Purpose: Training proper posture is like training any other behavior. What’s rewarded will be repeated. Using Prop Setup, Placement of Reward and proper Marker Timing, we can teach our dogs that the BEHAVIOR of adjusting into and holding good alignment is an easy way to earn a cookie.
Equipment: Standing Platform elevated on 2 Foot Targets
Steps:
- Start by asking for a Down with no alignment requirements.
- Use Placement of Reward to help your pup adjust into proper alignment.
- Reward a few times to reinforce desired position.
- Use Placement of reward to cue the Stand.
- Cue the dog off the platform.
Goal: For now, the focus is on training proper posture in the Down, and building value to keeping the feet still in the transition to Stand. Because the CONCENTRIC phase of any movement pattern (where the dog is moving up into gravity) is easier than the ECCENTRIC phase (where the dog is slowly resisting gravity), we want to intentionally omit the eccentric phase from this exercise. This allows us to properly train and build endurance in the small postural muscles, which will make the eccentric phase easier to introduce later on.
Watchpoints:
- Using the proper width platform is key. If the platform is too wide, your pup will not be encouraged to adjust position. If the platform is too narrow, the exercise will be too challenging, and could cause your pup to become demotivated or offer other behaviors.
- Placement of Reward is used to help the dog adjust, but be sure Placement of Reward isn’t so far forward that it causes the point of the hock to lift. (This is detailed in the Video Tutorial).
- During the transition to Stand, allowing the dog to “bite” the cookie and your fingers can be helpful in controlling speed, and can help the feet to stay planted. A Chin Rest or sustained Nose to Hand Target is an option for dogs who bite the fingers too hard.
- Remember, we are INTENTIONALLY omitting the eccentric phase in this exercise. Introducing the transition to Stand and the transition to Down simultaneously during the learning phase is an example of lumping multiple skills together. And it’s just bad dog training.
- Watch for fatigue. Mental fatigue can show up quickly for some dogs. If you’re using the Training Loop, your Placement of reward is in the correct location, and your platform is the appropriate width, and the dog is still executing incorrectly/not able to adjust into the desired position, it’s likely you have passed the point of mental fatigue, and a short (or long) break is required.
