Back up onto target

Goal:

• Have puppy step backwards onto a low stable target

What you need:

1. A large, low, stable target

2. Non-slippery floor

3. Cookies

4. Your puppy

What to do:

1. Lure/cue puppy to stand with hind feet on the target

2. Mark + treat

3. Put a cookie on the floor in front of the puppy

4. Lure/cue puppy to step off the target to eat the cookie

5. As puppy backs up after eating the cookie on the floor, mark + put another cookie on the floor for puppy to eat

6. Repeat steps 4-5

Troubleshooting:

• Puppy does not stand with hind feet on the target

  • Use a larger target to set puppy up for success (e.g., large bath mat, yoga mat, dog bed)

• Puppy does not take a step back after eating the cookie

  • Make sure puppy is only taking a tiny step off the target

  • Gently use body pressure or lure to lure puppy to step back

• Puppy steps backward but does not step onto the target

  • It is OKAY! I will still mark + treat any movement of stepping backward

  • Use a lower platform (e.g., yoga mat, bath mat) to encourage puppy to pick up their feet

What the progression may look like:

1. Cookie on the floor, puppy stretches forward to eat the cookie without stepping off the target

2. Cookie on the floor, puppy steps off the target to eat the cookie, then takes one step back but does not step onto target

3. Cookie on the floor, puppy steps off the target to eat the cookie, puppy steps back with one foot on the target

4. Cookie on the floor, puppy steps off the target to eat the cookie, puppy steps back with both feet on the target

How many reps? How often?

• Learning phase: 5-8 reps/session, 2-3x/week

• Maintenance phase: 8-10 reps/2 sets/session, 2x/week