So I just watched @Lynn May and Leto's wonderful sendaway in her post yesterday and it jogged my memory that today is Thursday. Challenge time! Funnily enough I filmed this earlier in the week - it was always going to be week 7's challenge! Go and check out Lynn's vid if you've not seen it yet. If you can try to scroll back through old posts, @Gary Martin posted a video of a phenomenal send away too. It has forever stuck in my mind as being the dream picture one day! What is quite cool is that Lynn has filmed the beginning bit - just sending your dog to a bowl of food from a distance. I also started here. Remember: - the distance isn't the important bit to begin with - you want your dog really focussed on that bowl and super eager to run to it. - Restraint builds desire - create some eagerness by holding the collar or harness before releasing - Make sure you have the behaviour solid before you add the cue I've added in a target since, which I have also rewarded separately with food and play. You can combine the target with the food bowl so that you can eventually fade the bowl out and the dog will still run to the target. I used a contact mat but you could also use a lightweight fence post or a cone. Try to place the bowl so that they need to contact the mat to eat the food. In the video I filmed earlier in the week, I actually have her dinner and I'm "premacking" this sendaway. She clearly knows I have the bowl of food but she gotta go do that send out to access it! So it makes the exercise even more challenging. The complete sendaway (for UK working trials anyway) requires a sit or down once they've run out to the correct spot. Don't try and teach this in combination with the above stuff. Work on just downing on the mat/next to the cone in close proximity to your dog, then work at being a litte farther from them as you give them the cue to down. Eventually you can combine the two behaviours. I found this tricky with Aster. She's not a natural downer and I had no idea what I was doing haha but if I can do it you guys can ❤️

https://youtube.com/shorts/-SJY1NOUnOg?si=KjpP7GgQzlO0h5kP Leto is not technically perfect but he’s been enjoying learning this.

Just checking in with everyone. How are you getting on with your dog training right now?

Huge News! @Alex Lato & I have teamed up. In October we are going to be running the 4-Week Play with Purpose Challenge. It will be hosted here on Skool. If you’re an advanced handler or trainer, you already know: food fades, toys wear out, and pressure only takes you so far. But when you unlock the true power of play, you’ll: ✅ Create engagement that holds under pressure & distractions ✅ Use play as the ultimate currency — more powerful than food or toys ✅ Build confidence so your dog thrives in new, stressful, or chaotic environments ✅ Forge a relationship so strong, your dog wants nothing more than to work with you ✅ Turn training into the most rewarding game of your dog’s life Most trainers waste play. They treat it as a “break,” a quick reward, or just fun with the dog. But here’s the truth: 👉 Play is the most powerful tool you’ll ever have to build world-class engagement, bulletproof motivation, and unshakable focus — if you know how to structure it. In this 4-week challenge, Alex will show you the exact system he uses to transform play from a casual game into a high-value, competition-level reward that creates unstoppable dogs. What You’ll Get Inside the Challenge 🔑 Weekly deep-dive trainings on how to structure play for maximum impact 🎯 Step-by-step drills to build motivation, engagement, and confidence 💡 The system Alex uses with working dogs, sport dogs, and high-drive companions 📈 Feedback & coaching so you don’t just learn — you implement ⚡ A community of handlers & trainers pushing for next-level results This isn’t another £20 webinar you forget about. This is a 4-week intensive challenge where you’ll walk away with a proven system you can use for the rest of your dog’s career. ⚠️ This opportunity will pass quickly. Once the doors close, they’re closed. Join the Waitlist Now. Be first in line when enrollment opens. Secure your place before this fills up. The countdown has already started. If you want to join the waitlist for the challenge then you can do so here: https://playwithpurpose.scoreapp.com/

I have a task for you. Go to the 'Map' and tag the person that lives closest to you. Leave them a hello in the comments 🙂