Intermediate work takes behaviours that already work at home and makes them hold up outdoors, around other dogs, and when you are not standing next to your dog. Most of it is about removing help: fading the food lure, lengthening the line, increasing the gap between cue and reward, and choosing harder places to practise.
It also adds the skills that give a capable dog something to do and make care easier for everyone: a stop at a distance, structured scent work, a retrieve to hand, and nail trims and toothbrushing the dog takes part in rather than tolerates.
