What Judges Look for in IGP Trials

Introduction

If you plan to compete in IGP, you need to understand what judges look for in IGP trials. Success is not luck. It is the product of clear handling, strong fundamentals, and a dog that performs with drive and control. At Smart Dog Training, we prepare teams to meet the standard through the Smart Method, our structured system built on clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust. Your training will be overseen by a Smart Master Dog Trainer SMDT so you know your work matches the test.

This guide breaks down what judges look for in IGP trials across all three phases. You will learn how points are won, how points are lost, and how Smart builds reliable behaviour that holds up under pressure on trial day.

How IGP Is Judged

IGP is scored in three phases. Tracking, obedience, and protection each carry one hundred points. Judges assess precision, control, and overall impression. The score reflects technical accuracy and the dog’s attitude. Calm, confident, willing. That is the picture judges want to see.

To master what judges look for in IGP trials, think like a judge. They reward a dog that shows power without conflict, precision without stiffness, and drive that remains under the handler’s control. Handlers are judged as well. Clean heeling lines, clear commands, and correct trial procedure matter as much as the work itself.

General Principles Judges Reward

• Clarity and obedience under distraction
• Enthusiasm with measured control
• Clean execution with minimal handler help
• Straight lines, straight fronts, crisp finishes
• Neutral, stable behaviour around people, dogs, and the helper

These principles mirror the Smart Method. We layer skills step by step so your dog can perform the same way anywhere, which is exactly what judges look for in IGP trials.

Phase A Tracking

Tracking tests the dog’s nose work, concentration, and independence. Judges focus on line handling, article indication, and the dog’s behaviour on the track. The picture should be calm and methodical. No air scenting, no frantic behaviour.

Entry and Start

Judges look for a composed start. The dog should start at the track layer’s first step with consistent speed and position. Handlers must present the line correctly and avoid tightness or slack that influences the dog.

Tracking Behaviour

• Footstep commitment with a steady nose
• Constant, moderate speed that suits the scent conditions
• Corners negotiated with intent, not guesswork
• No casting far off the track or crabbing

Any handler tension on the line or verbal help costs points. Smart teaches independent work through careful scent pairing and neutral handler presence, which is essential for what judges look for in IGP trials.

Articles and Indication

Judges require clear, immediate indication at each article. The dog should down or sit cleanly, remain still, and wait for the handler. Indications that are slow, crooked, or fidgety lose points. At Smart, we isolate the indication with marker training, then add track context so the behaviour is automatic under pressure.

Common Tracking Deductions

• Loose or tight line that changes behaviour
• Overrunning corners or looping to recover
• Inconsistent speed or high nose
• Delayed or incomplete article indication
• Handler help or body cues

Phase B Obedience

Obedience combines precision with drive. Judges want a dog that works with energy, yet stays clear and accurate. The overall impression should be confident and smooth. What judges look for in IGP trials is not just tight heeling. It is the full routine delivered with balance and joy.

Heeling on and off Lead

Judges reward a focused dog that heels with straight body alignment, shoulder at the knee, and consistent attention. Turns, halts, and pace changes should be exact. Lagging, forging, or crabbing will lose points. At Smart we shape heeling with precise markers and reward placement, then add distraction through our progression model.

Sits, Downs, and Stands on the Move

The position must appear instantly on the verbal. No extra steps and no handler body cues. The dog must stay put as the handler moves on. Slow transitions, creep, or double commands cost points. We isolate each position first, then add movement and distance to build reliability.

Recalls and Fronts

Judges want a straight, fast recall that ends in a tight front. The finish should be clean and quick with correct alignment. Bumpy sits, wide fronts, and sloppy finishes lose ground. Smart prepares teams with clear front targets and consistent finish mechanics so speed and precision coexist.

Retrieve on the Flat, Over the Jump, Over the Scale

Judges evaluate the take off and landing, the dumbbell grip, and the return speed. The dog should clear one metre jump and one point eight metre scale with confidence, hold the dumbbell calmly, and present a straight front. Early drops, chewing, or knocking the obstacle drop points. Smart builds confidence with progressive height work and clean grip habits so your dog shows power and certainty.

Send Away and Down

The send away must be fast and straight with a decisive down on command. Any creeping, turning back to the handler, or slow response lowers the score. We teach a magnetic target for the line, then strengthen the down as a reflex so you get top marks on what judges look for in IGP trials.

Long Down Under Distraction

Stability is key. The dog must remain neutral while another team works. No vocalising, no rolling, no creeping. Our trust pillar creates calm confidence so dogs can switch off without stress.

Common Obedience Deductions

• Handler help like body cues or extra words
• Forging, lagging, or wide turns in heeling
• Chewing the dumbbell or slow grips
• Crooked fronts and sloppy finishes
• Slow downs on send away or unstable long down

Phase C Protection

Protection tests courage, grip, and control. Judges want a full, calm grip, strong guarding, and clean outs on command. The dog must show intense drive and instant obedience. That balance is central to what judges look for in IGP trials, and it is the balance Smart develops with our pressure and release system.

Blind Search

The dog must search each blind with speed and efficiency following the pattern. Skipped blinds, cutting lines, or handler influence cause deductions. We drill pattern work first, then add speed and helper pressure to keep clarity under arousal.

Find, Guard, and Escape

Upon locating the helper the dog must guard with intensity, barking full and rhythmic with no bumping or regripping. On the escape, the dog should pursue with full commitment and take a calm, full grip. Slipping grips, shallow grips, and hectic chewing lose points.

Out and Reengagement

Clean, immediate out on the first command is essential. Any second command or handler pressure drops points fast. After the out the dog must guard with intensity and stay ready without touching the helper. We condition the out as a clear release to a new job, then reward the conflict free guard, which satisfies exactly what judges look for in IGP trials.

Drive, Courage, and The Courage Test

In the long attack the judge evaluates power, line commitment, grip quality, and recovery to control. The dog should drive through the helper, settle into a calm full grip, then out and guard on command. Our method builds this picture through progressive pressure work and trust.

Handler Conduct in Protection

Handlers must remain neutral. No crowding the helper, no verbal help, no extra commands after the out. Leash handling and positions must follow the rules exactly. Smart trains you to handle like a pro because handler errors cost points you cannot afford to lose.

Common Protection Deductions

• Second out command or delayed release
• Regripping, chattering, or shallow grips
• Weak guarding or body contact with the helper
• Messy transport and handler influence
• Skipped blinds or incorrect pattern

Judging The Team Picture

Across all phases judges watch the team picture. Does the dog show joy and commitment without being hectic. Does the handler present calm authority. The work should look easy. This is the essence of what judges look for in IGP trials. Smart teams achieve this picture through progression that builds both skill and mindset.

Scoring Bands and Overall Impression

While each phase totals one hundred points, judges also assign a rating based on the score and the overall picture. Accuracy, attitude, and conduct combine to form that final impression. Two teams with the same points can present very different quality. Smart trains for both. Points and polish.

How Smart Prepares You For The Standard

Our Smart Method gives you the same structure judges expect to see. We start with clarity through exact markers. We add fair pressure and release so the dog accepts guidance without conflict. Motivation keeps the dog engaged and eager to work. Progression layers difficulty so the behaviour holds up under pressure. Trust brings calm confidence that equals stability on trial day. When you train this way you hit every note of what judges look for in IGP trials.

• Phase A tracking built on independent scent work and precise indications
• Phase B obedience that blends speed with accuracy
• Phase C protection with full grips, clean outs, and powerful guarding

Every programme is delivered by a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer SMDT who understands how to shape the exact picture judges want to see.

Handler Skills Judges Notice

• Neutral body language and correct footwork
• Clear single commands with consistent tone
• Accurate positions at start and end of each exercise
• Correct equipment handling and adherence to rules

We coach handlers with the same precision we train the dogs. When you move right your dog performs better and you protect your points in what judges look for in IGP trials.

Trial Day Execution

Preparation is half the job. Execution is the other half. Arrive early, warm up lightly, and keep your dog focused without draining energy. Follow the steward’s directions and keep your timing crisp. Trust your training. Judges notice confidence and composure.

Common Pitfalls To Avoid

• Over handling in tracking or protection
• Extra words or body cues in obedience
• Weak fronts and finishes that leak points
• Inconsistent outs due to unclear training
• Handler nerves that change the dog’s picture

We fix these issues with targeted Smart drills so your team looks clean and confident. This is how you meet the mark on what judges look for in IGP trials.

Building Ring Proof Reliability

Smart progression creates reliability that lasts. We train in new fields, add environmental stressors, and run full routines under staged pressure. We reward calm, confident behaviour so the dog can think in drive. This produces the exact picture judges reward.

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.

FAQs

What are the top things judges want to see across all phases

Clean execution, strong attitude, and reliable control. Judges favour dogs that show power with precision and handlers who present calm, clear leadership. That is the core of what judges look for in IGP trials.

How many points are in each phase

Each phase carries one hundred points. Tracking, obedience, and protection are scored separately, then combined for the total. The overall picture also influences the final rating.

What costs the most points in protection

Slow or second outs, weak guarding, and poor grips are the biggest deductions. Smart builds clean outs and calm full grips through pressure and release paired with clear reward.

How can I improve my heeling score

Focus on position, rhythm changes, and straight lines. Use precise markers and reward placement to keep alignment. We coach you through ring proof heeling that stands up to what judges look for in IGP trials.

What do judges expect for article indication

Immediate, clear down or sit at the article, with the dog still and focused until the handler arrives. No creeping or fidgeting. We teach this in isolation, then add track context.

How should I warm up on trial day

Short and focused. Run a few clean reps of key skills, maintain engagement, and avoid tiring the dog. Keep your own breathing steady. Confidence and routine present well to judges.

Can Smart help first time handlers reach trial standard

Yes. Our programmes are built to meet the exact standard judges apply. We pair you with a Smart Master Dog Trainer SMDT who guides every step so you know exactly what judges look for in IGP trials and how to deliver it.

Conclusion

When you understand what judges look for in IGP trials, you can train with a clear target. Judges reward a dog that is powerful and precise, and a handler who is calm and exact. Smart builds that picture through clarity, pressure and release, motivation, progression, and trust. The result is reliable behaviour that scores. If you want a true blueprint for success in tracking, obedience, and protection, Smart is your advantage.

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