The Serpentine is a sequence of three obstacles that the dog takes in a wave pattern (over one jump, 180 degrees over one jump, 180 degrees over one jump). Serpentine handling refers to a handling maneuver for this sequence in which the handler stays on the take-off side of jump one throughout the sequence (see diagram). Serpentine handling can be applied to many combinations of obstacles that do not appear in the ‘classic’ three jump configuration, but are still taken by the dog in a wave like pattern and can be handled by the handler staying on the same side throughout.
September 19, 2012