Even if nothing abnormal is found, it could still be vision. Many dogs with ETS can track objects in *motion* just fine. You say “DNA clear for eye issues”. I assume this means the dogs were tested by Optigen for Collie Eye Anomaly. This is only *one* issue. Be aware that just because this test is clear does not mean normal eyes or normal vision because the DNA test is specific for CEA.
Jump grids dont really tell you much; I can’t tell if this is just an exuberant BC or one with a problem. Certainly stutter stepping is not normal and therefore I’d be suspicious but I do not have enough information based on the info you have provided to know whether your dog has inappropriately early takeoffs or not.
Mary
So sorry I didn’t see your question sooner. You would need to ask your veterinarian about the contacts because it would depend on the availability/expertise of the vets in your area.
Thank you Linda for taking a look – I don’t know what to think. I will take her to have the testing on the eyes for sure.
It may be a confidence issue, it seems hard to tell. Here is a another video taken this past Sunday at an agility trial. A bit of a tougher course (nobody q’d) but at least you will see more jumping. This was the last run of 2 days of heavy and hot weather competition so she was running very tired. This made her slower than normal, but the worst her jumping has appeared.
http://youtu.be/o8UIwcSNi4s