Level 3Experienced
Identifying what to work on
Intermediate level — “I'm starting to understand”
You've re-read the judge's critique and spotted a few difficulties in the ring. Now, where do you start?
Gait, stack, examination, attention… Trying to improve everything at once can make sessions confusing. The most useful thing is to choose one specific priority, then check what changes.
Here are three tips for moving from observation to training.
1. Describe the difficulty before choosing an exercise
“My dog presents badly” is too general. Look for the exact moment when things get complicated:
- It trots steadily, then jumps when you speed up.
- It stands, but shifts its feet when you stand up straight.
- It accepts your touch, but backs away when another person approaches.
- It follows you in a quiet place, but turns to look at the dogs nearby.
A precise observation gives you something to work on. However, it doesn't always explain the cause.
Also distinguish presentation from morphological characteristics: working on your speed or positioning can make the assessment easier, but does not change the dog's anatomical proportions. Judges must assess the dog against its breed standard. [1]
The practical tip: complete this sentence: “The difficulty appears when…” If you have a video of your run, also look at your movements, your speed and how you hold the lead.
2. Choose the point that will make the presentation easiest
Start with a difficulty that really gets in the way of the judging or of your dog's ease.
The FCI regulations provide that constant jumping, attempts to leave the ring or constant refusal of the examination can make assessment impossible. [2] So it's worth working on these situations before looking for a perfectly held stance.
| What you observe | A first avenue to explore |
|---|---|
| The dog backs away when a person approaches | Go back to a gradual approach, at a distance where it stays comfortable |
| It jumps while moving | Check your speed, your movements and the position of the reward |
| It keeps breaking out of its stack | Ask for a shorter hold and reward that success |
| It turns away towards other dogs | Work first with more distance and fewer distractions |
These avenues are starting points to adapt to your team. If you don't understand the difficulty, an experienced outside eye can help.
The practical tip: choose one main priority per session. Also keep an easy exercise that your dog has already mastered.
3. Define an observable success
“Improve the stack” gives a direction. A small goal lets you see whether your session is paying off.
For example:
Observation: my dog moves forward when I stand up straight. Goal: it stays standing while I straighten up slightly. Progression: gradually increase my movement, then try in another quiet place.
Adapt the difficulty to its responses. If it succeeds calmly, move forward in small steps. If it gets flustered, simplify the request.
Also note your own work: slowing down, keeping your hand steadier or signalling the start more clearly can change your presentation.
The practical tip: after the session, write: “What worked best” and “What I'll go back to next time”. A success repeated will give you a more solid benchmark than a single good attempt.
Your little challenge
Choose a difficulty and fill in these three lines:
- What I observe:
- My next small step:
- How I'll recognise success:
You now have a concrete goal for your next session.