IGP Finish Correction in Motion

IGP Finish Correction in Motion

Finishing clean while you are moving is one of the hardest pieces in IGP obedience. IGP finish correction in motion asks for precision at speed with attitude and control. At Smart Dog Training we use the Smart Method to build this skill so the dog understands criteria, stays motivated, and delivers the same result every time. If you want help from a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer, you can work directly with our team across the UK.

Why The Moving Finish Matters

Judges want a straight, tight heel entry with fast engagement and no extra steps. Faults here cost points and break the flow of your routine. A clean moving finish keeps rhythm, protects your heeling picture, and shows a clear partnership. For working teams it also builds control in real life when you need a quick return to heel while you keep moving.

The Smart Method For Reliable Results

Our system is structured, progressive, and designed for real life reliability. Every IGP finish correction in motion follows these pillars.

• Clarity. Commands and markers are precise. The dog always knows how to win.
• Pressure and Release. Fair guidance with clear relief creates accountability without conflict.
• Motivation. Rewards build drive and focus so the dog wants to work.
• Progression. We add distraction, duration, and difficulty step by step.
• Trust. Calm, confident work that strengthens the bond.

Each Smart Master Dog Trainer is mentored to use these pillars in the same way, so you get consistent coaching and results.

IGP Finish Correction in Motion Explained

The moving finish is a return to heel while the handler is in motion. It may follow a front position or a call to heel from free position. You may ask for a swing finish from the front, or an around finish from the right side. In all cases the dog must land straight, with shoulder even to your knee, hip tucked, and head up without wrapping or crabbing.

Set Your Criteria

Before we correct anything, we define correct. For IGP finish correction in motion at Smart, we want:

• Immediate response to the finish cue
• Fast path with efficient footwork
• Straight sit or stand in the heel pocket
• Shoulder at the seam of your trousers
• Hind end underneath with no wide hip
• Head up and focused, no mouthing or vocalising
• No extra handler steps, no hand luring, no double cue

Common Faults And What They Mean

Most errors come from unclear pictures or mismatched reward placement.

• Forging. The dog drives past your knee. Often caused by front reward or too much forward pressure.
• Lagging. The dog stalls behind the leg. Often caused by handler speed or too much handler focus on the dog.
• Crabbing. Rear end swings out. Often caused by side reward or dogs avoiding pressure from leg or lead.
• Wrapping. Dog curls around the leg. Often caused by lure history tight to the thigh.
• Wide. Dog finishes at a distance. Often caused by reward thrown out or avoidance from unclear pressure.
• Slow finish. Dog lacks commitment. Often caused by low value or unclear release points.

Tools, Markers, And Reward Placement

Smart Dog Training uses clear markers and fair equipment to build understanding. For IGP finish correction in motion we prefer:

• Markers. Yes to release into reward, Good for sustained work, Nope for an error that resets the rep.
• Rewards. Food for patterning and position. Toy for speed and intensity. Place the reward in the heel pocket to shape straight entries.
• Lines and collars. A light line or training collar can give information, then release at the exact moment the dog makes the right choice.

Reward placement is key. To fix crabbing or wide finishes, feed or tug with your hand at the heel pocket. To fix forging, reward slightly behind the seam of your trousers.

Foundation Reset For Clean Pictures

We rebuild the picture before we speed it up. This reset turns IGP finish correction in motion into simple, repeatable wins.

• Stationary alignment. Use a target board or line on the ground. Dog learns to plant the hip under and hold heel while you stand still.
• Micro pivots. Step your left foot a few centimetres and feed for hip tuck and straightness.
• Head position. Feed from your left hand at the seam so the head stays up without curling around your leg.

Drills To Build The Finish Path

Build the path before you add your motion.

• Swing path from front. From a straight front, lure or guide the dog to pivot left into heel with hind end engagement. Mark when the hip lands under, then pay in the pocket.
• Around path from right. From a stand on your right, guide behind you to heel with tight inside turn. Mark when the shoulder hits your knee, then pay in the pocket.
• Fade the help. Move your hand away one step at a time. Keep the reward coming from the pocket, not from the front.

Add The Handler Motion

Now we make it an IGP finish correction in motion. Your footwork must be exact. Small errors from you create big errors in the dog.

• Walk at a steady pace. Do not slow down as the dog arrives.
• Give the cue once. Keep your shoulders square and eyes forward.
• Mark the moment of correct position. Reward at the pocket without breaking stride if the dog can handle it.

Step Off And Collect Drill

Start from a short front. Step forward on your left foot and give the finish cue as you move. The dog must collect and land in heel as you continue walking. Mark when the shoulder meets your knee.

Figure Eight Entry

Set two cones. Walk a figure eight with a finish cue as you come past the inside of a cone. This builds entries from different angles and keeps the dog honest to your leg line.

Pressure And Release Done Right

Fair guidance is part of the Smart Method. We pair light pressure with clear relief and reward. This builds responsibility without conflict.

• Lead information. A tiny touch on the line as the dog begins the wrong path. Remove pressure the instant the dog chooses the correct line.
• Body lines. Use your left thigh as a guide. Do not push the dog off with your knee. That creates crabbing.
• Reset cleanly. If the dog misses, say Nope, break off, and set again. Do not argue in position.

Progression And Proofing Plan

IGP finish correction in motion becomes reliable when we layer challenge. We progress with the three Ds.

• Distraction. Add sights and sounds after the dog owns the picture.
• Duration. Ask for longer walking after the finish before the reward.
• Difficulty. Change angles, speed, and surfaces. Keep criteria the same.

Use short sets of three to five reps. End on a clean success. Build drive with a toy after a strong set so the dog finishes fast on the next session.

Troubleshooting Specific Issues

Forging On Entry

Cause. Reward history in front or too much handler lean forward.

Fix. Feed behind the seam of your trousers for ten to fifteen reps. Keep shoulders over hips. If the dog pushes past, step forward one small step and mark only when the shoulder meets your knee again.

Lagging Or Sticky Footwork

Cause. Confusion or handler speed spike.

Fix. Shorten the approach. Give the cue earlier. Use a toy reward at the pocket for speed. Keep your pace steady. Mark faster attempts with a jackpot.

Crabbing Or Wide Hips

Cause. Avoidance of leg pressure or reward delivered from outside the pocket.

Fix. Feed at the pocket with your left hand tucked tight. Use a wall on your left for a few reps to build a straight corridor. Remove the wall once the dog shows a straight line by choice.

Wrapping Around The Leg

Cause. Strong lure history tight to the thigh or handler turns body toward the dog.

Fix. Face forward. Keep hands neutral. Reward only when the dog lands straight without curling. If needed, place a low platform under the hind feet to cue hip tuck.

Slow Or Sticky Finishes

Cause. Low value or unclear release.

Fix. Switch to a tug at the pocket, two or three wins, then back to food for precision. Use a clear Yes to release and then play. Keep reps short to protect attitude.

Vocalising Or Bumping

Cause. Over arousal and handler tension.

Fix. Insert a breath cue before the finish. Use a calm Good while the dog collects. Pay stillness and clean landings. Build speed later.

Integrate With Recall And Retrieves

Once the dog owns the picture, link it to other exercises.

• Recall to moving finish. Call to front, then step off and cue the finish as you move. Pay at the pocket.
• Dumbbell retrieve return. As the dog returns, step forward and cue the finish once the dog passes your knee. Keep the picture clean by preventing wrap.
• Send away return. From the down, call to heel while you are already moving. Reward calm, straight landings.

Handler Mechanics That Help

Dogs read your body more than your words. For strong IGP finish correction in motion, keep these habits:

• Eyes forward. Do not stare at the dog.
• Square shoulders. Do not twist to help.
• Even pace. No slowing on the cue or on the reward.
• Quiet hands. Deliver the reward from the pocket position without fishing around.

Maintaining Attitude And Style

We want clean and full of drive. That balance is the Smart hallmark.

• Alternate precision and power. Two food reps for position, one toy rep for speed.
• End sets early. Stop after the best rep.
• Protect the picture. If the dog misses, reset and make the next rep easier so you can win.

Sample Two Week Progression

Use this Smart plan to rebuild confidence and precision.

• Days 1 to 3. Stationary alignment and micro pivots. Ten short reps per day. Reward at the pocket.
• Days 4 to 6. Build swing and around paths from front and right positions. Fade the help. Short walks after the landing.
• Days 7 to 9. Add handler motion with step off and collect drill. Introduce figure eight entries.
• Days 10 to 12. Proof on new surfaces, add light distraction. Mix toy reps for speed.
• Days 13 to 14. Link to recall and retrieves. One full chain per day after warm up. Protect attitude.

Across this plan, repeat the primary picture often. The more the dog wins the same picture, the more reliable your IGP finish correction in motion becomes.

When To Get Expert Support

If you see repeating faults or your scores are stuck, work with a Smart Master Dog Trainer. A second set of eyes will spot tiny handler habits that bleed points. With Smart Dog Training you get a progressive plan, fair guidance, and results you can count on.

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 fastest way to improve my IGP finish correction in motion?

Reset the picture. Reward at the heel pocket, mark the landing, and walk on. Use short sets and end on the best rep. Small wins add up faster than long sessions.

Should I train both swing and around finishes?

Yes. Many teams benefit from both paths. We teach both at Smart so your dog can adapt to the angle you need on the field without losing straightness.

How do I keep finish speed without losing accuracy?

Alternate food reps for precision with toy reps for speed. Pay the first clean landing with a big game. If accuracy drops, go back to food and the pocket picture.

Can I fix forging without losing attitude?

Yes. Place rewards slightly behind the seam of your trousers for a short period. Keep energy high with a quick release and play after correct landings.

What marker words should I use?

We use Yes to release into reward, Good for sustained work, and Nope for an error. Keep each marker clear and consistent so the dog always knows what will happen.

How do I stop crabbing at trials?

In training, use a wall for a few reps to rebuild straight lines, then fade the wall. At trials, keep your shoulders square and deliver the reward from the pocket in training so the picture carries over.

When should I ask for help from a trainer?

If you see the same error three sessions in a row, or your dog loses attitude, book help. A Smart Master Dog Trainer will adjust your plan and fix handler mechanics fast.

Conclusion

IGP finish correction in motion is a showcase of clarity, control, and teamwork. With the Smart Method you teach a clear picture, build speed through motivation, and hold standards with fair pressure and release. Start with alignment, build the path, add motion, then proof with purpose. The result is a dog that lands clean in heel anywhere and loves to do it.

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