Choosing Your IGP Front Finish Style

Choosing Your IGP Front Finish Style

Your IGP front finish style sets the tone for your entire obedience routine. It shapes your ring picture, reduces risk, and can add or remove points on every recall and retrieve. At Smart Dog Training, we use the Smart Method to help you choose a style that fits your dog, your body, and the rulebook. With a Smart Master Dog Trainer guiding the process, you can build a front and finish that is clean, fast, and reliable in any trial.

What Judges Expect From Front and Finish

Judges want a straight, tight front with full attention, then a prompt finish to exact heel position. The dog should sit close without touching, align the chest square to the handler, and keep focus up. The finish should be quick, controlled, and accurate, ending in a true heel. Any bumping, crooked sits, slow movement, or extra cues will cost points. Your chosen IGP front finish style must make this picture easy to reproduce under pressure.

Common IGP Front Finish Style Options

Most handlers pick from a small set of styles. The key is not the label. The key is the picture you can deliver every time. Our system builds your choice step by step, and we keep it consistent across all fronts and finishes in the routine.

Centered Close Front

The dog drives to a tight sit in front, nose aligned with your belt buckle, shoulders square, and eyes up. The distance between the dog and your body is small but safe. This front sets you up for a fast finish because the dog is already close and engaged.

Flip Finish

From the front, the dog pivots left and flips the rear end into heel. It is fast and eye catching. It rewards a dog with strong rear end power and good spatial awareness. It can be risky if the dog is large, if the handler is short, or if the dog tends to crowd.

Around Finish

From the front, the dog goes around behind the handler and slides into heel on the left side. It is smooth and clear, often safer for big dogs or handlers who prefer less traffic near the knees. It can be slower if the dog drifts wide or loses focus behind you.

Micro Variations That Affect Picture

• Front distance, the gap must be narrow but not touching
• Head and eye position, eyes up without bouncing
• Footwork, clean starts and stops from the handler
• Entry line, straight path to front reduces crooked sits
• Finish angle, exact alignment in heel every time

How Style Influences Scores and Risk

Your IGP front finish style must balance risk and reward. A hard charging flip can look powerful, yet it risks bumping. An around finish is often safer, yet it risks loss of engagement if the dog drifts behind. The front must be clean and repeatable. A snug front can help focus, yet it risks touching if the dog surges. Smart Dog Training builds the picture so the dog knows the exact target and how to control speed into that target. That clarity keeps points on the board.

Handler and Dog Factors To Weigh

• Dog size and length, long backs and big chests may crowd in a flip
• Handler height and foot speed, shorter handlers may prefer the around finish
• Drive level, high drive dogs need a plan to manage speed into the front
• Ring nerves, simple patterns are easier to keep under pressure
• Surfaces, wet grass or slick floors change footwork and speed
• Retrieve weight, the dumbbell can alter front distance and posture

The Smart Method For Selecting Your IGP Front Finish Style

Smart Dog Training follows one system for every decision. We do not guess. We assess your dog, we set a clear target, we teach the target with motivation, and we add accountability and proofing. The Smart Method holds all five pillars through the process so your IGP front finish style is both powerful and reliable.

Clarity

We define the exact target for front and heel with clear markers. The dog learns where to stop, how to sit, and where to look. We remove grey areas so the dog does not guess. Clear targets prevent creeping, bumping, and forging.

Pressure and Release

We pair fair guidance with clear release and reward. When the dog misses the target, we guide to the right spot, release pressure, and pay. This teaches responsibility without conflict. The dog learns that precise position turns pressure off and earns reward.

Motivation

We build a dog that wants the front and finish. Rewards are timed to the exact position we want. This creates a positive picture. The dog chooses accuracy because accuracy pays. Motivation is the engine that keeps attitude high across the trial.

Progression

We add difficulty in layers. First in low distraction, then with movement, then with retrieves, then in full routines. We control distance, speed, and environment. Your IGP front finish style becomes proofed anywhere.

Trust

We strengthen the bond between dog and handler. The dog learns that you are clear and fair. Trust produces calm and focus when the judge says begin. This is how great ring pictures are built and kept.

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.

Building a Clean Front Picture Step by Step

• Targeting, teach a precise front target with a visual or tactile aid
• Approach line, shape straight entries before you add speed
• Distance control, start a little long so the dog can see the target
• Speed shaping, pay calm braking into the sit, not the collision
• Eye contact, capture eyes up only after the sit is straight
• Fade the aid, remove the target while keeping the same picture

This order prevents common faults. The dog learns to run hard, then brake, then sit straight, then lock eyes. The front becomes a habit, not a guess.

Proofing The Finish Under Trial Pressure

• Footwork rehearsal, set your heel stance and keep it the same every time
• Cue timing, give one cue and wait, do not stack commands
• Distraction layers, add noise, decoys in view, and judge proximity
• Surface changes, grass, turf, and slick ground in training
• Retrieve fatigue, finish clean after multiple high energy reps
• Handler nerves, rehearse with a countdown and time pressure

Your IGP front finish style must hold up when your adrenaline is high. We train you to breathe, plant, cue once, and let the system work. Smart Dog Training builds the dog and the handler together.

Managing Speed on Retrieves and Recalls

Speed creates energy and errors. We shape speed without losing control. On the recall and the retrieves, we let the dog run hard, then we reward the point where the dog decelerates into the sit. If the dog crashes the front, we withhold the mark and reset. If the dog slows too far out, we cue engagement and pay faster entries that finish with a soft brake. The result is a strong picture, not a collision. Your IGP front finish style stays intact even under high drive.

Minimising Faults From Spatial Pressure and Footwork

Spatial pressure from the handler can knock the dog off line. Feet that creep or shoulders that lean cause crooked fronts. We coach you to stand tall, keep your toes straight, and set a neutral chest. We map your footwork for flip and around finishes so the dog reads the same picture every time. Removing handler noise is a core reason our teams gain points fast.

Ring Strategy and Judge Preferences

Every ring has quirks. Some judges stand close. Some pause longer between cues. Smart Dog Training prepares you for both. Your IGP front finish style should suit a range of judge positions and ring sizes. We plan practice with a floating judge, a moving steward, and varied spacing. That preparation makes your picture sturdy, no matter who holds the clipboard.

Troubleshooting Common Errors

• Crowding and bumping, increase front distance, reward soft braking, and reinforce a still handler stance
• Crooked sits, rebuild the approach line with a front target and reward straight entries
• Slow finishes, build value for heel position, shorten the path, and pay speed into the last step
• Forging in heel at the end of the finish, add a rear end target for the last ten centimetres
• Double commands, reset and reward single cue compliance only
• Loss of focus after retrieves, hold focus before you take the dumbbell, then release to celebrate away from the handler body

Equipment and Targets That Help

We may use low profile front targets and heel targets to build exact positions. We phase them out as the dog shows responsibility. Dumbbell work is paired with position drills so the weight does not change the picture. All tools and methods are guided by Smart Dog Training and are used to create precise behaviour with clarity and motivation.

Training Plan Example Weeks One To Six

Week one, set front and heel targets, teach approach lines at slow speed, and reward straight sits. Week two, add moderate speed on recalls, shape braking, and build attention. Week three, add retrieves on the flat, keep the front target in place, and layer finishes with food. Week four, remove the front target for some reps, add the hurdle retrieve, and strengthen the finish choice that fits your IGP front finish style. Week five, full routine pieces with distractions and a moving judge, then proof single cue compliance. Week six, polish, reduce rewards, and run complete trial chains with planned jackpot moments.

When To Adjust Your IGP Front Finish Style

If consistent faults remain after clean reps and proofing, we reassess. A dog that keeps crowding on flips may move to an around finish. A dog that loses focus behind you may move to a flip. We make changes early in training, not late in trial season. Smart Dog Training measures outcomes every week so you keep a style that protects your score sheet.

Working With a Smart Master Dog Trainer

Style choices feel smaller than they are. In the ring, they decide points. A Smart Master Dog Trainer will assess your dog and your movement, then set your IGP front finish style with you. We coach your mechanics, reward timing, and pressure release. We do the boring reps that build a beautiful, reliable front and finish. That is why Smart teams perform with calm power on trial day.

FAQs

What is the best IGP front finish style for a large dog

Many large dogs do well with an around finish because it reduces crowding. That said, we assess each pair. If the dog has great rear end control and the handler stance is stable, a flip can score very well. Smart Dog Training sets the style that fits your team and protects points.

How close should my dog sit in the front

Close enough to show a tight picture without touching. We coach a narrow gap and a straight chest. The exact distance is set in training and kept the same in trials. Consistency is more important than a number.

Should I teach both flip and around finishes

We teach one finish for your trial picture to keep clarity high. Some teams learn both in the background, yet only one is used in trials. That keeps your dog clear on what earns reward.

How do I fix crooked fronts

Rebuild the approach line with a front target and reward straight entries. If the dog swings a hip, we adjust handler footwork and add a small spatial boundary until the sit is square. Precision first, then we add speed.

Will a heavy dumbbell change my front

It can. We train the same picture with and without the dumbbell, then proof on the flat and over obstacles. We reward the dog for holding the same distance and eye line under load. Your IGP front finish style must hold with every retrieve.

How do I avoid bumping on the flip finish

We slow the dog before the pivot, teach a tight rear end swing, and set still handler feet. We reward clean wraps into heel and we reset for any contact. With clear criteria, the dog learns to be fast and light.

Can a young dog start on a full speed front

We start with position, then add speed. Early speed without position training creates crooked sits and crowding. The Smart Method builds accuracy first, then energy.

Do I need a different IGP front finish style for each exercise

No. The style stays the same across recall and retrieves. One picture keeps the dog confident and consistent. We change only if data shows a chronic fault we cannot fix within the current style.

Conclusion

Your IGP front finish style should not be a trend or a guess. It should be a clear, trained decision that plays to your dog and to you. When you follow the Smart Method, you gain a front that is straight and calm, and a finish that is fast and exact. That combination builds trust and scores across your whole routine. If you want a style that holds up under bright lights and big crowds, work with experts who live this every day.

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