How to Video and Review IGP Sessions

Filming your training is one of the fastest ways to improve performance. This guide shows you how to video and review IGP sessions using the Smart Method so you can see what the judge sees and fix issues before trial day. If you want to know how to video and review IGP sessions your process must be clear, consistent, and simple enough to repeat every week. Every step here is based on Smart Dog Training programmes and refined in competition by a Smart Master Dog Trainer.

Why Video Matters in IGP Training

Strong skills come from clear feedback. When you know how to video and review IGP sessions you capture the truth of timing, position, and emotion. Video gives objective data that your memory will miss. You will see tiny leash pressure, handler posture that crowds the dog, and the exact instant a grip softens. With Smart Dog Training you use that clarity to make focused changes that stick.

• Accuracy. Frame by frame shows timing and handler mechanics.
• Accountability. You can measure progression instead of guessing.
• Confidence. Clean reps compound when you remove hidden errors.

The Smart Method Approach to Session Review

Smart builds calm, consistent behaviour that lasts in real life. Our review process follows the Smart Method pillars so you always know how to video and review IGP sessions with purpose.

• Clarity. Use fixed angles, markers, and simple checklists so analysis is repeatable.
• Pressure and Release. Notice when guidance starts and stops, and whether the release is timed to the behaviour you want.
• Motivation. Track engagement, tail set, ear carriage, and speed to see emotional state.
• Progression. Compare similar reps across weeks as you add distance, duration, and distraction.
• Trust. Keep sessions fair and structured so the dog wants to work with you.

Smart Dog Training teaches owners and handlers to think like a Smart Master Dog Trainer. You will learn to pair objective notes with balanced training so both dog and handler improve together.

Essential Kit for Filming IGP

You do not need a film crew. You need tools that are simple, sturdy, and consistent.

• Phone or action camera with 4K or 1080p at 60 fps. High frame rate helps slow motion.
• Wide lens for close work and a modest zoom for field coverage.
• Tripod with fluid head for smooth pans. A gimbal for moving shots in obedience.
• Spare batteries, large memory cards, and a weatherproof bag.
• Clip mic or shotgun mic for voice notes. Wind muff for outdoor days.
• Cones or ground markers to place the camera and set consistent framing.

Camera Settings Made Simple

Keep it simple and repeatable. Consistency beats complexity.

• Resolution and frame rate. 1080p at 60 fps for most training, 4K at 30 or 60 fps for key reviews.
• Shutter speed. Twice your frame rate to keep motion crisp.
• Stabilisation. On for handheld, off on tripod.
• Exposure. Lock exposure to avoid bright sky or dark dog issues.
• White balance. Lock it so colours match clip to clip.

Angles and Framing for IGP Obedience

Use two standard angles for most drills so reviews are easy to compare over time.

• Handler line. Tripod at heel side, waist height, 5 to 8 metres away. This shows shoulder alignment, footwork, and head position in heeling.
• Profile line. Tripod at 90 degrees to the heeling track so you can judge straightness and travel speed.
• Fronts and finishes. Camera centred behind the judge line to see straight approaches and tight finishes.
• Retrieves. Wide angle from behind the dumbbell line to see the send, pick up, return path, and sit.

These angles become your baseline for how to video and review IGP sessions in obedience. Keep your camera positions marked with cones so each week matches the last.

Filming Protection Work Safely

Safety and clarity come first. Keep your camera outside the flight path, and keep the helper and steward briefed.

• Primary angle. Tripod on the judge side, 10 to 15 metres off the line of travel. Waist height for natural perspective.
• Secondary angle. Long lens from behind the blind line for grips and outs.
• Do not enter the helper triangle during drive work. Let the action come to you.
• Use clear, short voice notes at the start of each rep to label the drill and criteria.

Capturing Tracking With Clarity

Tracking needs steady, wide shots and honest sound. Your goal is to see detail without disturbing the dog.

• Drone is not needed. Use a tripod at the start flag and a second camera halfway along the track where allowed.
• Walk side on at a respectful distance if the dog is neutral to you. If not, film from fixed points only.
• Frame the dog, line hand, and line tension. Include the surface and wind indicators like grass movement.

How to Video and Review IGP Sessions Step by Step

This is the simple loop you will run every week. If you want to learn how to video and review IGP sessions that lead to real results, follow these steps and keep them the same.

1. Set the aim. One sentence, one behaviour, one standard. Example, keep head neutral and smooth in heeling at 20 metres.
2. Place cameras. Use the same cones and heights you used last week.
3. Slate the clip. Say date, field, drill, and criteria at the start of the recording.
4. Run the drill. Keep reps short and focused. Quality over quantity.
5. Voice note the feel. Say what you felt in the moment. Later, you will compare feel to facts.
6. Review same day. Note timing, position, motivation, and pressure and release.
7. Pick one change. Apply it in the next small block of reps.
8. Record the after clip. Compare before and after within the same session.

Run this loop in tracking, obedience, and protection. This is how to video and review IGP sessions without overthinking the tech.

A Smart Pre Brief Checklist

Before each session, confirm the plan. Use this short checklist to remove doubt.

• Goal for the day and standard for a clean rep
• Camera positions and battery levels
• Marker words and reward plan
• Pressure and release rules for this drill
• Number of reps and the break plan

Live Cues for the Camera Operator

Give simple cues so your camera stays useful.

• Start. When I say Slate, start recording and stay wide.
• Zoom. When I say Close, move to a tighter frame for detail, then back to wide.
• Hold. Keep the handler and dog in frame from knees to ears.
• Pan slow. Follow the line of travel without whipping the camera.

Post Session Workflow That Saves Time

A clean workflow makes it easy to stay on track. This is a simple way to process your footage and keep improving at how to video and review IGP sessions.

1. Import and label. Folder by date, then subfolders for tracking, obedience, protection. File names like 2025-03-IGP-Obedience-Heel-Angle1-Clip01.
2. Select. Mark the best two reps and the worst rep for each drill.
3. Tag. Add tags like late marker, wide finish, soft grip, high arousal.
4. Notes. Use a short template. Aim, what worked, what failed, exact change for next session.
5. Share. If you train with Smart Dog Training, send the three tagged clips to your coach for fast feedback.

How to Analyse Heeling, Retrieves, and Send Away

Use consistent criteria so your review is objective.

• Heeling. Head neutral or slightly up, shoulder at seam, smooth gait, no forging or crabbing. Check your left turns for shoulder contact. Check the first step after each halt.
• Fronts and finishes. Track approach path, paw placement, and sit speed. Look for rocking versus tuck sits.
• Retrieves. Time from send to pick up, pick up to return, return to sit. Check dumbbell grip and chewing.
• Send away. Measure speed to the marker, stop latency, and sit response. Watch your cue timing and body language for clarity.

How to Analyse Grip, Targeting, and Outs

Protection demands fairness, safety, and clear standards.

• Grip. Depth at first contact, pressure through drives, and stability under stress. Look for rolling or leaking.
• Targeting. Entry line, commitment at the helper picture, and head position.
• Outs. Cue timing, handler stillness, and helper neutrality. Confirm pressure and release is fair and consistent.
• Emotion. Track arousal. If speed rises and thinking drops, build back with clearer pictures.

Score Sheet Mapping and Metrics

Turn video into numbers so you can see progression. Map your clips to the judge sheet.

• Heeling deductions. Note where points would be lost and why. Record frequency across reps.
• Retrieve deductions. Count each error, then build a drill to remove the most common one first.
• Protection deductions. Mark out, secondary cues, and handler help. Plan clean pictures that build responsibility.

Keeping simple metrics is a key part of how to video and review IGP sessions in a way that drives results. Smart Dog Training uses these numbers to set the next week of training.

Using Slow Motion and Annotation Tools

Slow motion reveals timing and weight shifts. Annotations highlight lines, distances, and angles.

• Slow motion. Review at half speed for footwork and head position. Quarter speed for grips and outs.
• On screen lines. Draw the heeling path or dumbbell line so drift is easy to spot.
• Voice over. Record a short note of what changed and why. Keep it to one or two points.

Common Filming Mistakes to Avoid

• Chasing the dog. Stay wide and let the work pass through the frame.
• Changing angles every session. Keep positions the same so you can compare clips.
• Filming too close. You lose context and cannot judge straightness or travel lines.
• Skipping sound. Voice notes help you compare feel to facts.
• Overloading drills. One aim per block. This keeps reviews clear and fast.

Building a Progression Plan From Your Footage

Video without action is just storage. Use this simple planning loop.

1. Pick the top error that costs the most points or repeats most often.
2. Design a single focused picture to fix it, using Smart Dog Training criteria.
3. Run three to five reps, film, and review same day.
4. If it improves, add one layer of difficulty. If not, simplify the picture and retry.

Repeat this across tracking, obedience, and protection. This is the heart of how to video and review IGP sessions for steady, measurable gains.

Working With a Smart Master Dog Trainer Remotely

Remote review saves time and accelerates progress. Smart Dog Training coaches use your labelled clips and notes to give targeted changes within 24 to 48 hours. You get the same structured approach you would in person, with the Smart Method at the core. Ready to turn your dog’s behaviour around? Book a Free Assessment and connect with a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer available across the UK.

Using Video For Trial Prep

Trial days reward consistency. Build a small library that mirrors the test.

• Full pattern run throughs at match speed, once every two weeks.
• Judge view angles for each phase.
• Warm up routine on film so you can refine the first two minutes of behaviour.
• Equipment checklist on camera the night before to reduce stress.

File Management That Scales

Good storage keeps months of progress at your fingertips.

• One master folder per dog. Subfolders for each month.
• Standard file names and tags so you can search fast.
• Keep best three clips per drill per month. Archive the rest.
• Back up to a second drive at the end of each week.

FAQs

What camera do I need to video and review IGP sessions?

A modern phone or action camera with 1080p at 60 fps is enough. Stability, clear angles, and repeatable setup matter more than high cost gear.

How often should I video and review IGP sessions?

Film two focused blocks per week. Review the same day while memory is fresh. Keep one clip for before and one for after so change is easy to see.

How can I film tracking without disturbing the dog?

Use fixed tripod angles and keep distance. Frame the dog, handler hands, and line tension. If the dog is sensitive, avoid moving with the team.

What should I listen for in my clips?

Marker timing, calm voice, and consistent cues. Note any extra words or body help. Sound shows clarity in a way that video alone cannot.

How do I use video to fix heeling?

Film the same heeling line from handler side and profile. Check first step after halts, shoulder alignment, and head position. Change one variable per block, then re film.

Can Smart Dog Training review my footage?

Yes. Our coaches will give precise, step by step changes based on the Smart Method. You can work with a local SMDT or through remote review.

What is the fastest way to improve protection using video?

Standardise your helper picture, film the entry and first grip, and review out timing with neutral helper posture. Fix one variable at a time.

How do I store and find my clips later?

Use a date based folder system with standard file names and tags. Keep only the top three clips for each drill each month to stay lean.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The fastest path to real results is a simple, repeatable process. Now you know how to video and review IGP sessions with the Smart Method, you can create a reliable loop of plan, film, review, and improve. Keep your angles the same, label your clips, and make one clear change at a time. If you want expert eyes on your training, Smart Dog Training can help you apply this system to your dog and your goals.

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