IGP Test Plan for New Dog Handler Pairs

IGP Test Plan for New Dog Handler Pairs

Starting IGP as a new dog handler team can feel like stepping onto a big stage. You want a clear map, fair structure, and results you can trust. This IGP test plan gives you that map. It follows the Smart Method from Smart Dog Training so you build reliable skills that hold up on test day. If you want expert guidance, a Smart Master Dog Trainer is ready to coach you through each step.

Your IGP test plan should be simple to follow and strong in execution. It must cover tracking, obedience, and protection in a balanced way. It also needs handler routines that make your performance steady under pressure. At Smart Dog Training we use clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust to shape every IGP test plan. This is how new dog handler pairs move from learning to passing.

Why Your IGP Test Plan Matters

IGP rewards correct behaviour, accuracy, and teamwork. A good plan ties all three phases into one journey. Without a plan, you risk gaps. With a plan, each week builds toward calm behaviour and confident skills. The goal is clean tracks, focused heelwork, and controlled protection with full grips and clear outs. The Smart Method makes this process structured and fair.

How the Smart Method Shapes Your IGP Test Plan

• Clarity. Commands, markers, and handling are precise so your dog always understands what to do.
• Pressure and Release. You guide with fairness, remove pressure when correct choices appear, and then reward. This builds accountability without conflict.
• Motivation. Food, toys, and praise create drive and desire to work. Your dog loves the job.
• Progression. Distraction, duration, and difficulty increase step by step. Your dog earns reliability in real life and under trial stress.
• Trust. Reps build a bond that shows on the field. Your dog works with you, not in spite of you.

Every IGP test plan we design follows these pillars. It keeps training honest, repeatable, and results focused.

Readiness Checks for New Dog Handler Pairs

Before you launch your IGP test plan, confirm readiness. A short pre check helps you avoid frustration and sets a clear timeline.

Dog Suitability

• Health and structure are sound for tracking, obedience, and protection.
• Food and toy motivation are strong enough to drive learning.
• Nerve strength and recovery are present. The dog can bounce back from pressure.
• Social stability is in place. The dog can work near people and dogs without meltdown.

Handler Readiness

• Time for five short sessions per week plus one skill review day.
• Basic leash handling and marker timing are clean.
• Ability to follow the plan and track data weekly.
• Willingness to ask for coaching from an SMDT when needed.

Your 12 Week IGP Test Plan Overview

This outline gives new dog handler pairs a clear start. You can run it twice for a deeper base or push onward when criteria are met. Your SMDT may extend any step to keep clarity and confidence high.

Weeks 1 to 2 Foundation and Engagement

• Tracking. Scent pad introduction. Straight tracks of 10 to 15 steps with every footstep rewarded. Early article awareness with food at the article.
• Obedience. Name response, focus games, position feeding for sit, down, stand. Short heeling lines with high rates of reward.
• Protection. Prey games with a tug. Clean strikes, calm grips, and quiet carrying. No conflict. Teach out with trade.

Weeks 3 to 4 Building Criteria

• Tracking. 30 to 60 step tracks, food in every second step, one simple corner. Start a chin on article indication.
• Obedience. Heeling with turns, sits in motion, downs from heel, recalls to front. Introduce dumbbell hold.
• Protection. Bark and hold foundation with focus on rhythm and calm. Build out cue from play to helper work.

Weeks 5 to 6 Proofing Basics

• Tracking. Two corners on mixed grass. Food in every third step. Two articles with full indication.
• Obedience. Heeling patterns with figures, retrieves on flat light weight, send away target games.
• Protection. Drive channeling from prey to control. First guard to transport, clean out, and re engagement.

Weeks 7 to 8 Increasing Difficulty

• Tracking. Longer tracks up to 200 to 300 steps, three corners, two articles. Longer aging to ten to fifteen minutes.
• Obedience. Retrieve over low jump, longer down under distraction, stronger fronts and finishes.
• Protection. Full guard pictures, clear outs under rising pressure, calm grips with firmness.

Weeks 9 to 10 Trial Pictures

• Tracking. Trial length tracks matched to level. Sparse food, articles clean, consistent pace.
• Obedience. Full routines with limited rewards. Handler footwork polished.
• Protection. Sequence work. Entry, escape, drive, transports, and long bite pictures.

Weeks 11 to 12 Rehearsal and Recovery

• Tracking. One to two full tracks per week at trial time of day.
• Obedience. Two to three full run throughs with proofing and one easy maintenance day.
• Protection. One full sequence and one focused skill day. Keep the dog fresh and happy.

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Tracking Phase Inside Your IGP Test Plan

Tracking rewards precision and patience. Your IGP test plan should set a calm pattern the dog can trust. Low arousal and high clarity is the goal.

Foundation Steps

• Scent Pad. Feed each nose push on the pad. Build a deep, slow rhythm.
• Footstep Feeding. Step by step reward to lock in footstep tracking.
• Head Position. Reinforce a low, straight nose line. Mark and reward correct posture.

Article Indication

• Introduce articles early with food at the article.
• Shape a clear down with chin on the article. Reward stillness.
• Build duration, then add distance before the article.

Progression and Proofing

• Corners. One corner at a time. Guide with line pressure and release the moment the dog finds the line.
• Aging. Increase by a few minutes each week when criteria hold.
• Surfaces. Grass first, then light cover, then mixed terrain.

Handler Skills in Tracking

• Line Handling. Keep tone even and slack when correct, guide only when needed.
• Pace. Match the dog. Do not rush. Calm pace builds deep nose behaviour.
• Start Ritual. Use the same start every time so the dog knows work has begun.

In every step of this IGP test plan, use the Smart Method. Clarity in cues, pressure and release in the line, and steady rewards keep the track clean and confident.

Obedience Phase Inside Your IGP Test Plan

Obedience is where precision meets attitude. Your IGP test plan should make focus natural and effort joyful.

Engagement Before Heeling

• Name and eye contact are paid well.
• Short movement with quick rewards builds a happy heel.
• Position feeding creates clean sits, downs, and stands.

Heeling and Positions

• Start with straight lines, then add turns and figures.
• Mark correct focal point. Reward rear end alignment.
• Polish sits in motion and downs in motion with slow, clear handler steps.

Retrieves and Send Away

• Hold. Reward calm, full mouth hold before any movement.
• Flat Retrieve. Add distance only after hold is solid.
• Jump and A Frame. Start low and fair. Build confidence first.
• Send Away. Use a clear target so speed stays high and down at distance remains clean.

Proofing for Trial

• Run full patterns with few rewards once the dog is ready.
• Use a warm up plan so the dog enters the field in the right state.
• Mix easy wins between hard sessions to keep attitude bright.

At Smart Dog Training we run obedience inside a structured IGP test plan. We move from engagement to precision, then from precision to pressure and release with fair clarity, and back to motivation. This loop keeps performance sharp without stress.

Protection Phase Inside Your IGP Test Plan

Protection demands control, grip quality, and steady nerves. Your IGP test plan must grow these skills without conflict. Work with a skilled helper under SMDT guidance to keep pictures correct.

Drive and Grip

• Start with prey games that reward deep, calm grips and quiet carrying.
• Teach out with clarity. Reward the decision to let go. Re engage after the out so the dog learns that control brings more work.
• Build pressure tolerance slowly with clear release when the dog makes the right choice.

Bark and Hold

• Teach a rhythmic bark at the helper with strong focus. Reward intensity with a bite at the right moment.
• Keep the picture steady. No handler chatter. The dog learns that stillness and focus bring success.

Transports and Long Bite

• Teach close, confident transports with the dog in control and handler calm.
• Set the long bite with a clean send, straight line, full grip, and powerful drive.
• Practice outs under rising excitement, then reward with re bite when appropriate.

The Smart Method gives your IGP test plan a fair balance of motivation and accountability. This keeps the dog willing and the handler in charge.

Handler Routine and Ring Craft

Even strong dogs lose points if the handler is unclear. Your IGP test plan should add ring craft from week one.

• Footwork. Count steps and rehearse turns until they are automatic.
• Markers. Keep your words short and timing sharp. Reward the exact behaviours you want to see on test day.
• Warm Up. Build a five minute plan that sets the correct arousal level.
• Recovery. After a hard rep, give calm praise and a short break so the next rep starts fresh.

Equipment Checklist for Your IGP Test Plan

• Tracking line and harness, articles, food pouch.
• Flat collar, training leash, long line for field work.
• Dumbbells for retrieves that match level and dog size.
• Tug and bite pillow for play and grip development.
• Markers and a clear reward system that match your dog.

Measuring Progress and Setting Criteria

Data keeps your IGP test plan honest. Track simple metrics each week.

• Tracking. Steps completed, corners successful, aging time, article accuracy.
• Obedience. Heeling duration, position accuracy, retrieve success, send away response.
• Protection. Grip quality, out compliance, bark rhythm, transport control.

Advance only when the dog meets criteria three sessions in a row. If performance drops, reduce difficulty, restore clarity, then build again. This is progression without guesswork.

Common Mistakes in a First IGP Test Plan

• Rushing. You add distance or pressure before the dog is ready.
• Mixed cues. The handler changes markers or body language day to day.
• No recovery days. The dog loses attitude and focus.
• Over handling. Too much talk or leash input hides errors instead of fixing them.
• Skipping ring craft. Great skills fall apart under trial rules if routines are not trained.

IGP Test Plan Template You Can Use

Use this simple weekly flow. Adjust volumes to suit your dog and your level.

• Day 1. Tracking focus day. One long track and a short article drill.
• Day 2. Obedience skills. Heeling pattern, positions in motion, short retrieve reps.
• Day 3. Protection skills. Bark and hold picture, out and re engagement.
• Day 4. Recovery and play. Light engagement and mobility.
• Day 5. Mixed session. Short track, obedience flow, one protection element.
• Day 6. Trial rehearsal. Run a clean sequence for one phase.
• Day 7. Rest or fun field trip. Keep the dog fresh.

This template keeps your IGP test plan balanced. It spreads load across phases and protects motivation.

At Home Habits That Support Your IGP Test Plan

• Daily structure. Short obedience games at meal times.
• Calm state training. Place work and door manners keep arousal in check.
• Fitness. Simple conditioning and safe play build strength.
• Chew and settle time. Nervous energy fades when the dog can relax.

When to Enter Your First Trial

New dog handler pairs should enter when the following criteria are met.

• Tracking. Dog completes trial length tracks at trial time with clean articles.
• Obedience. Full routine is stable with few rewards and steady attitude.
• Protection. Outs are clean and reliable under pressure. Dog shows full, calm grips.
• Handler. Footwork and ring entries are smooth. You can recover from a small error without panic.

If you are unsure, have an SMDT watch a full run through. Your coach will confirm that your IGP test plan is on track or will adjust the final weeks.

Smart University and Ongoing Coaching

Smart Dog Training backs new dog handler pairs with coaching, education, and a clear plan. Through Smart University we certify each Smart Master Dog Trainer so the guidance you get is consistent and proven. Your IGP test plan is mapped, your progress is tracked, and your mentorship continues as you advance through levels.

Test Day Routines Inside Your IGP Test Plan

• Pre Warm Up. Keep it short. Do a clean rep of focus, a simple heel, and one position. Save the dog for the field.
• Handler Notes. Review footwork and markers. Picture each exercise before it starts.
• Breaks. Between phases, give calm support and water. No new training. Keep the dog confident and rested.
• Mindset. Trust your work. Your IGP test plan has built this moment. Execute the routine you have trained.

FAQs About Building an IGP Test Plan

What is an IGP test plan and why do I need one?

An IGP test plan is a step by step map for tracking, obedience, and protection. It gives structure so your training builds clean skills that hold up under trial pressure.

How long should a first IGP test plan take?

Most new dog handler pairs need at least twelve weeks to build basics, then another block to polish. Your SMDT may extend steps to protect clarity and confidence.

Can a young dog follow an IGP test plan?

Yes, if the plan is age appropriate. Focus on engagement, short sessions, and correct pictures. Increase difficulty only when the dog meets criteria for three sessions in a row.

How do I fix a broken out in protection inside my IGP test plan?

Go back to clarity. Mark and reward the decision to let go. Use pressure and release fairly. Re engage after a correct out so the dog learns that control brings the bite again.

What should I track to measure progress?

Track steps completed in tracking, article success, heeling duration, retrieve outcomes, and protection outs. Update your IGP test plan each week based on these notes.

How do I keep my dog motivated across all three phases?

Rotate rewards that your dog values, celebrate small wins, and use recovery days. The Smart Method balances motivation and structure so drive stays high and behaviour stays clean.

When should I add full trial run throughs?

When skills are stable in parts. Start with one phase per week, then build to two, then full routine. Keep at least one easy session after each full run to protect attitude.

Conclusion

Your IGP test plan should be clear, fair, and focused on outcomes. It must guide new dog handler pairs from foundation to full routine while protecting attitude and trust. The Smart Method keeps training structured and progressive so your dog understands, tries hard, and performs with confidence. If you want expert coaching, connect with a certified SMDT and move forward with a plan you can trust.

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