Round is a sendaway Game round an obstacle - the dog is sent by the handler through the start/finish poles, it runs 51ft/15.3m up the lane to the traffic cone (or similar obstacle), it runs around it, then returns to its handler through the poles to be instantly rewarded with its motivator while the handler holds its harness. It is strongly recommended that Recall Aims and Recall Starters should be read and reread as the dog progresses through the Games to keep these fundamental lessons fresh in your memory.  Pay particular attention to How Dogs Learn as well.

In addition to what the dog has already learnt in Recall, it also learns -

• In Method One, to follow a target stick and touch it with its nose. This training aid allows the helper to guide the dog round the cone rather than manhandle the dog round by its collar or lead. Because the dog chooses to follow the stick in order to gain its reward, it is focused and able to grasp the concept of also going round the cone at the same time. The target stick is withdrawn as soon as possible in the early training so that the dog does not become too dependent on following the stick rather than focus on running round the cone.
  
  
• Method Two is suitable for those dogs that have very little powers of concentration and are unable to cope with Method One. A helper or trainer lures the dog around the cone by hand and body movements.
  
  
• Through trial and error (as was seen in Recall) that if it runs round the cone and comes back to the handler, it will instantly be rewarded with a high value motivator while it is being held by its harness. If the dog fails to go round the cone, or does not allow the handler to touch its harness at the end of the exercise, it does not get the motivator and the exciting game is stopped. Therefore, the dog learns that in order to continue the Game and be rewarded with its motivator, it must do both these things.
  
  
• That the start of the Game is when the handler releases the dog's harness, and that the end of the Game (when it is rewarded) is when the handler has grasped the harness. These consistent triggers help the dog to relax in between runs as it does not become stressed wondering when it will be allowed to run down the lane and play the Game.
  
  
• To trust its handler that it will be consistently rewarded for playing the Round Game and build up strong happy associations with the equipment and environment.
  
  
• To do an exercise further away from their handler than they are usually comfortable with. Many dogs have a "critical distance" or "comfort zone" that they prefer to stay within near to their handlers, particularly in new or strange circumstances (this distance is usually less than 51ft/15.3m). These dogs find it difficult to do tasks at a distance from their handler, as they are worried either that the handler will disappear or they cannot judge from the handler's voice or expression whether it is doing the exercise correctly or not. Teaching the game Round overcomes these anxieties.
  

The handler learns -

• How much their dog relies on verbal commands, gestures and posture when being taught a new exercise. This is because most dog training is done with the handler and dog being close to one another so that the dog is used to looking at its handler for signals, and listening for verbal commands. Because Round is eventually done with the dog at least 51ft/15.3m away from the handler, the dog and handler have to learn a new way of doing the exercise so that the dog is confident of doing it without the handler being nearby.
  
  
• Their dog's "comfort zone" distance. Most dogs struggle at some point in Round Starters training on how far they are prepared to run away from their handler in order to run round the traffic cone. Once the handler and trainer are aware of this distance they can help the dog by reducing the distance, then gradually increasing it again so subtly over a number of lessons that the dog does not realise it is running further away than it is used to.
  
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• When to give commands and signals and when not to, so that they do not distract the dog's concentration and cause it to go wrong.
  
  
• The benefits of using training aids such as the clicker and target stick, and also the pitfalls of relying on them for too long so that the dog is unable to do the exercise without them.
  
  
• The importance of subtly moving to one side of the lane in order to guide the dog around the cone and back to the handler.
  
  
• As always, to finish each short training session (a maximum of 5 runs at a time) on a positive note - if the dog is unable to understand what you are trying to teach it, ask it to do something it is confident of doing instead (eg reduce the distance that the dog has to run to get to the cone; reintroduce the target stick to guide the dog round the cone, etc).  Then go away and think of how you can train the dog taking smaller steps in the training programme so that it can succeed in the next session.