canine freestyle moves database
teaching position using a rectangular platform
dog learns position names
Goal: Dog discriminates the names of the position platforms.
Place three platforms; two side by side such that you can stand between them to present yourself for “heel” and “side” positions and one in front for “front” position.
In this step the you present a clean body target and cue the dog to move to a platform and maintain some duration on the platform. Here you cue the dog to move from platform to platform.
You can use a light lead to prevent the dog from moving to another platform when the click is withheld. This is not a correction, it is just a slight pressure on the collar to keep the dog where he is. When you give a cue for the dog to move to a platform, you let the dog move to that platform. When you don’t cue, the leash keeps the dog in place if he tries to move. The leash is not mandatory but it gives clear information to the dog setting him up for success.
Three Platforms Front Side Heel With Cues
If not using a leash, cue a platform position and when the dog gets there C/T several times with the dog in position. Before the dog can move to another platform, give another cue. After a while when withholding the click, if the dog moves, he receives no C/T until he is on the correct platform again. He will quickly learn that moving before a cue is given gets him nothing. It is exactly the same principle as when you are trying to put a behavior on stimulus control.
When you cue a position the dog may or may not go to the correct platform. If the dog mounts the wrong platform, withhold the click. If the dog mounts the correct platform C/T. Initially the dog will most likely go to the nearest platform. Wait, withholding the click. You will find the dog may return to the platform he just left, because there were rewards there or he just may try the last available platform. When he gets it right you C/T big-time.
If the dog won’t move, you can prompt with your hand to encourage the dog to move to the correct platform.
If the dog consistently goes to the wrong platform, go back to the previous step and do more work with just two platforms.
Working with the three platforms, try to be as still as possible so that you can present clean and consistent body targets. You want the dog to be concentrating on the “words” not being distracted by what you are doing.
If you use a lead, you need to fade the use of the lead.
At the end of this step you should have a dog that will wait in position on a platform until he gets the cue to move to another platform and when he gets that cue he moves directly to that position platform.
The next step is to call the dog into a position from the floor. Here the dog has to decide which platform to go to, instead of just moving to another platform.
To start, make it easy for the dog by tossing the treat out over the front platform. As he turns around after getting the treat cue “front” and C/T when he has achieved the position.
Then start working on “heel” and “side” positions from treats tossed out directly in front.
As the dog begins to consistently achieve correct positions toss the treat in directions around the points of a clock. This makes it more difficult for the dog to choose the right platform.
Selecting Correct Position from the Floor
From this exercise the dog indicates his understanding of position related to the cues given. The platforms are no longer the cues. The platforms now position him precisely.
Order of cues to try are: Heel – Side
Heel – Front
Front – Heel
Front – Side
Side – Front
Side - Heel
As well as coming into any of these positions from all points around the clock.
When the dog reliably achieves position 100% of the time you are ready for the next step.