Clean Run - March 2014 - 31

If you are getting a lot of barking, go back
to mark the action of one rear paw moving backward. Slowly, with lots of rewards
given close to the dog, ask for one paw at a
time. The distance the dog backs up is irrelevant-it is the action you are rewarding.
Once you put backing up on a verbal cue,
teach your dog to back up onto a different
surface. For example, have him back up
on a hardwood floor until his back paws
touch the carpet. Or if outside, back up
on grass until the rear feet are on the sidewalk. This helps cement that substrate difference is the salient part of the rewardable
behavior. Click and reward as soon as your
dog has at least one part of a rear paw on
the different surface. Use your release cue
each time you want your dog to come off.
I mix up clicking and treating several
times while the dog has a back paw in
contact with the surface and using a release cue to go get a tossed treat or toy.
If you have a tugging dog, tug while the
dog is in position and stop tugging the
moment he loses contact with the back
foot. Most dogs will get it and put a paw
back. Click and continue tugging the in-

March 14

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stant the paw resumes contact or click and treat. Keep it highly rewarding to be in a
position with at least one back paw on something else.

Introducing a Training Plank
Now that your dog understands he owns
rear feet and they can earn a reward, it's time
to get him on a training plank. Use something different than what was used to train
his running contact. For example, don't go
back to a plank from the dogwalk on the
ground or a carpet runner if that's what your
dog learned to accelerate on initially. I have
a 4' long board rehomed from a neighbor's
trash. Any length will do, but if it is short
enough to toss in the car, then you will be
more likely to take your training on the road.

Once you have backing up on cue,
teach your dog to back up onto
different surfaces.

Important: This exercise assumes your dog already has been highly rewarded for walking on a board and he knows that getting on a board has value.
Put the plank on the ground and put out a target (like the lid of a cottage cheese container) with a few cookies on it. The target should be placed a body length away from
one end of the plank. Place a pair of stick-in-the-ground weave poles, garden stakes,
plungers, or jump standards on either side of the end of the plank where the target is.
This will encourage the dog to stay straight and not turn while he is on the plank. If you
have a convenient space at home, you can set up the plank alongside a wall and a use
the trusty plunger on the other side of the plank.
Note: If you have a dog that loves to paw the target or retrieve it, tape the target to something heavy like a brick or piece of wood so you don't have to keep fussing with it.

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Clean Run - March 2014

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