Dutch Shepherd Forum

My goal for this session was rear foot targeting. ICE offered this - I thought it was cute so I rewarded it.

HAHAHAHAHA cool

Patty, when you're starting the training what signal or motion are you doing to get Ice to move his back legs?

From what I can see the platform helps, but I am curious about getting started.

Is it a matter of getting the dog to come and then stepping towards them, so they back up to the platform?

At what point do you start the verbal command?

On a lighter note, do you start Ice backing onto taller platforms like that?

I do a ton of free shaping with ICE so when we are doing silly tricks I don't ask or signal anything - I wait to see what he tries. To help with moving the rear feet, I started him in a corner so if he backed up it would almost have to be on the platform. His back up has been reinforced so highly that is one of his "try first" behaviors. So I put the platform behind him and clicked and treated when he accidently hit it with a paw. Then continued to up the criteria until he only got clicked for all four on the platform. He has done back up on a much larger platform (working on the handstand) so it was a relatively easy concept for him.
I don't put a word to until much later and they have done it multiple times.
ICE hasn't fully gotten the handstand but my mixed breed has and even at the stage in the photo I have not yet added the word. She now can stand straight up but still needs a wall but the verbal "kick up" is attached. It is quite cute - I say "kick up" and she starts bouncing on her front feet looking for the wall for her back feet. You can use higher platforms but if your just starting I would suggest larger not higher. Make it easy so you can reward allot then slowly make it more challenging. You can always tilt the larger platform up at larger angles if your goal is like a handstand or something.

If I haven't answered all your questions - don't hesitate to ask. I absolutely love this stuff!

That is awesome.