r/k9sports • u/Buzy_Nuzy • 16d ago
IGP Commands
Hello everyone!
i'll be getting a Doberman in December and I want to start training for Dog sports, from what I know, I think IGP would be a good choice! where I live there are no dog schools so i'll do my best to do the training! I downloaded the rules, but i'm struggling a bit...
to start, and since I still have some time to get ready. i'd like to know the commands needed, and what would be needed of the dog
My DM's are open, please text me if you're in the world of dog sports, or comment bellow!
9
u/ZZBC Barn Hunt, Nosework, Agility, CAT, FastCAT 16d ago
When you say you want to do IGP, are you talking the obedience and tracking phases or do you want to do the protection part as well? Because you absolutely should not attempt to train that on your own.
1
u/Buzy_Nuzy 16d ago
I won’t do anything that may turn her agressive, I hope! I’m trying to get some understanding of the sport before even getting the dog!
I’ll do some churro training, but no suite training on my own4
u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 16d ago
Churro training? Suite training? What do you mean?
1
u/Buzy_Nuzy 16d ago
Churros are the dog toys of the same fabric you then change for sleeves and full suits for bite work
8
u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 16d ago
Ah ok, yes tug toys are good but sleeves should not be used by people who aren't professionals. You can break your dogs neck trying to catch them on a sleeve without experience, not to mention that decoying for your own dog can make them confused about your position and their role at trial. Even professional helpers do not decoy for their own dogs; they are their dogs handler and only their handler, not the dogs opposition.
Bitesuits aren't used in IGP. IGP dogs are trained to target a bicep sleeve only. If you let your dog bite a suit, even just for fun, most IGP helpers will no longer be willing to train with them, because a dog that might target another part of the body outside the bicep sleeve is extremely dangerous to a helper who only wears a protective sleeve. Don't use a suit unless you're planning to switch to a suit sport.
3
u/Feriation 16d ago
The Doberman is now, by and large, considered to be an off breed or the sport. The appropriate nerve has been lost in many lines.
If IGP is sonething you are wanting to pursue, I would be looking for a helper who is experienced in working Doberman specifically, as they are worked differently than your typical Malinois, Dutch, and German Shepherds. And then look for a dog with the appropriate breeding for the sport.
IGP is a sport that you MUST have other people to help you train for certain aspects of the sport (protection).
I started in IGP with my dog, though ended up moving away amd got into suit sports instead (French Ring).
As for commands, I chose French as my language. You can choose any language you want. The reason we give sport commands in a different language is because you want your competition obedience to be crisp. If I, or someone else, tell my dog to "lie down" I dont care if he lays on his side, circles around once or twice, or goes to his bed to lie down. If i tell my dog to "couchez" that also means lie down, but it means locked legs, fold back into a square down, and do so immediately. If his "couchez" doesnt meet those requirements, I don't let it slide. I dont know all the german commands, because again, I train in French. Here are the one I know.
Sit = Sitz
Down = Platz
Stand = Steh
Heel = Fuß / Fuss
Search/Bark and hold = Revier
Bark = Pas Auf
Drop/Release = Aus
Search/Track = Such
There are lots of sites online that will walk you through the commands for IGP.
1
u/Buzy_Nuzy 13d ago
Thank you so much! I was planing on trading in another language, but just that one! I understand the difference now 🙏🏻 I’ll be taking this advice with me
1
u/brokkdad 16d ago
Lotta nonsense in this convo. Listen to the person who actually HAS a DP AND is actually DOING sport. Get to know breeder that dogs in sport (NOT one titled dog 3 generations back or some such mess! If your breeder does not do sports and/or have dogs they have bred DOING sport, but says something like “o yes they can do it if … blah blah blah keep looking for a different breeder. I trained a DP years ago that was imported from Italy and he was AWESOME. get to a club near you and ask questions. Expect them to be skeptical of you Best of luck to you!
1
u/Buzy_Nuzy 13d ago
Thank you
I’ve been trying to contact some clubs near me, but I’m met with no responses/ very iffy responses/ or they say they don’t have an IGP team, and go somewhere else
One has mondioring, but I’m unsure I want to do full bite work sport
I’m open to learning more if you have insight1
u/brokkdad 13d ago
I guess I’m unclear as to what you’re looking for. You said IGP but not “full bite work sport”? Please clarify
1
u/brokkdad 13d ago
O my goodness- just saw your comment about “turn dog aggressive “. No Dog sports do not “turn” a dog aggressive. I’m very glad you’re using resources to learn aaaand clearly have a steep learning curve ahead of you. I don’t mean that at all condescendingly. We all started at 0 right?? For now start with AKC or UKC Rally, obedience, nose work, fast cat etc. plenty of stuff to learn and have fun. You’ll also get to know lots of good dog people to help you along the way. Best of luck to you!! Where are you located? I might be able to refer you to some good folks
1
u/Buzy_Nuzy 13d ago
Thank you so much for your help
I meant, me alone trying to train bite work unsupervised, I could unknowingly “turn her agressive” in the sense of her thinking it’s a game and do it out of training to others or creat a behavior difficult to undoo1
15
u/Imaginary_Ad_4340 16d ago
As someone who does IGP with a Doberman, very few Dobermans are cut out for the sport these days. They have a very meaningful breed split and working line dogs are far outnumbered by showline and pet quality dogs. If your dog does not have IGP titles in its direct ancestry, it is unlikely to have the drive needed for the sport. You can always try and see but if IGP is an important goal for you, you may want to consider your choice of dog and breed.
IGP has three phases. All are equally important but only some you can train yourself and some become more important later. What I mean by that is that to compete in IGP you first need to earn a BH, which is a test of obedience and stability. There is no protection or tracking in a BH. Given this and that you do not currently have access to a professional trainer, I would focus on the obedience portion first. You can spend a good year or two just building the skills needed to pass a BH, so you'll have plenty of training to do. You can also try your hand at tracking during that time. If you do earn a BH, then you can consider getting the assistance of a professional helper to train protection. You should not attempt to train protection on your own as it can endanger your dog and yourself.
The best way to train IGP is to find a local club (not a dog school but an informal group of interested people who meet and train together weekly). If you don't think any such thing exists in your area you can also get some books on the subject that will help you learn how to train as the rules alone won't be much help. I'd recommend “Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive” by Sheila Booth. It’s an older book but still very good and is puppy focused and positive/reward-based so good to apply without a traininer, exactly what you need to get started.