Timeline ⏳

🐾 This chapter can take several months

It is completely possible that you will spend five to six months working on the steps from this chapter.

That may sound like a long time, but fading the aids cleanly and combining all parts of the exercise takes patience.

The good thing is: if you start early enough, you have plenty of time to build everything properly.

🎯 Your current level should now look like this

Before moving on, your dog should ideally be able to:

➡️ Walk naturally with you in heel position
➡️ Respond to your announcer
➡️ Perform the small hop on “S” without needing the hand aid
➡️ Stand firmly and securely on “T”
➡️ Stay calm while you move one, two, three or four steps away
➡️ Maintain a stable connection throughout the exercise

This is your solid foundation.

🏃 Do not rush into the refinements

Only once this level is secure should you start worrying about things such as:

✅ running pace
✅ more speed
✅ walking back toward the dog
✅ recall from the Stand
✅ finer details of the cue and execution

These are refinements — not the foundation.

🔁 Go back if something is missing

If one of the aids is still difficult to fade, or a certain part of the exercise becomes unstable, simply return to the earlier step where that exact problem was covered.

There is no benefit in pushing forward if the foundation is still shaky.

💡 What comes next

The next chapter is all about the finishing touches:

cue emphasis, speed, running pace and the smaller details that make the exercise look clean and trial-ready.

The most important thing before moving on: the basic Stand must already work calmly, clearly and reliably.