IGP Advanced Obedience Drills for Daily Practice

Why IGP Obedience Thrives on Daily Practice

IGP demands precise, powerful, and reliable obedience that holds up anywhere. The fastest way to reach that level is to run well designed IGP advanced obedience drills every day. At Smart Dog Training, we apply the Smart Method so you get clear communication, fair accountability, and real results. If you want expert coaching, a Smart Master Dog Trainer can help you map a routine and sharpen your handling.

Daily training turns complex behaviours into simple habits. Your dog learns to understand your markers, stay in flow through transitions, and maintain energy without chaos. With steady practice, you will see tighter heeling, faster positions, clean fronts and finishes, and more control in high arousal moments. The goal is not just a good pattern. The goal is a dog that can perform with confidence and joy in real life and under trial pressure.

The Smart Method Applied to IGP Advanced Obedience

Every drill in this guide is built on the Smart Method from Smart Dog Training. This is a structured and progressive system that pairs motivation with accountability so results last.

Clarity

We keep commands and markers consistent so the dog always knows what is right. One cue means one behaviour. Markers tell the dog if they are correct, need to continue, or are done. Clarity removes guesswork and speeds learning.

Pressure and Release

We use fair guidance to show the dog how to meet criteria, then release and reward when they succeed. This builds responsibility without conflict. The dog learns that effort leads to relief and reward.

Motivation

Rewards build drive and make work fun. Food for precision. Toys for speed and intensity. We place rewards with purpose so they shape straight lines and clean positions.

Progression

We layer difficulty step by step. First position. Then duration. Then movement and distraction. This keeps success high and stress low while pushing standards forward.

Trust

Training should strengthen your bond. Fair rules and consistent wins create a willing partner who offers focus because they enjoy the process.

Set Your Daily Training Blocks

Short and focused sessions beat long marathons. Run two or three mini blocks per day, each 5 to 10 minutes. Rotate skills so you keep freshness and intensity.

• Block 1 Precision mechanics
• Block 2 Drive and speed
• Block 3 Proofing and generalisation

Between blocks, settle the dog or crate for a reset. This maintains clarity between work and rest, which is vital for clean obedience.

Equipment Checklist

• Flat collar and a light line or short lead
• Food reward pouch with small, high value pieces
• Toy on a line for directed play and clean outs
• Dumbbell that matches trial weight and size
• Markers you will use in trial work, spoken the same every time

Welfare and Safety

• Warm up and cool down with easy movement and mobility
• Train on safe footing with no slips
• Keep reps short to protect joints during jumps and retrieves
• End with success so the dog stays keen for the next session

Core IGP Advanced Obedience Drills for Daily Practice

These IGP advanced obedience drills are the daily core. Keep reps short, reward often, and always finish on a clear win.

Focused Heel With Micro Landmarks

Goal: A tight, powerful heel with steady focus and straight lines.

1. Target start point. Stand on a visual landmark such as a cone or chalk dot.
2. Set your posture. Eyes forward, shoulders square, hands still.
3. Step plans. Run 3 to 5 steps then mark and reward at your left seam. Reward placement should keep the head high and the body straight.
4. Add turns. Practice 90 degree turns, about turns, and left circles with one to three steps between rewards.
5. Layer duration. Extend to 10 to 15 steps only when the picture stays perfect.

Common fix: If the dog forges, step slightly faster for two steps, then slow to normal and mark when the shoulder aligns at your seam.

Sit Down Stand Under Motion

Goal: Fast positions with full commitment from small cues.

1. Start stationary. Cue sit, down, and stand from heel position. Mark and reward within one second of correct position.
2. Add a half step. Step as you cue. The dog should hit position while you gently move.
3. Add two to three steps of motion. Keep cues crisp. Fuse the mark with quick food delivery to the exact position.
4. Randomise the order so the dog listens rather than predicts.

Criterion tip: Only progress when each position is both fast and precise. Speed without accuracy earns a repeat, not a reward.

Fronts and Finishes With Laser Lines

Goal: Dead straight fronts and tight finishes that pop into place.

1. Use a line on the ground. Heel into a halt facing the line.
2. Call front from one to two meters. Lure if needed at the start, then fade to hand target.
3. Mark when the dog is straight, close, and centered. Reward between your knees to keep the line clean.
4. Finish left or right. Deliver the reward at your left seam to lock the end picture.

Fixes: If the dog sits wide on finish, step back with your left foot to open a lane, then close it as the dog swings into heel and mark the moment of alignment.

Dumbbell Hold and Clean Retrieve

Goal: Calm hold with full mouth, then a fast pick up and return.

1. Hold on place. Present the dumbbell. Cue take, then count one to three seconds. Mark and exchange for food when the grip is full and still.
2. Add movement. Step one pace while the dog holds. Mark for calm control, then reward.
3. Ground pick up. Place the dumbbell one meter away. Release the dog to pick up, cue front, and mark the instant the sit is straight and close.
4. Return to heel. Take the dumbbell, cue finish, and reward at heel seam.

Quality rule: Never reward chattering, mouthing, or spitting. Reward only still, full grips and straight sits. Use the out cue to release the dumbbell to hand, then reward.

Send Away Line and Down

Goal: Powerful send with a fast down at distance.

1. Build the target. Place a food bowl or toy at a visible mark 10 to 15 meters ahead.
2. Release to the target. When the line is fast and straight, add a down cue halfway, then release to the target as a reward.
3. Fade the target. Reduce the size of the target and move it out of sight. Keep the dog confident by rewarding at the target location after the down.
4. Proof the down. Vary your position while holding the same criteria for speed and commitment.

Coaching tip: If the dog slows, shorten the distance and raise reward value. The send must always feel worth it.

Indirect Distractions and Neutrality

Goal: Focus that holds under pressure.

• Place mild distractions to the side. People, a toy on the floor, a low food bowl.
• Run short heeling and position sequences. Mark and reward when the dog ignores the picture and stays clear.
• Increase distraction strength only when the dog stays locked in.

This drill builds trial ready focus without creating conflict.

Out Cue With Calm Control

Goal: A clean out from toy or dumbbell without conflict.

1. Trade on cue. Present a still hand close to the object. When the dog releases on out, instantly mark and deliver a new rep or a food reward.
2. Add small delays. Ask for one second of neutrality after out before you mark and reward.
3. Generalise. Practice out from toy, dumbbell, or tug, always followed by a clear next step so the dog learns the out is part of the game.

This drill prevents chewing on the retrieve and builds clarity for transitions in a routine.

Daily Layering That Drives Real Progress

IGP advanced obedience drills work best when you add duration and distraction in small steps. Use the three D rule.

• Duration Start with one to three seconds in position. Grow to five to ten seconds before you add movement.
• Distance Start close to keep accuracy high. Grow distance only when the picture stays clean.
• Distraction Start neutral. Add one low level distraction at a time. When focus slips, remove a layer and rebuild.

Write down criteria for each drill. Set the line before you begin, then hold it. When the dog meets or beats that line, they earn reward and you advance.

Measuring Progress With Smart Criteria

At Smart Dog Training we define success with simple, visible standards.

• Heeling Ten clean steps with head position steady and no forging
• Positions Three fast sits, downs, and stands on the move without double cues
• Fronts and finishes Five straight fronts and five tight finishes in a row
• Retrieve Calm hold for three seconds, fast pick up, straight front, clean finish
• Send away A confident send to 20 meters with a fast down on first cue

Track your scores in a small log. When a standard is met across three sessions, level up the criteria by a small step. This keeps you honest and keeps the dog winning.

Common Handler Mistakes to Avoid

• Inconsistent markers. Use the same words and timing every time.
• Poor reward placement. Pay where you want the dog to be, not at your pocket.
• Too much talking. Cue, then be quiet and let the dog work.
• Overlong sessions. Stop while the dog still wants more.
• Skipping warm ups. Cold starts reduce speed and increase errors.
• Rushing progression. Build one layer at a time.

Troubleshooting Key Behaviours

Forging in Heel

Shorten reps to three to five steps. Speed up for two steps, then return to normal speed. Mark when the shoulder aligns at your seam and pay exactly there.

Slow Sits or Downs

Raise reward value and deliver faster. Cue one explosive rep, mark, and throw the toy behind you so the dog resets with energy. Alternate one speed rep with one precision rep.

Wide Fronts

Place a channel with two guides so the dog must enter straight. Reward between your knees. Reduce the channel width over time.

Mouthing the Dumbbell

Stop throwing retrieves for now. Reinforce calm holds on place. Only earn the next rep when the mouth is still and full.

Slow Send Away

Move the target closer and pay bigger. Two or three fast sends with big wins will restore commitment. Then lengthen again.

Sample 20 Minute Daily Plan

Try this repeatable template. Adjust to your dog and your current goals.

• Minute 0 to 3 Warm up with light movement, hand targets, and a few focus reps
• Minute 3 to 7 Focused heel in short lines with one or two turns, mark and reward at seam
• Minute 7 to 10 Sit down stand under motion, four to six total reps with quick pay
• Break 2 minutes Settle or crate, then restart fresh
• Minute 12 to 15 Fronts and finishes with a ground line, alternate left and right finishes
• Minute 15 to 18 Dumbbell hold and one clean pick up to a straight front
• Minute 18 to 20 One send away with a fast down, end on a big win

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.

IGP Advanced Obedience Drills in Real Life Context

Your dog should show the same clarity at a park, in a new club field, or at a trial site. Rotate training locations two to three times per week. Keep criteria at or below your home standard for the first few sessions in a new place. This lets the dog transfer the picture without confusion.

When you add more pressure, keep the reward schedule rich for correct choices. A single perfect three step heel with one turn can be a full rep if it matches your standard. That is how you preserve quality when you move to harder settings.

Handler Mechanics That Raise Scores

• Start posture. Stand tall, chin level, and set your feet before you cue.
• Breathing. Exhale before a cue to calm your body and speed your timing.
• Hands. Keep them still unless delivering a reward or a cue hand target.
• Footwork. Rehearse turns without the dog so your path is smooth and predictable.

Great obedience starts with the handler. Smart Dog Training teaches you to be precise so your dog can be precise.

Using Rewards With Purpose

Food builds accuracy. Use it for position work and calm holds. Toys build intensity. Use them for sends, returns, and dynamic reps. Place every reward to shape the picture you want. At your left seam to build tight heel. Between your knees to build straight fronts. Behind you to create fast downs that snap forward into heel on release.

Accountability Without Conflict

Pressure and Release gives your dog a fair path to success. If a sit is slow, calmly reset and try again with better setup. If a dog breaks a down on the send, return to the start point and lower the distance, then reward the first correct rep. At Smart Dog Training, we hold standards while keeping the dog in a learning frame, which keeps motivation high and errors low.

When to Work With a Smart Master Dog Trainer

Consistent plateaus, ring stress, or confusion around markers are clear signs it is time for coaching. A Smart Master Dog Trainer will review your routine, tighten your mechanics, and build a progression plan for your dog. With national coverage through our Trainer Network, you can train locally with the same Smart Method used by our team.

If you are ready to begin or want a tailored programme that fits your competition goals, you can work directly with Smart Dog Training. Our programmes are built for daily practice and real ring results.

FAQs

How often should I run these IGP advanced obedience drills?

Run two or three mini sessions per day, five to ten minutes each. Short, focused blocks deliver faster gains than long sessions. End each block with a clear win.

What rewards should I use for the best results?

Use food for precision and toy play for speed and power. Place rewards to shape clean lines and positions. Smart Dog Training uses rewards with purpose, not at random.

When should I add distractions?

Only add one distraction after your dog meets criteria at home. Start with low level distractions to the side. Increase strength slowly while holding standards.

How do I fix slow positions during heeling?

Alternate one explosive rep with one precision rep. Raise reward value and mark within one second of correct position. Keep reps short and clean.

My dog mouths the dumbbell. What should I do?

Pause throws and rebuild calm holds. Mark only still, full grips. Use the out cue to release to hand, then reward. Add movement again once the hold is reliable.

How long until I see progress in trial work?

Most teams see clear gains within two to four weeks of steady daily practice. The Smart Method keeps progress measurable by setting criteria and advancing in small steps.

Can beginners use these IGP advanced obedience drills?

Yes. Start with the early steps of each drill and keep standards simple. If you want guidance, train with a Smart Master Dog Trainer so your foundation is correct from day one.

Do I need special equipment?

You need a flat collar, a short lead, food rewards, a toy, and a correctly sized dumbbell. That is enough to build precision, speed, and control when used with the Smart Method.

Conclusion

Daily, well structured work is the secret to confident and reliable IGP obedience. By running these IGP advanced obedience drills with the Smart Method, you will sharpen clarity, build motivation, and raise accountability without conflict. Keep sessions short. Pay with purpose. Advance in small steps. When you need an expert eye, Smart Dog Training has you covered with certified coaches and a proven system.

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