Here are a few examples of applying a Running Dogwalk Calculator (RDC) score to course situations. For a basic explanation of how to use the Running Dogwalk Calculator and to down load a free copy see the RDC page.
What Does my RDC Score Mean on Course?
In simple terms, your RDC score tells you how far behind you dog you will be, if you are side-by-side as the dog gets on the dogwalk. Or, looking at it a different way, it will tell you how far ahead of your dog you need to be when he gets on the dogwalk, if you want to be even with him at the end of the dogwalk.
You can also use the RDC score to determine where you would need to be when the dog got on the dogwalk, if you wanted to be in a certain place when the dog reached the end of the dogwalk.
A handler’s RDC score will be different if the handler is beginning from a stand-still rather than running. Perhaps it would be -13ft from a stand-still as opposed to -10ft for a running start, for example. Compounding that with managing a dog’s approach to the up ramp could leave a handler behind at the end. That may or may not matter depending on where the next section of the course is.
Considering the same scenario, you can determine where you would need to be as the dog got onto the dogwalk, in order to be at a certain place when the dog was completing the dogwalk.
These are a few basic examples that will give you an idea of what you can do with the calculator. If you have other thoughts, ideas or suggestions please let me know by using the feedback tab in the banner at the top or via email from the contact section on the right. Also please let us know if you have ideas for improvements to the calculator.
Tags: Agility, Dog, Dogwalk, RDC, Running Contacts, Running Dogwalk calculator, Training