IGP Send Away Reward Placement

Why IGP Send Away Reward Placement Shapes Real Results

Few exercises showcase precision and power like the IGP send away. The way you place rewards controls speed, line, commitment, and the down at distance. When you get IGP send away reward placement right, your dog learns to drive straight with focus, hit the end with purpose, and drop clean on the cue. At Smart Dog Training, we use the Smart Method to make these outcomes predictable in training and reliable in trials. If you want coaching from a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer in your area, our team can guide you step by step.

This guide explains how IGP send away reward placement builds the picture from the ground up. You will learn why reward location changes behaviour, how to prevent common faults, and how to progress toward a confident, straight, and fast send with a crisp out and down. We will keep everything structured so you can apply it this week.

The Smart Method For A Powerful Send Away

Every result we create flows from the Smart Method. It blends clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust into one plan. That plan is what makes IGP send away reward placement work in real life, not only on flat training fields.

Clarity

Words and markers must mean one thing. Your send cue, your marker for the target, and your down cue are taught with clean timing. The dog never guesses. Clear markers tell the dog when a behaviour is complete and where the reward will arrive. Clarity makes IGP send away reward placement concrete, not vague.

Pressure and Release

Fair guidance is paired with a release into reward. We build accountability without conflict. If a dog cheats the line or slows, we reset with clear information, then release to success. That rhythm keeps the work calm and confident.

Motivation

Rewards are not bribes. They are earned. We place them to produce forward energy, straight lines, and a fast down. Good motivation makes IGP send away reward placement a lever for speed and focus rather than a lure.

Progression

We layer distance, duration, and distraction one step at a time. The dog first learns where the value is and how to get it, then we hide the reward, then we shift to variable pay. The order matters.

Trust

Trust grows when the dog understands the job and is paid fairly. The bond strengthens as the dog learns to take clear cues and deliver clean work anywhere.

Foundation First Orientation And Markers

Before we build the send, we create orientation to a target line and proof your marker system. Dogs learn to drive straight toward a visible target spot such as a mat or low platform that we set. We pair a terminal marker with food or a toy at the target. This foundation makes the rest of IGP send away reward placement simple to scale.

• One send cue for go
• One terminal marker for earning the target reward
• One down cue that is separate and proofed away from the send

We keep the field simple at first to remove noise. Clean fields create clean lines.

Building Value At The Target

A dog that loves the end point will power through the middle. That is why we begin by placing reward at the target. This phase is the engine of IGP send away reward placement.

Reward Placement On A Target Mat

Use a simple mat or small box as the target. Place food or a dead toy on it while the dog watches. Release the dog to drive to the mat, then let the dog self reward. Repeat many short reps. When the dog is racing in, remove the visible item and deliver the reward to the mat after the dog arrives. This keeps value fixed at the end point, not at your side.

Using A Remote Reward Device

Smart Dog Training also uses remote reward devices when needed. They let us fire a reward at the exact moment of arrival. This precise IGP send away reward placement creates a clear picture. The dog runs straight, hits the end point, and is paid at that spot. We avoid handler movement that could bend the line.

Why Handler Based Rewards Come Later

Paying from your hand too early pulls dogs off the line and teaches them to check back. That creates arcs and loss of commitment. In the early phases of IGP send away reward placement, keep the reward at the target or delivered at the target. Your presence should not be the main attraction yet. When the dog is committed to the end point and holds speed to the very last stride, we can start to reintroduce handler based rewards in a planned way.

From Visible To Hidden Rewards

We fade visible food or toys as soon as the target has value. First, reward appears on arrival. Next, reward appears after a second of stillness. Then we shift to the dog arriving on an empty spot and the reward comes from a device or from the handler tossed to the spot. This keeps IGP send away reward placement consistent. The dog believes the end is where payment lives, even when it is not seen.

IGP Send Away Reward Placement For Speed And Line

Speed with a straight line is the goal. Your reward placement should reflect that.

• Place rewards beyond the dog to keep head and eyes up and forward
• Deliver rewards low and centered on the line to reduce drift
• Toss through the dog after arrival to promote follow through and carry
• Pay quick arrivals more often than slow ones to shape the speed you want

If you see a dog slice toward a corner flag or drift to a helper area, shift the reward line slightly away from that draw until the dog learns to lock on straight.

Add Distance Then Add The Down

Distance comes before the down. We build the habit of running straight and hard first. When the dog has 90 percent straight arrivals, we begin to add the down cue near the end of the run. The reward still arrives at the target or just beyond the dog, never from the handler. This stage keeps IGP send away reward placement tied to the end point while the dog learns to drop clean without losing speed in the approach.

Handler Mechanics And Cue Delivery

Mechanics make or break the picture. Keep these rules tight:

• Stand tall and quiet, eyes on the line, not the dog
• Give the send cue once, then do nothing that could pull the dog off the line
• If you must step, step behind the line and stay square
• Deliver the down cue in a neutral tone that the dog knows well

Smart Dog Training teaches handlers to remove excess motion. Clean mechanics help IGP send away reward placement do the heavy lifting.

Troubleshooting With Reward Placement

Most faults can be solved by changing where and when you pay.

Dog Arcs Or Drifts

Shift the target line away from the draw and place reward on the true line. For a dog that drifts toward a gate, pay on the opposite side for a few sessions. This realigns the map. Keep the field simple while you fix it.

Dog Checks Back To The Handler

Remove handler based rewards. Pay only at the end point and make the reward powerful. Use a remote device if needed. When commitment returns, reintroduce handler rewards with care. This is classic IGP send away reward placement at work.

Dog Decelerates Before The End

Toss rewards through and beyond the arrival. Pay the fastest trials and ignore slow ones by calmly resetting. You get what you pay for. Build belief that the good stuff is ahead, not at your feet.

Dog Blows Past The Down

Move the down cue a step earlier, then deliver reward at the down spot. If the dog runs through, calmly reset and reduce distance. Keep IGP send away reward placement tight to the down location so the dog learns to drop with purpose.

Dog Fixates On Equipment

Fade the mat and device in steps. Reduce size, then distance, then visibility. Keep paying on the line where the equipment used to be. The dog stays committed to the spot, not the tool.

Proofing For Trial Fields

Trial fields add noise. Flags, helpers, scent, and wind can pull the line off center. Smart Dog Training proofing keeps IGP send away reward placement stable under stress.

• Change fields often once the line is straight at home
• Rotate wind and sun positions
• Place decoy distractions far away early, closer later
• Mix in empty fields with no visible marks

Only progress when your criteria are met three sessions in a row.

Common Mistakes That Kill Speed And Line

• Paying from your hand too soon creates checking
• Over talking while the dog runs bends the line
• Sending with a bent stance points the dog off line
• Adding the down before the dog loves the end point slows the approach
• Changing plans every session confuses the dog

A steady plan for IGP send away reward placement solves these issues before they start.

Criteria And Data That Keep You Honest

Progress without data is luck. Track these simple metrics each session:

• Arrival speed by stride length and rhythm
• Line quality using two markers on the ground to frame a corridor
• Down response time measured by count
• Number of clean reps in a row

When speed or line dip, return to easier distance and pay more at the end point. IGP send away reward placement is a dial. Turn it as needed to keep quality high.

A Simple Four Week Progression

Use this sample plan to guide your work. Adjust speed and distance to your dog.

• Week one value at the target. Visible food or dead toy on a mat. Five to eight short reps. Fade visibility by the end of the week.
• Week two empty target with remote or tossed reward delivered at arrival. Build distance to mid field while keeping a straight line corridor. Two sets of three to five reps.
• Week three add the down near the end point. Pay at the down spot or just beyond. Vary distance slightly and include one easy rep for confidence.
• Week four field changes and light distraction. Hide all equipment. Keep IGP send away reward placement at the end point. Start to mix in one handler delivered reward tossed past the dog after the drop.

Reset any time the dog loses speed or line. Do not chase distance at the cost of quality.

Blending The Out And Down With Control

The send away is not complete without a clean drop at distance. Teach the down separately before you blend it. When you join them, keep the dog in forward drive. Pay at the down spot more often than not. As reliability grows, begin to vary reinforcement. This way, IGP send away reward placement supports both speed and control.

When You Need Coaching From A Pro

Small changes in timing and reward location can produce big gains. A certified Smart Master Dog Trainer can watch your mechanics and adjust your plan on the spot. Our trainers are SMDTs who use one method, the Smart Method, in every session. 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.

Advanced Details For Consistent Scores

Once the basics are strong, small details protect points on trial day:

• Use a neutral pre send routine to avoid tells that change arousal
• Keep your eyes on the line, not the dog, to hold your body square
• Give the down cue with the same tone every time
• If wind pushes scent to one side, shift your corridor and reward placement to counter it

These refinements keep your dog straight and certain anywhere. IGP send away reward placement remains your main tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of IGP send away reward placement

The goal is to make the end point the strongest magnet, so the dog runs straight and fast, then drops clean on cue. Where you pay decides the picture the dog believes.

Should I pay from my hand or at the end point

Begin by paying at the end point. Use a target or remote device to place reward at arrival. When commitment is strong, you can add some handler delivered rewards tossed to the spot.

How do I stop my dog from checking back

Remove handler based rewards and pay only at the end. Increase value there until the dog stops checking. This is core IGP send away reward placement strategy.

When do I add the down cue

Add it after the dog drives straight with speed at mid distance. Keep paying at the down location to protect speed and clarity.

What if my dog slows near the end

Toss rewards through the dog after arrival and pay the fastest trials only. Build belief that the reward is ahead, not behind.

How often should I train the send away

Two to three short sessions per week work well. Keep reps low and quality high. End while your dog still wants more.

Can I use food or only toys

Use what your dog loves most. Many dogs fly for toys while others drive hard for food. Smart Dog Training uses the reward that best fits the dog.

What distance should I aim for in practice

Build distance in steps. Hold your criteria first. If speed or line drop, shorten the field and fix the picture before you go longer again.

Conclusion Build A Send Away That Wins

Reward location changes behaviour. When you lock your plan to the Smart Method and keep IGP send away reward placement tight to the end point, your dog learns to run like an arrow and drop like a stone. Progress comes from clear cues, fair guidance, strong motivation, and steady steps that add distance and pressure only when earned. If you want hands on help, our SMDTs coach you in the same structured way we use to prepare dogs for real world reliability and competition level clarity.

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