11/05/2026
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=970164069204420&id=100086325075447
🐾 Success in IGP is never a solo journey – it’s built by a team. 🐾
When people look at IGP, they often see one dog and one handler on the field.
What they don’t see is everything happening behind the scenes — the people, the structure, the constant exchange, and the teamwork that make real progress possible.
IGP is not an individual sport. It’s a team effort in the truest sense.
Let’s break down what that really means 👇
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🛡️ The Helper – More than just the “bad guy”
A good helper is not just someone catching a dog on the sleeve.
They are:
* A training partner
* A teacher for the dog
* A guide for the handler
A skilled helper reads the dog, adjusts pressure, builds confidence, and develops clarity in the work. Without a good helper, protection training quickly becomes inconsistent or unfair.
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🐕 People holding leashes & managing setups
It sounds simple — but it’s not.
You need people who:
* prepare the exercise for you, so you can concentrate on the dog and yourself
* get your Teammate if something is needed
* Understand whats next, know the exercises
A sloppy setup leads to sloppy work. A clean setup builds clarity and structure.
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⏳ Voraus & Down – You can’t train everything alone
Sending your dog out and putting them into a down at distance requires:
* Someone to put out the toy or Act as if you do for the dog
With a team, you’re improving.
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👀 The outside perspective – Your blind spot is real
No matter how experienced you are — you cannot see everything while handling your dog.
You need people who:
* Watch your body language
* Notice small mistakes
* Give honest, constructive feedback
Progress in IGP depends on awareness. And awareness often comes from others.
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🗣️ Feedback – The foundation of growth
Training without feedback is just repetition, often repetition Full of mistakes.
A good team will:
* Tell you what works
* Tell you what doesn’t
* Help you adjust in the moment
And most importantly — they will be honest, not just nice.
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👣 Tracking – Someone has to lay the track
Tracking is a discipline on its own.
You need:
* People who can lay tracks and can teach you how to be a good handler on the track
* Different styles and challenges to optimize the individual dogs tracking skills
* Someone who understands progression
Without good tracks, you don’t get good tracking dogs.
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🧠 Brainstorming & problem solving
Every dog is different. Every challenge is unique.
That’s why you need:
* Open discussions
* Different perspectives
* People willing to experiment
Sometimes the solution comes from trying something new — and that often happens together.
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🤝 The real value of a team
A strong IGP team means:
* You don’t train in isolation
* You don’t get stuck as easily
* You grow faster — and more sustainably
It’s not just about having people around.
It’s about having the right people — people who care about good work, fair training, and real progress.
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🔥 And here at OG Thomond – we have exactly that.
A team that shows up.
A team that supports each other.
A team that challenges, improves, and grows together.
No ego.
No shortcuts.
Just honest work, strong dogs, and real progress.
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💬 If you’re looking for more than just training…
If you’re looking for a team — you’ll find it here.
Lots of fun included 🤓
