IGP Down on Recall Failure Points

Understanding IGP Down on Recall Failure Points

The IGP down on recall looks simple on paper but it is one of the easiest places to bleed points. A clean picture needs speed, precision, and total clarity. At Smart Dog Training we build that picture step by step so your dog understands exactly when to drive and when to settle. If you work with a Smart Master Dog Trainer SMDT you get a proven path that turns this exercise into a consistent strength in trial.

Handlers use the phrase IGP down on recall in two ways. Some mean a true down during the recall, where the dog is moving toward the handler and must hit the ground on cue. Others mean down with recall, where the dog waits in a down until called to front. Both pictures share the same foundations and both have clear failure points that cost scores. This guide breaks down those points and shows how the Smart Method closes every gap.

How The Exercise Is Judged

Judges want to see control with drive. In the IGP down on recall the dog should either drop instantly on cue while moving or hold a steady down until the recall command, then sprint to a straight front and finish cleanly. The line from start to finish should be calm, fast, and precise. Any loss of clarity shows up as hesitation, creeping, crooked fronts, or extra handling and all of these reduce your score.

Specific scoring focus areas include the start position, cue response, path of travel, the commitment to down, steadiness in the down, recall speed, front position, and the finish. Every micro detail matters. A smart plan makes each detail automatic so your mental load on trial day stays low.

The Smart Method For Clean Results

The Smart Method guides the IGP down on recall from first steps to trial proof. We build behaviour through five pillars that never change.

• Clarity. Commands and markers are precise so the dog knows exactly what action earns reward.
• Pressure and release. We use fair guidance, then release and reward so the dog takes responsibility without conflict.
• Motivation. High value rewards build speed and a happy attitude.
• Progression. We layer distance, duration, and distraction in a structured path.
• Trust. Your handling stays consistent which builds confidence and teamwork.

This balance is the reason our IGP down on recall holds under pressure. It is not a trick. It is a system that creates reliable behaviour in real life and in sport.

What Causes Most Failure Points

Common deductions in the IGP down on recall fall into two buckets. Handler mechanics that cue the wrong thing, and dog behaviour patterns shaped by unclear training history. You can only fix these by mapping both sides.

Handler Mechanics That Cost Points

• Pre cues. Leaning forward, lifting hands, or stepping before the cue tells the dog to move or to brace.
• Late or soft cue. A slow or uncertain signal produces a slow response.
• Body help. Extra shoulder or hand motion looks like a second command.
• Poor setup. Staring hard at the dog, or long fidgeting before the cue, raises tension and invites noise or anticipation.

Dog Behaviour Patterns That Cost Points

• Anticipation. The dog breaks the down or self releases on the recall picture.
• Creeping. Elbows inch forward before the recall command.
• Slow drop. The down is sticky, with elbows landing late.
• Incomplete down. Elbows or hocks do not contact the ground.
• Noise. Whining or barking from stress or frustration.
• Crooked front. The dog lands off center, sits wide, or bumps the handler.
• Weak finish. The dog swings slow or sits wide on the left.

IGP Down on Recall Criteria In Plain Language

For a true down during recall your dog should run straight, respond to the down cue within one body length, hit the ground fast with clear elbow contact, hold still, then on the recall sprint to a straight front. For down with recall your dog should hold a solid down until called, drive fast to front, and finish tidy to heel. Every part of that sequence can create failure points in the IGP down on recall if you skip steps.

Build Clarity First With A Marker System

Clarity starts with simple black and white. At Smart Dog Training we run a clean marker system that separates actions and outcomes. One word marks correct. One word marks release from position. One cue tells the dog to down and stay. This system removes guesswork in the IGP down on recall.

• Action marker. Yes means you did it right and now collect reward.
• Reward location. Deliver the reward where you want the dog to be in the next rep.
• Release word. This lets the dog leave the down only when you say so.

When handlers follow this map the IGP down on recall speeds up without adding stress. The dog understands what pays and what does not.

Pressure And Release Done Right

Many teams need fair guidance to clean up the IGP down on recall. Pressure and release creates responsibility without conflict when it is applied with timing and balance. We pair a clear cue with light guidance to help the dog make the right choice. The instant the dog commits, we release pressure and reward. This timing builds fast, firm downs and stable positions without nagging.

Motivation That Drives Speed Without Slop

Speed must not break control. We use food or toy rewards in a plan that keeps the front straight and the down instant. Reward placement is the lever. For a true down during recall, reward on the ground between the dog’s paws to anchor the drop. For down with recall, pay at the front to build a clean line, then pay at heel after the finish. This keeps the IGP down on recall honest while still fast.

Progression That Holds Up Under Pressure

Once your dog can perform the IGP down on recall in a quiet space we layer the three Ds in a sequence that does not confuse the dog.

• Distance. Increase one or two steps at a time. Keep success high.
• Duration. Ask for longer holds only after distance is easy.
• Distraction. Add environmental pressure last, starting small and planned.

This progression matches how judges raise the bar. It builds trust because the dog always recognises the picture and knows how to win.

Proofing For Real Trial Pictures

We proof the IGP down on recall with a plan that mirrors the field. Use a calm start, then add elements one by one.

• Field entry. Practice walking onto a field, standing still, and starting without fidgeting.
• Steward voice. Add neutral voices or hand signals from a helper at random times.
• Surfaces. Train on grass, turf, dry dirt, and wet ground. The dog learns that down means the same thing everywhere.
• Weather. Practice in light wind or drizzle so the first time is not trial day.
• Distraction. Dogs moving, toys on the ground, or food scent placed far from the line.

Smart Dog Training turns proofing into a checklist so the IGP down on recall is bulletproof by the time you enter.

Fixing Anticipation And Creeping

Anticipation is the number one reason teams lose points in the IGP down on recall. It shows up as creeping elbows or early movement before the cue.

• Neutral setups. Stand tall with hands still. Breathe. Count to three before any cue.
• Fake cues. Move your hand or shift weight without giving a command. If the dog stays, mark and reward in place.
• Randomised release. Sometimes step back to reward in the down. Sometimes recall. Sometimes reset. The dog learns that stillness pays.
• Split reps. Separate the down commitment from the recall so they do not blend in the dog’s head.

Do short sets. End on success. Over time the IGP down on recall becomes steady and quiet.

Speed Without Overshoot Or Slide

We want a fast dog that still lands a tight front. Sloppy fronts cost in the IGP down on recall.

• Front target. Use a low target between your feet to draw a straight path.
• Body stillness. Keep your hands at your side. Do not lean.
• Reward at the chest. Deliver food close to your midline to square the sit.
• Finish clarity. Teach the finish as a separate skill so the dog does not guess.

When the front is clean and stable, the rest of the IGP down on recall sequence feels smooth and controlled.

Making The Down Instant And Final

Your down cue should create a reflex. In the IGP down on recall the first beat matters most. We create a fast drop with two tools.

• Pop to down. Reward many fast downs from a step of motion. Pay low and fast.
• Elbow commitment. Reward only when both elbows hit. If one floats, wait. The dog learns that full contact pays.

This turns a sticky drop into an instant action. Judges see the intent and reward it.

Handler Footwork And Neutral Posture

Dogs read pictures. If your body moves with the cue in training, but not in trial, the IGP down on recall will suffer. Film your setups. Your hands, shoulders, and feet should look the same in every rep. Build a quiet stance that the dog trusts.

• Hands still and low.
• Eyes forward, not staring at the dog.
• Weight balanced. No tip forward before the cue.

Consistency here removes accidental second cues and saves points.

Reps That Transfer To Points

Here is a sample week to polish the IGP down on recall while keeping drive high.

• Day 1. Ten fast downs from motion, paid low between the paws. Five fronts to target. Two full sequences at short distance.
• Day 2. Proof stillness with fake cues. Reward in place often. One short field style run.
• Day 3. Add distance by two steps. Keep speed high. No full sequence if the drop slows.
• Day 4. Distraction day. Quiet dog movement at distance. Keep criteria simple.
• Day 5. Two full sequences with neutral setups. Film and review handler stillness.
• Day 6. Surfaces and weather variation. Short, fun, and high reward rate.
• Day 7. Rest or light play to keep attitude fresh.

Adjust the plan with your SMDT coach to match your dog’s stage. The Smart Dog Training path ensures the IGP down on recall builds in small wins that add up to high scores.

Trial Day Strategy And Ringcraft

Ringcraft keeps points on the board. A clean IGP down on recall starts before you enter the field.

• Warm up window. Short and focused. Build a couple of fast downs and one clean front. End before the dog peaks.
• Staging. Keep the dog calm on lead. No last minute drilling.
• Field entry. Walk with purpose. Set your line. Breathe.
• Judge timing. Listen and respond without rush. Your body stays quiet until the exact cue point.
• Reset mindset. If anything goes off plan, control what you can and move on. One moment does not define the routine.

These habits protect the IGP down on recall and the whole routine.

Troubleshooting By Symptom

Match your issue to the fix to recover points in the IGP down on recall.

• Dog breaks the down before recall. Increase reward in place. Use fake cues. Randomise releases. Reduce distance.
• Dog drops slow on the cue. Pay many fast downs at one to two steps. Reward low between paws. Keep handler still.
• Dog ignores down during recall. Shorten distance to two to three steps. Help once, then release and reward big. Build back up in small steps.
• Dog vocalises. Shorter warm up. More neutral setups. Reward quiet holds. Remove toy for a few sessions and pay with food for calm.
• Front is crooked. Use a front target. Reward at your midline. Avoid tossing toys past your body which pulls the dog off center.
• Finish is slow or wide. Train finish alone for a week. Reward speed and position. Then blend back into the full picture.

IGP Down on Recall Scoring Highlights

While rules evolve, the themes stay the same. Speed with control wins. In the IGP down on recall judges praise instant downs, steady holds, and straight lines. They deduct for creeping, extra body help, slow responses, crooked fronts, noise, and weak finishes. If you address each theme with the Smart Method you protect your score even when the field feels busy.

When To Seek Coaching

If you have trained alone and hit a wall, hands on help can shave months off your timeline. A Smart Master Dog Trainer SMDT will map your handling, mark the gaps in your IGP down on recall, and give you a clear step by step plan. Because Smart Dog Training delivers a national standard, you get the same method wherever you live.

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.

FAQs

What is the IGP down on recall

Handlers use this term for two pictures. A true down during the recall where the dog drops while moving, and a down with recall where the dog holds a down until called to front. Smart Dog Training builds both with the same clear system.

How do I stop creeping before the recall

Use neutral setups, fake cues, and generous rewards for stillness. Randomise releases so the dog does not predict the next step. Keep distance short until the elbows stay locked.

Why is my dog slow to drop on the cue

Slow drops come from mixed pictures or weak reward placement. Reward many fast downs at one to two steps and pay low between the paws. Keep your body quiet to remove accidental second cues.

How many reps should I do per session

Short sets win. Aim for two to three sets of three to five quality reps. End while your dog still wants more. The IGP down on recall improves faster when the dog stays fresh.

How can I keep a straight front in competition

Use a low target between your feet during training, pay at your midline, and avoid throwing rewards past your body. Practice fronts on many surfaces so the line stays straight on trial day.

Do I need help from a professional for this exercise

Many teams benefit from expert eyes. A Smart Master Dog Trainer will refine your timing and posture and will set a plan that fits your dog. That support pays off in the IGP down on recall and across your routine.

Can I build speed without losing control

Yes. Drive comes from motivation and clean pictures. We build speed with planned reward placement and keep control with pressure and release that is fair. The result is fast work that holds its shape.

What is the best way to proof for trial pressure

Add only one new stress at a time. Field entry, steward voice, different surfaces, and mild weather changes should be layered over a stable skill. Keep criteria clear and reward steady work.

Conclusion

The IGP down on recall is a brilliant test of teamwork. It exposes every gap in clarity, motivation, and handling. When you follow the Smart Method you close those gaps one by one. You build a dog that drops without thought, holds steady without stress, flies to front, and finishes clean. You walk on the field calm because the skills are real and reliable.

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