Hearing the term "Whisky Cross" often makes people smile. What is this handling technique, and how did it end up with such a funny name?
Whisky Cross is a Rear Cross that is used in situations, where the approach angle to an obstacle is very tight. The bar is not visible to the dog, as it approaches the jump from the side or behind. The dog cannot commit to the obstacle early, which makes this one of the techniques that needs to be taught to the dog. As in all OneMind Dogs handling techniques, all of the seven handling elements have a specific task in the Whisky Cross, so the handler can make the turn as smooth and easy for the dog as possible.
We are often asked, why this technique has such funny name. This is how the story goes:
Back in 2001, an OneMind Dogs handler Maria Mäkelä went to a seminar by Anja Lehtiö with her German Shepherd Kettu. When walking the course, Maria showed the instructor how she was planning to handle one of the sequences. Anja said to Maria that her plan would not work. Anja said that the dog would either refuse the jump when Maria keeps moving forward, or he will turn the wrong way if Maria stops to wait for him to jump. Anja promised Maria a bottle of whisky if her handling plan works. The instructor was correct: the plan did not work.
However, Maria was determined and went home to teach the handling move to her dog. Next time she went to a seminar, she was able to do it! That is why the technique ended up with the name "Whisky Cross".
