Courage Test in IGP

What Is the Courage Test in IGP

The courage test in IGP is the defining action of the protection phase. It is the high pressure moment where the dog must run a long distance toward a charging helper, engage in a committed grip, fight with power, then release and show full control when the handler gives the command. At Smart Dog Training, we prepare dogs for the courage test in IGP using the Smart Method so they show clear commitment, calm grips, and reliable obedience in real trials. Your assigned Smart Master Dog Trainer will build this behaviour step by step so your dog understands the picture and performs under stress.

Many handlers see the courage test in IGP as the ultimate measure of nerve strength and training quality. The test reveals clarity, confidence, and control in one sequence. With the Smart Method, we condition the dog to love the work, stay accountable to the handler, and keep focus from the send to the final heel.

Why the Courage Test Exists

The courage test in IGP exists to evaluate the dog under pressure. It answers simple questions. Will the dog run straight when the helper drives at full speed. Will the dog take a full grip and stay committed. Will the dog out cleanly and guard with neutrality. It proves the dog is not only brave but also trained with clarity and control. At Smart Dog Training, we make these outcomes repeatable through structured progression and clear standards.

Where the Courage Test Fits in the IGP Protection Phase

The courage test in IGP is a distinct part of the protection routine. After search, bark and hold, escapes, transports, and other actions, the judge sets the long send. The dog must heel to the mark, stay steady, then launch on the signal. The helper sprints toward the dog and drives forward. The dog must meet the pressure, take a full firm grip, then fight until the helper stops. On the handler’s command, the dog must out cleanly and guard until the next escort and the second attack. We prepare this picture from foundations so nothing feels new on trial day.

The Long Bite Explained

In the courage test in IGP, the long bite is the first part. The helper runs from the opposite end. The dog is sent straight and fast. The dog must not curve, hesitate, or check pace. At the collision point, the dog must strike with conviction and close on a deep grip. We teach the send with precision, then build the long picture in layers. Dogs learn line focus, target focus, and commitment to centre mass, always under the Smart Method’s clarity and motivation.

The Drive, Guard, and Out

After the initial grip in the courage test in IGP, the helper drives the dog. The judge wants to see a calm, full grip while the dog pushes into the fight. When the drive ends, the handler gives the out. The dog must release on command and guard without touching the sleeve. Control under high arousal is the cornerstone of Smart Dog Training. We pair pressure and release so the dog understands that obedience ends the pressure and brings the next reward.

The Second Courage Action

The sequence in the courage test in IGP includes a second attack after an escort. The dog must react quickly, re engage with a full grip, and then again out on command. This checks whether control and nerve remain stable after the first high stress action. Our progression ensures the second action feels familiar, not surprising, so the dog gives the same quality grip and the same clean response.

What Judges Want to See in the Courage Test in IGP

Judges assess the courage test in IGP with a simple lens. Does the dog show nerve and forward drive. Does the grip stay deep, full, and calm. Does the dog answer the out cleanly, guard with neutrality, and return to heel without conflict. Smart Dog Training prepares teams to meet each of these points consistently.

Nerve Strength and Commitment

The courage test in IGP rewards dogs that run straight into pressure. A direct line, no check, no curve, no avoidance. We condition this with rehearsals that build value in running toward the helper and confidence in the picture. We shape the line first at short distance, then extend as the dog proves stable.

Full, Calm Grip and Fight

Judges expect a full and quiet grip during the courage test in IGP. Choppy or shallow grips cost points. Smart trainers create deep grips through proper presentation and target building. We teach the dog to bite with the back molars, settle the jaw, and push forward into the fight.

Control and Outs Under Pressure

A clean out on the first command is vital in the courage test in IGP. We make the out a clear behaviour, not a debate. Using pressure and release, we reward immediate compliance and make late responses unproductive. The result is a dog that releases and guards without conflict.

Neutrality After the Out

After the out in the courage test in IGP, the dog must stand and guard with focus on the helper, not on the sleeve. No re biting, no crowding, no vocalisation. We build neutrality early with clear markers and precise handler position so the dog understands where to stand, where to look, and how to wait.

Common Faults and How Smart Prevents Them

Even strong dogs can lose points in the courage test in IGP. Smart Dog Training addresses the root causes through clarity, motivation, and accountability.

Early Out or Rebiting

Early outs in the courage test in IGP come from confusion or pressure sensitivity. Rebiting often comes from unclear guard boundaries. We define the out with a single marker and reinforce guard position. The dog learns that stillness and space unlock the next phase.

Weak Grip or Avoidance

A weak grip in the courage test in IGP may signal poor target development. We build grips on tugs and pillows where the dog can win with the correct bite. Then we transfer that quality to the sleeve, always keeping the picture clear and rewarding the right choice.

Breaking the Heel to the Send

Dogs anticipate the send and break early in the courage test in IGP when arousal overtakes control. We rehearse composed heel positions near the send line, then release only when the dog meets our criteria. Calm first, speed second, so control holds under trial pressure.

Smart Method Preparation for the Courage Test in IGP

Everything we produce for the courage test in IGP runs through the Smart Method. This system blends clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust. It gives dogs a roadmap they can follow on any field.

Clarity with Commands and Markers

The courage test in IGP demands simple cues. We keep one word for the out, one word for the send, and consistent markers. No chatter, no extra signals. The dog learns exactly what each cue means and how to act.

Pressure and Release for Accountability

We use fair guidance so the dog understands responsibility in the courage test in IGP. When the dog meets criteria, pressure ends and reward comes. When the dog misses, guidance helps the dog find the answer. This builds calm confidence without conflict.

Motivation that Builds Desire to Engage

The courage test in IGP should feel like a game the dog wants to play. We build prey and fight motivation correctly so the dog runs hard and bites full, then happily releases because the next reward is coming through the handler.

Progressive Distraction and Distance

We add distance and pressure in layers for the courage test in IGP. Short sends become long sends. Slow helpers become fast helpers. Easy pictures become full trial pictures. The dog earns each step, so reliability grows.

Trust and Teamwork on the Field

Trust is the glue in the courage test in IGP. The dog must believe the handler’s cues are safe and consistent. Smart Master Dog Trainers coach handlers to be clear, calm, and predictable so the dog can work with confidence.

Step by Step Training Plan

This is how Smart Dog Training builds a complete courage test in IGP from start to finish.

Foundation Bite Skills on Tugs and Pillows

• Teach back molar grips with still hands and smooth pulls
• Reward deep calm grips, reset for any choppy jaws
• Introduce give on cue to begin an early out picture

Transition to Sleeve and Helper Pictures

• Present a clear target so the dog closes deep
• Build fight confidence with short, fair drives
• Pattern the out and guard with predictable endings

Building the Send and Long Bite Line

• Rehearse heel to the mark with composed focus
• Start with short straight sends, then extend distance
• Raise helper speed as the dog shows stable lines

Outs that Hold Under High Drive

• Link the out to immediate relief and next reward
• Proof against movement and stick noises
• Reinforce guard position and space to prevent re biting

Returning to Heel and Neutrality

• Practice clean call to heel after the guard
• Reward quiet body and still eyes
• End each rep with a calm routine to reset arousal

Equipment and Safety Considerations

For the courage test in IGP, we keep equipment simple and safe. A well fitted harness or collar for early line work, high quality tug and pillow for foundation grips, and a proper trial sleeve for transfer. We protect joints by building distance gradually and use consistent surfaces to reduce slips. Safety supports confidence, which supports performance.

Handler Strategy on Trial Day

Even with a well trained dog, the handler can protect points in the courage test in IGP through smart choices.

Warm Up Routine and Nerve Management

• Keep the warm up short and focused
• Do a few engagement reps and a calm out
• End on a settled heel so control precedes speed

Reading the Field and Helper

• Note wind, footing, and sight lines for the send
• Place the dog to see the helper early and straight
• Hold heel position until the judge gives the signal

Protecting Points with Smart Handling

• Give one clear send cue, then be silent
• Deliver the out once with conviction
• Step in after the out to shape a steady guard

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Young Dogs and the Courage Test in IGP

We set young dogs up for success by respecting growth and maturity. The courage test in IGP is a long picture. Young dogs learn line focus, targets, grip quality, and simple outs first. We avoid long sends until the dog shows stable nerve and structure. This keeps confidence high and prevents rehearsals of mistakes.

Case Results with the Smart Method

Across the Smart network, teams pass the courage test in IGP with confident lines, full grips, and clean outs. The common thread is clarity and progression. Dogs are not rushed. Handlers are coached to stay calm and give simple cues. The result is a picture judges want to reward and that owners are proud to present.

FAQs

What exactly happens during the courage test in IGP

The dog heels to the mark, then on the signal is sent on a long run toward a charging helper. The dog must meet the pressure, take a full grip, fight in the drive, then out cleanly and guard. After an escort there is a second attack that repeats grip, fight, and out.

How is the courage test in IGP scored

Judges evaluate line, speed, commitment, grip quality, fight, the clarity of the out, guard behaviour, and handler control. Point losses come from curves, hesitation, shallow grips, noisy grips, late outs, re biting, crowding, or poor neutrality.

When should I start preparing my dog for the courage test in IGP

Start early with foundation grips, engagement, and simple outs. Build distance and pressure only when the dog shows stable confidence. Our trainers time each step so the picture stays clear and the dog grows in a straight line.

What is the hardest part of the courage test in IGP for most teams

Staying straight into pressure and giving a fast clean out are the two most common challenges. We solve both with a mix of motivation, clear targets, and pressure and release so the dog understands what ends the pressure and what earns reward.

Can a pet dog learn the courage test in IGP

Yes, if the dog has suitable nerve, health, and drive. Smart Dog Training will assess your dog, then build a plan that fits. The Smart Method ensures control and welfare are never compromised.

How do Smart Master Dog Trainers prepare handlers for trial day

We coach the full routine for the courage test in IGP, including heel to the line, send timing, silence during the run, a single out cue, and shaping a calm guard. This lowers handler stress and protects points.

What if my dog outs in the approach during the courage test in IGP

That signals confusion or pressure sensitivity. We revisit foundation outs, rebuild clarity with short fights, and reinforce the idea that release brings relief and the next reward. The behaviour becomes reliable again.

Do you train the courage test in IGP only on trial fields

No. We build the picture in stages on neutral fields, then proof across different environments. When the dog understands the task, the trial field feels like just another step in the progression.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The courage test in IGP reveals the truth about training. It demands forward drive, full grips, and clean obedience under pressure. With Smart Dog Training, your dog learns this picture through the Smart Method, where clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust produce reliable performance. Work with a Smart Master Dog Trainer and you will see a confident send, a calm deep grip, and an obedient out that stands up on trial day.

Your dog deserves training that truly works. With certified Smart Master Dog Trainers SMDTs nationwide, you will get proven results backed by the UK's most trusted dog training network. Find a Trainer Near You