IGP Field Desensitisation Pre Trial Process

IGP Field Desensitisation Pre Trial Process

IGP field desensitisation is the structured process of building neutrality to the trial field, its people, its equipment, and its energy. At Smart Dog Training we use the Smart Method to turn pressure into clarity so your dog can perform calm, clean work when it matters. Guided by a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer, this pre trial process removes surprises and replaces them with rehearsed confidence.

What IGP Field Desensitisation Really Means

Put simply, IGP field desensitisation means that the dog is not distracted by the field. The dog remains steady and focused around blinds, jumps, dumbbells, the helper, the judge, the steward voice, and the crowd. The dog shows the same response on the trial ground as it did in training. Our aim is reliable execution under pressure, not just in a quiet club session.

Why Desensitisation Decides Scores

• It lowers arousal spikes that cause sloppy heeling, early sits, or slow recalls.
• It prevents fixation on equipment or the helper which steals points before the work begins.
• It keeps the dog neutral to the judge and steward so cues stay clear.
• It protects the dog from stress that can bleed into protection, tracking, and obedience.

IGP field desensitisation is not about making the dog dull. It is about controlled engagement that can rise and fall on cue. That balance is the heart of the Smart Method.

How the Smart Method Shapes the Process

We apply the five pillars of the Smart Method to IGP field desensitisation so results last on any field in the UK and beyond.

• Clarity. Clean commands and marker timing so the dog knows exactly what to do at each landmark.
• Pressure and Release. Fair guidance, fair boundaries, and a clear release to reward. This builds accountability without conflict.
• Motivation. Food, play, and prey work used with intent so the dog wants to work, not has to.
• Progression. Step by step proofing with distance, duration, and distraction layered in the right order.
• Trust. A steady bond that turns the field into a familiar place, which removes trial nerves for dog and handler.

Every Smart Master Dog Trainer is taught to use these pillars to create field neutrality that holds up on trial day.

IGP Field Desensitisation Fundamentals

Before we touch a trial field we pre train three core skills away from the field.

• Handler Focus. A clean heel cue with fast engagement and crisp turns.
• Stationing. A calm down on a mat or a crate settle that the dog can hold for minutes with movement around.
• Marker System. Clear reward and release markers, and a no reward marker that ends the moment without emotion.

These become our safety lines during IGP field desensitisation. If arousal rises, we return to stationing, reset, then re enter.

The Pre Trial Timeline

Most dogs need 6 to 10 weeks of IGP field desensitisation. The exact plan is tailored by your Smart Dog Training coach, yet the flow stays the same.

• Weeks 1 to 2. Neutrality to landmarks and light movement on the field.
• Weeks 3 to 4. Add judge, steward voice, helpers at a distance, and passive dogs.
• Weeks 5 to 6. Introduce controlled gunshots, crowd noise, and field entry rituals.
• Weeks 7 to 8. Full dress rehearsals with honest scoring and no surprises.
• Weeks 9 to 10. Maintain and sharpen. Less is more. Short, clean, positive reps.

Landmarks and Equipment the Dog Must Ignore

IGP field desensitisation covers every object the dog will see.

• Blinds. The dog should not drift, stare, or pull toward them during obedience.
• Jumps and the wall. The dog should not anticipate retrieves when passing near them.
• Dumbbells. The dog should only key off the handler cue, not the sight of the item.
• Start and finish spots. Teach calm posture at the cone and the center line.
• Articles on the tracking field. Neutral sniffing until cued, with no gulping.
• Helper sleeve and stick. Show neutrality until the work begins.

We make each item boring until cued. That is IGP field desensitisation in action.

Obedience Phase Desensitisation

In obedience the field can light up a drivey dog. We turn that energy into clean work.

Heeling under field pressure

• Begin with loose patterns away from the start cone. Reward focus, not fancy footwork.
• Add the judge walking near you. Then add the steward voice. Add only one change at a time.
• Proof near jumps and dumbbells. The dog must hold heel and eye contact when passing them.
• Gunshot conditioning. Start far, pair with food or play, and work toward neutral heeling at a safe distance.

Retrieves and jumps

• Build clean setups. The dog should sit still, breathe, and wait for your send.
• Vary where dumbbells lie during warm ups so the dog waits for the cue, not the picture.
• Rehearse quiet approaches to jumps without a send to remove anticipation.

Down under distraction

• Create a solid down in sight of other teams working.
• Train a calm reset routine if the dog breaks. No emotion, just clarity.

Protection Phase Desensitisation

Protection is where pictures change fast. IGP field desensitisation is vital here.

• Blinds become background. Heeling past blinds must be as clean as on grass at home.
• Helper neutrality. The dog should not fixate on the helper while in heel or basic positions.
• Stick noise and body pressure. Start at a distance and close the gap as the dog stays clear headed.
• Guarding without vocalising. Condition the dog to decouple arousal from noise by paying only for quiet, intense focus.

Smart Dog Training builds this with pressure and release that is fair and predictable. The dog learns responsibility and earns access to the bite through control.

Tracking Field Desensitisation

Tracking is its own field picture. We remove novelty in three parts.

• Surface and scent. Train on short grass, longer grass, stubble, and light soil so the dog is steady on trial ground.
• Flags and tracklayer. The dog should be neutral to the person laying the track and to the start flag.
• Articles. Condition a fast, clean down and a soft hold that stands up under nerves.

IGP field desensitisation in tracking keeps the dog from rushing the start or lifting the head when it feels the judge behind you.

Neutrality to People, Dogs, and Noise

We list all typical trial stressors and train them one at a time.

• Judge and steward. Walk by with the dog in heel, then stand for inspection, then work with voice commands nearby.
• Other teams. Dogs working fast retrieves or barking in protection. Start at distance, then close the gap.
• Crowd and cameras. Pair entry music or claps with calm setups and stationing.
• Gunshots. Use distance and reward to build neutrality to volume and echo.

IGP field desensitisation is complete when these triggers no longer change your dog’s posture, breathing, or eye line.

Using Pressure and Release Without Conflict

Smart Dog Training uses pressure and release to build accountability in a fair way. In practice this means:

• Show the dog what is expected with clear leash guidance or body position.
• Release the moment as soon as the dog makes the right choice.
• Pay with food or play after the release so the reinforcement is clean.

This rhythm turns pressure into information. That is how we keep trust high during IGP field desensitisation.

Reward Strategy and Arousal Control

Rewards should lift drive without tipping the dog over. We control arousal by:

• Using more food when the dog is hot, and more play when the dog is flat.
• Keeping reps short and success high.
• Marking only the exact picture we want to see on trial day.

When the dog can switch from stationing to a powerful heel and back to stationing within seconds, IGP field desensitisation is working.

Handler Routine for Consistent Ring Entry

Handlers win or lose points before the first cue. Rehearse this sequence until it is second nature.

• Arrive early, potty, and walk the perimeter on a loose lead.
• Crate or mat settle for 10 to 20 minutes. No social visits.
• Short warm up. One or two crisp focus reps, then park again.
• Walk to the gate with steady breathing. Heel the last few meters, then stop and let the dog sit and settle.
• Enter and take your mark with no rush. Begin only when the dog is truly with you.

IGP field desensitisation includes your routine. Dogs borrow calm from a calm handler.

Objective Markers for Readiness

We do not guess. We measure.

• Heart and breath rate come down within 30 seconds after a rep.
• Heeling looks the same near a jump as it does on open ground.
• The dog can ignore the helper when asked, and turns on only when cued.
• Articles are indicated cleanly with a soft hold even with people nearby.
• Gunshots do not change ear set, tail, or mouth.

When these markers are stable across fields, IGP field desensitisation has taken hold.

Common Errors That Cost Points

• Training the exercise but not the picture. The dog has never seen the full scene.
• Too much arousal before the start. Warm up becomes a workout.
• Paying at the wrong time. Reward arrives while the dog is scanning the field.
• Stacking stressors too fast. Noise, people, and helper pressure added on the same day.

Smart Dog Training removes these errors with a clean plan and honest feedback.

Six Week Field Desensitisation Protocol

Week 1 Neutral Grounding

• Short visits to the field. Walk, sit, and down near landmarks with food rewards.
• Stationing between micro reps. Finish before the dog heats up.
• One obedience picture per visit. For example heel past jumps then leave.

Week 2 Add Movement and People

• Judge walks by as you heel. Steward voice plays on a speaker.
• Passive dog teams at a distance. Pay only for focus.
• Introduce the helper standing still across the field.

Week 3 Build Proximity

• Work closer to jumps and dumbbells without sending.
• Heel past a passive helper, then station.
• First quiet gunshot at long distance paired with food, then walk.

Week 4 Dress Rehearsal Elements

• Run the full obedience pattern with light rewards between exercises.
• Protection warm picture at low volume. Helper movement at distance.
• Tracking start with judge present, one article in a quiet field.

Week 5 Honest Pressure

• Judge and steward at full proximity. No mid pattern food. Reward after the release.
• Helper pressure with stick noise as you heel away.
• Gunshots during heeling at a safe distance. Watch posture and recover.

Week 6 Trial Simulation

• One clean run, then park the dog. No extra reps.
• Film and score as a judge would. Note only two fix items to address.
• Light maintenance later in the week. Keep the dog fresh.

IGP field desensitisation works best when every week has one clear goal and no clutter.

Trial Week and Day of Strategy

Trial week

• Cut volume. Two short sessions that confirm pictures.
• Sleep, hydration, and quiet walks. No new pictures.
• Handle the dog with simple structure and praise.

Trial day

• Arrive early and do a short perimeter walk.
• Crate or mat settle for most of the wait.
• Warm up for two to three minutes. Finish on a clean success.
• Enter only when the dog is flat in the mind and ready to work.

IGP field desensitisation ensures the dog recognises this flow and stays calm from start to finish.

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.

Case Example How We Blend Motivation and Accountability

A young dog loves protection and floods when seeing the helper. IGP field desensitisation starts away from protection. We build heel focus with food near blinds. We station after each short rep. When the dog is calm, we heel past a passive helper, mark focus, then leave. We repeat until the helper is background. Only then do we add a low energy protection picture again. The dog learns that control unlocks the fun. This is the Smart Method at work.

Safety and Welfare at Every Step

Smart Dog Training protects the dog with fair training. We work within age and fitness limits. We condition surfaces, jumps, and the wall gradually. We pair new noise with distance and reward. IGP field desensitisation is never a flood. It is a measured climb that keeps the dog confident.

How Smart Trainers Personalise Your Plan

Every team is different. A certified SMDT assesses arousal pattern, reward history, and any gaps in clarity. We then write a plan for IGP field desensitisation that fits your team. Some dogs need more crowd work. Some need more helper neutrality. Some need more tracking starts. The Smart Method lets us dial the right lever at the right time.

FAQs on IGP Field Desensitisation

What is the main goal of IGP field desensitisation

To make the field picture neutral so the dog only keys off the handler and the cue. This produces calm, clean work and reliable scores.

How long does the pre trial process take

Most teams need 6 to 10 weeks. Your Smart Dog Training coach will tailor the plan based on your dog’s baseline and trial date.

Do I still use rewards during field proofing

Yes. We use rewards with intent. We pay after the release, not during scanning. As trial day nears we thin rewards but keep motivation high.

How do you handle gunshots in training

We start at a long distance and pair the sound with food or play. We close the distance only when the dog remains neutral. Safety and calm come first.

Can I do protection desensitisation without a helper

You can build neutrality to blinds, heeling, and stationing without a helper. For helper pressure and stick noise you should train with Smart Dog Training and a certified SMDT.

What if my dog gets over aroused when we enter the field

We return to the station or crate, let the dog settle, then re enter and try a smaller rep. We never stack stress. Clarity beats emotion.

How do you know the dog is ready to trial

Objective markers hold across fields. Heeling stays the same near equipment, gunshots change nothing, and the dog recovers within seconds after a rep.

Conclusion Your Next Steps

IGP field desensitisation turns the trial ground into a familiar place. With the Smart Method you get clear cues, fair guidance, and layered proofing that creates predictable performance. Whether your dog is new to IGP or moving up the levels, the right pre trial process will steady the mind and sharpen the work.

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