Sends Paw Targets At this point in time, Shade's sends are being built up slowly. I'm aiming for at least 50m (about 55 yards). The idea of sends is to achieve a dog that drives away from you confidently. So as distance increases it's important not to lose that drive. Paw targets most dogs enjoy, but you need to be careful not to encourage pouncing behaviors. Darcey is already showing signs of enjoying pouncing onto her target and so will perhaps need two targets, one for each paw. What's nice is her obvious enjoyment. For a dog like Darcey without any working drive it's really important to find behaviors they enjoy as it makes it so much easier to build motivation. Shade is in full extension as he drives confidently away from me (you can see the pads of his back feet here) to a placed toy. Notice that I'm also sending him past two toys on the ground. It's very important to run behind your dog after you send him so that you can reward at or beyond the point where you've sent him. Darcey is clearly having fun here with the paw target. The behavior built easily and her body language changed. We were also building the excitement for the drive to the toy with "hands off" and Shady holding his position on his own. Self-control is building slowly. My goal is self-control not imposed control. Dexi loved this! At the moment I'm thinking this is the method we will take through to the contacts. It's vitally important that dogs rehearse speed, however you can achieve it. The three youngsters spend a lot of time running and chasing each other, rehearsing speed and discovering the best way to use their bodies on the flat at full speed. Here I'm adding the generic cue "GO!" Shade picked this up quickly and easily; he's always been good with his front paws. 16 Clean Run | July 17