Problem Solving Slow Send Away

Problem Solving Slow Send Away

Problem solving slow send away is about turning hesitation into speed and conviction. At Smart Dog Training we use the Smart Method to build clarity, drive, and accountability so your dog powers to the target every time. If you want a fast, straight send with real world reliability, our system delivers. Working with a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer gives you a mapped plan and measurable progress from the first session.

Many handlers try to fix slow work by just pushing distance or adding more excitement. That often makes it worse. Problem solving slow send away starts with the picture the dog understands. We build a clear target, mark correct choices, and then layer pressure and release so the dog takes responsibility for speed without conflict. The result is a consistent sprint that holds up anywhere you train.

This guide shows you exactly how Smart Dog Training assesses and rebuilds speed. You will learn how to diagnose the true cause of slow work, how to use reward placement to drive a straight line, and how to progress from short indoor reps to full field trials. A Smart Master Dog Trainer can coach you through every step, but you can begin today with the plan below.

Why Send Away Speed Matters

Fast send away work is not only about points in IGP. It is a sign of clean understanding, strong motivation, and a dog that enjoys responsibility. Speed tells you the picture is clear. If speed drops, your dog is unsure, unmotivated, or worried about pressure. Problem solving slow send away is how we rebuild confidence and commitment so speed returns.

Defining the Slow Send Away Problem

Before we fix it, we define it. Slow can mean a jog instead of a sprint, a fade after the first 20 meters, or hesitation at the cue. Slow can also show as drifting off line, looking back to the handler, or stopping short of the target. Problem solving slow send away begins by naming the exact behavior you see so we can target the cause.

The Smart Method Framework

Smart Dog Training solves every issue using one system. The Smart Method balances five pillars that create reliable performance.

• Clarity. We give precise cues and markers so your dog knows what to do and when it is right.
• Pressure and Release. We guide fairly, then release pressure the moment the dog commits. This builds responsibility without conflict.
• Motivation. We use food, toys, and play to create a strong desire to sprint to the target.
• Progression. We add distance, duration, and distraction step by step until speed holds anywhere.
• Trust. We protect the relationship so your dog works with confidence and drive.

Problem solving slow send away uses all five pillars. First we clean up the picture, then we grow speed, and finally we proof the behavior so it lasts.

Common Causes of a Slow Send Away

Unclear Target Picture

If the dog does not know exactly where to go, speed drops. Many dogs see the field as a big space with no obvious finish. We solve this by teaching a strong target with clear edges. The dog learns to drive to a defined spot, not a vague area.

Weak Motivation History

If the best rewards happen at the handler, the dog will check in. If rewards arrive late or far away from the target, the sprint loses value. We rebuild the history so the best party lives out at the finish. That is the heart of problem solving slow send away.

Conflicted Pressure

Corrections that come during the send create worry. Worry reduces speed. With Smart Dog Training, pressure is fair and it releases the moment the dog commits forward. That release itself becomes rewarding, so the dog wants to drive ahead.

Poor Reward Placement

Paying at the handler or paying while the dog is turning back drains speed. We pay at the target and sometimes beyond it to build a longer line of intent. This one change often solves half the problem.

Inconsistent Cues

Changing body posture, late verbal cues, or mixed signals erode speed. We fix this with clean mechanics so the cue is always the same picture for the dog.

Fatigue or Over Training

Too many long reps burn out speed. We use short, high quality reps with full recovery to keep arousal high. Problem solving slow send away often means doing less but doing it right.

Smart Assessment Protocol

Establish a Baseline

We start with a short field test. Mark start and finish, time the rep, and note line accuracy, head position, and any check backs. Record the numbers. You cannot improve what you do not measure. Baseline timing is part of problem solving slow send away in the Smart system.

Check the Line and Path

Set a clear center line. Film from the side and from behind. Look for drift, scanning, or a drop in speed at a certain distance. Where the change happens often points to the true cause.

Audit Handler Mechanics

Stand tall, cue clean, and send once. Do not chase the dog with your voice. Do not step forward during the send. Keep hands still. Any extra motion can pull the dog off line or cue a check back.

Rebuild Clarity on the Target

Introduce a Target Mat or Box

In a quiet space, teach a target the dog can see and feel. A low mat, box, or board works well. Mark and pay fast center hits. We build value for blasting to that spot. Short reps, big fun, fast resets.

Marker Language and Release

Use a clear send cue. Use a fast terminal marker when the dog hits the center of the target. Keep your voice upbeat. The sequence becomes cue, sprint, hit, mark, and reward. Clean language is the base for problem solving slow send away.

Proof the Target Picture

Rotate the target. Change its location in the room. The dog must learn that the cue means find the target fast, not run to one place in one room.

Build Speed Through Motivation

Food Chase Lines

From a short distance, hold the dog, cue the send, and throw food past the target as the dog commits. The dog blasts through the target to the payoff. Now the path itself becomes rewarding.

Toy Chase Lines

Repeat the drill with a toy for dogs that love to tug. The toy appears past the target the instant the dog commits. Keep the game fast and simple. End while the dog still wants more.

Pay at the Target

Place visible rewards on the target for a few reps, then make the reward appear at the target from your hand or from a helper. The story stays the same. The target is where the party lives. This is central to problem solving slow send away.

Short Reps and Fast Resets

Two to five second reps with full recovery protect speed. Stop before the dog fades. We want the dog to beg for another send.

Add Pressure and Release the Smart Way

Line Guidance Without Conflict

Use a long line to guide a straight path when needed. Any guidance is light and it ends the moment the dog commits forward. The release of the line is part of the reward. Done correctly, pressure and release increases drive.

Commitment Line

Pick a point where you promise to hands off. Once the dog crosses that point, all pressure disappears and the dog owns the task. This builds responsibility. It is a key step in problem solving slow send away done the Smart way.

Clean Up the Down and Recall

If the down or recall is part of your routine, teach them away from the send at first. Do not mix skills while speed is growing. Add them later with a clear plan.

Progression Plan to Full Field

Stage 1 Short Indoors

Run five to eight reps of three to six meters on a clear target. Pay at or beyond the target. Stop while interest is high.

Stage 2 Medium Distance Outdoors

Move outside to ten to twenty meters. Start with a visible target, then reduce visibility as the dog understands the picture. Keep timing and notes. Problem solving slow send away depends on honest data.

Stage 3 Full Field With A Line

Stretch to full distance with a long line for insurance. Use it to prevent drift. Release the line as the dog commits to avoid conflict.

Stage 4 Variable Reward

Begin to vary the reward. Sometimes pay at the target, sometimes ten steps beyond, sometimes with a chase. Keep the dog guessing where the fun will appear, not if the fun will appear.

Stage 5 Add the Down and Recall

Introduce the down after the dog hits the target at speed. Keep the down brief and pay strong. Add recall from the target in separate sessions so speed to the target stays hot.

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.

Solve Specific Patterns

Dog Drifts Off Line

Set lane markers or cones to create a clear corridor. Guide with a light line until the dog commits. Pay strong for center hits. Mark any straight rep with extra value.

Dog Slows at Twenty Meters

Place a visible target at twenty five meters and a hidden jackpot five meters beyond. When the dog hits twenty, the jackpot appears. After a few wins, fade the visible target and keep the jackpot past the slow point. This is a classic fix in problem solving slow send away.

Dog Spins or Looks Back

That means the dog expects information or payment from you. Stay quiet. Pay only at the target. If needed, have a helper appear with the reward when the dog reaches the finish. The story never changes. The party is forward.

Dog Anticipates the Down

Split the skills. Run a block of sends with no down at all. Run a separate block of downs on a mat at short distance. When you merge, cue down only after the dog plants on the target at speed.

Dog Breaks Toward Distractions

Begin in a neutral space. Add one simple distraction at a time. If the dog breaks, quietly reset. When the dog commits to the target, explode with reward. The message is simple. Ignore the noise and sprint to the finish.

Handler Mechanics That Build Speed

• Stand tall and still for the send.
• Give one clear cue. No chatter.
• Eyes toward the target, not on the dog.
• Hands quiet. No lure once the cue is given.
• Count to three before you move again.
• Reset with purpose, then send.

These habits keep the picture clear. They also keep your timing sharp, which is vital for problem solving slow send away.

Reward Strategies That Drive the Sprint

• Place rewards at or beyond the target.
• Use a variety of reinforcers to keep arousal high.
• Mark the instant of target contact.
• Make success loud, fast, and brief. Then reset.
• End the session on a peak rep, not a fade.

Measuring Progress

Speed builds when you track real numbers. Time five reps per session at a consistent distance. Note average speed and the slowest rep. We want the average to rise and the low end to improve. Video from the same angle to compare line and posture. Data keeps your plan honest. It is the backbone of problem solving slow send away with Smart Dog Training.

Case Study From The Field

A young working dog arrived with a hesitant send. He jogged the first thirty meters, then drifted. We started indoors, built a hot target, and paid at the finish. We moved to a short outdoor field and set a jackpot at thirty five meters. We used a light line to prevent drift and released it the moment he aimed at the target. Within two weeks his average time dropped by a third. We then varied reward placement and added a brief down. On trial day he sprinted the full field, planted, and held the down with focus. This is what problem solving slow send away looks like when the Smart Method guides every step.

When To Bring In a Professional

If progress stalls for more than two weeks, if your dog shows stress, or if the field has heavy distractions, it is time to get support. Smart Dog Training pairs you with a local coach who will refine your mechanics, pace your progression, and keep your dog happy and accountable. Our SMDTs specialise in problem solving slow send away and will map a plan that fits your dog and your goals.

FAQs

Why does my dog run fast at home but slow on the field

The field changes the picture. Distance, wind, and distractions add load. We fix this by building a strong target indoors, then transferring that picture outside step by step. This is core to problem solving slow send away in the Smart system.

Should I call my dog back to make the send faster

No. Calling back pulls value away from the finish. Build the picture that all good things live forward at the target. Add recall later as a separate skill once speed is stable.

Can I use a long line without hurting speed

Yes. Use the line to prevent mistakes, then release it the moment your dog commits. That release becomes rewarding. Pressure and release is a Smart Dog Training pillar.

What if my dog loves food but not toys

Food works well for clean reps and short chases. You can still build huge speed. We shape the session to your dog. The Smart Method uses the reinforcer that best builds intent for that dog.

How many reps should I do in one session

Quality beats quantity. Five to eight hot reps with full recovery are better than twenty tired reps. Stop on a win. This protects speed and motivation.

When do I add the down in IGP

Add the down only after speed to the target is reliable. Start with brief downs and pay well. Keep the story the same. Sprint first, then hold.

What if my dog slows when the judge moves

Train with staged movement in your progression plan. Start with one calm helper, then add small judge-like movements. Pay any rep where your dog holds the line and speed. This fits neatly into problem solving slow send away with Smart Dog Training.

Conclusion

A fast send is built, not wished for. When the picture is clear, when the reward lives at the finish, and when pressure is fair and releases on commitment, speed appears. Problem solving slow send away the Smart way follows a clean arc. Clarify the target. Build motivation. Use pressure and release. Progress step by step. Protect trust. If you want expert coaching and proven results, our national team is ready to help.

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