Perfecting Fronts and Finishes

Perfecting Fronts and Finishes That Score in Real Life

Perfecting fronts and finishes is the difference between average and excellent obedience. At Smart Dog Training, we use the Smart Method to make these positions precise, fast, and reliable anywhere. Whether you compete in IGP or want clean daily behaviour, perfecting fronts and finishes gives you a repeatable picture the dog understands. If you want expert guidance, you can work with a Smart Master Dog Trainer (SMDT) to build this skill with structure and confidence.

Why Fronts and Finishes Matter

Front and finish positions are not cosmetic. They create a clean end point for recalls, retrieves, and heeling. When you focus on perfecting fronts and finishes, you get straight lines, square sits, and a calm dog that understands how to land in the right place without fuss. That means higher points in trial and stronger everyday obedience, because the dog has a clear target and clear criteria.

The Smart Method Applied

The Smart Method makes perfecting fronts and finishes simple and fair. We use five pillars. Clarity gives the dog exact targets and markers. Pressure and release give guidance that is fair, followed by a quick release and reward. Motivation builds speed and attitude, so the dog wants to work. Progression layers difficulty step by step. Trust strengthens the bond. Every front and finish we teach follows this structure, which is why Smart Dog Training is the UK authority on precise obedience that holds up in real life.

Foundation Skills You Need First

Before perfecting fronts and finishes, build the base. Without foundation, the dog will guess, drift, or slow down as the picture becomes harder. Smart builds foundations fast, then adds detail with purpose.

Engagement and Marker Clarity

• Engagement: The dog should choose you and remain focused for short, energetic sessions.
• Markers: Teach a clear reward marker such as yes, a placement marker such as get it for food thrown, and a release marker such as free. This clarity supports perfecting fronts and finishes later.
• End of behaviour: Teach a soft good marker for maintained position so the dog knows to hold the sit in front and not creep.

Body Awareness and Position

• Rear end control: Use small pivots around a platform to build awareness. This prepares the left and right finishes.
• Targeting: Teach the dog to aim for your centre line. A small nose target to a belly button target or a visible front plate is ideal in early stages.
• Neutral hands: Hands stay calm and still until you mark. This reduces crabbing and keeps fronts straight.

Building a Rock Solid Front

Perfecting fronts and finishes starts with a consistent front picture. The dog should come in straight, sit square, and keep focus. Here is how we build it using Smart structure.

Targeting to Centre Line

1. Set the picture: Stand tall with feet hip width. Hold a small food magnet centered on your waist, then fade it to a hidden reward pouch.
2. Add a front plate: Use a small, flat plate on the ground between your feet. Cue front and let the dog target the plate, then sit. Mark yes when the chest aligns with your centre.
3. Fade the plate: Reduce size or remove it as the dog shows consistent aim. Keep repetitions short and highly reinforced to keep speed while perfecting fronts and finishes.

Reward placement matters. Feed from the centre of your body, slightly under your chin or at your belly line. Avoid feeding from the side, which pulls the head and creates crooked fronts.

Sit in Front With Neutral Hands

1. Approach: Call the dog in on the front cue. As the dog arrives, lift your posture and still your hands. Your body forms the target.
2. Mark and pay: Mark the instant the dog aligns. Feed low and central to promote a square sit.
3. Add duration: Use good to hold the sit for one or two seconds before you release. Perfecting fronts and finishes needs both accuracy and calm control.

As you add duration, lightly touch the collar or chest between reps to reset without pulling the dog off balance. If the dog sits crooked, step forward and reset. Do not reward the wrong picture. Clarity comes from clean criteria, not correction.

Teaching Clean, Fast Finishes

Finishes should be quick, tight, and calm in the pocket. We split finishes into left and right. Both are taught with clear targets and smart reward placement so the dog learns to land without pushing or wrapping.

The Left Finish

1. Rear end control: Begin with a small platform under the front feet. Lure the rear end around your left leg in a tight arc. Mark and feed where the head should land just off your left thigh.
2. Footwork: Keep your left foot still and step back slightly with your right to open the pocket. Fade these steps as the dog learns the path.
3. Close the pocket: Reduce the lure to a hand target, then fade to a verbal finish cue. Reward behind your left heel to keep the dog tight without creeping ahead.

Use short sets of two to three reps. The goal is a fast, accurate finish that ends in calm focus. Perfecting fronts and finishes means you balance speed and control in every rep.

The Right Finish

1. Pathway: From front, lure the dog around your right side and into heel. Keep the circle balanced, not flat. Avoid big swings that teach wide lines.
2. Markers and reward: Mark when the hindquarters land straight. Feed at your left seam so the dog settles in heel, not ahead.
3. Fade prompts: Shift from lure to a small hand cue, then to a clean verbal. If the dog wraps or forges, reward slightly behind your seam for a few sessions.

Right finishes are powerful for dogs that crowd the left side. They build balance and clarity when perfecting fronts and finishes, because the dog must travel a full arc, then settle.

Proofing for Real Life and Trial

Proofing is where the Smart Method shines. We add difficulty in a way that keeps confidence high. Perfecting fronts and finishes is not complete until they hold up in new places with new distractions.

Distance, Distraction, Duration

• Distance: Add longer recalls to front, then add finishes. Begin at five metres, then ten, then fifteen. Keep the picture the same, just expand the space.
• Distraction: Train in different rooms, gardens, and parks. Add simple items on the ground. The front and finish should ignore them. If quality dips, lower difficulty and restore clarity.
• Duration: Hold the front sit for two to five seconds before finishing. Hold heel after the finish for a few steps. Perfecting fronts and finishes means the dog can stay composed while criteria stack.

Integrate real tasks. Add retrieves to front. Add an off leash recall to front. Add a heel pattern that ends with a finish. Each exercise should reinforce the same clean pictures you built at home.

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.

Troubleshooting Fronts and Finishes

Even with a clear plan, small issues can appear. Smart trainers fix them with simple adjustments so perfecting fronts and finishes stays fun and productive.

Crooked fronts
Cause: Side feeding, uneven shoulders, or a missing target. Fix: Return to a centre food lure or a small front plate for a few sessions. Feed from the middle. Keep hands still until you mark.

Wide fronts
Cause: Dog is aiming left or right before the sit. Fix: Narrow your stance and add a visible target between your feet. Mark earlier as the chest aligns, then ask for the sit.

Bumping or crowding
Cause: Too much speed without a stop picture. Fix: Use a low central reward and a soft step back as the dog arrives to create a clear boundary. Mark as the dog hits alignment, then pay.

Slow finishes
Cause: Low motivation or unclear path. Fix: Run two or three fast reps with a jackpot after the finish. Reward behind your left seam to lock position without forging.

Wrapping finishes
Cause: Dog seeks contact and curls around the leg. Fix: Reward slightly back from your heel line. Use a light touch on a placeboard to keep the hindquarters straight, then fade it.

Lagging finishes
Cause: The pocket feels tight or unclear. Fix: Open the pocket with a small right step, then fade it. Build speed with short, high value sets.

These fixes keep perfecting fronts and finishes on track. They are simple, fair, and consistent with the Smart Method.

Distance, Distraction, Duration

When issues appear at distance or in busy places, reduce two variables and challenge one. For example, keep duration and distance easy while you add a mild distraction. Mark success, then build back up. Perfecting fronts and finishes is a progression, not a single leap.

FAQs

How long does perfecting fronts and finishes usually take
Most teams see clean pictures in two to four weeks with daily short sessions. Full proofing for trial or busy public spaces can take eight to twelve weeks.

Should I teach the front or the finish first
Start with a straight front. It creates the most reliable reference picture, which makes both left and right finishes easier to teach.

What cues should I use
Use simple, distinct words such as front for the front position and finish for the return to heel. Keep your tone consistent. The Smart Method pairs each cue with clear markers.

How do I keep speed without losing accuracy
Pay often for the exact picture you want. Use short sets, then break. Reward placement controls lines. This is the heart of perfecting fronts and finishes at Smart Dog Training.

Can I fix a dog that has learned sloppy finishes
Yes. Rebuild with targets, clean reward placement, and fair pressure and release. Most dogs improve quickly once criteria become clear and consistent.

When should I involve a pro
If you feel stuck for more than a week, or your dog shows stress or confusion, work with a Smart Master Dog Trainer (SMDT). A short coaching block can transform your results.

Conclusion

Perfecting fronts and finishes is a cornerstone of reliable obedience. With the Smart Method, you get clear targets, fair guidance, and step by step progression that builds speed and accuracy together. Start with engagement, teach a straight front, add well mapped left and right finishes, then proof for distance, distraction, and duration. Fix small issues early and protect enthusiasm in every session. If you want a custom plan that reflects your dog and your goals, we can help.

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