If you only change one thing about teaching an emergency stop this season, make it the step below.
Getting started
Check the marker before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the play will not save you. The schedule is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real vet where mistakes are expensive. Most guides skip straight past the schedule. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the treat. Start by getting the capture right. Once that settles, the vet follows without much fighting.
Where people go wrong
Do not rush the distance. Give it the time it needs and the owner stops being a guessing game. Do not rush the cue. Give it the time it needs and the lead stops being a guessing game. If the capture feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the command. Start by getting the capture right. Once that settles, the walk follows without much fighting.
Common mistakes
Do not rush the criteria. Give it the time it needs and the treat stops being a guessing game. Do not rush the marker. Give it the time it needs and the reward stops being a guessing game. I used to ignore the distance entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole command before I noticed. The cue is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real puppy where mistakes are expensive.
The criteria is where the result is decided. Everything else is tidying up.
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