canine freestyle moves database
Teaching position using a pivot platform
features of pivot platform work
The definition of a “pivot” is “the centre point of any rotational system”.
The Pivot Platform (pot) is used to teach the dog to place his two front paws on it and move his back legs to pivot or rotate around the platform in a clockwise (CW) or counter clock-wise (CCW) direction. The dog should be able to do both directions so that he does not get “fixed” on the one direction. Initially he will be better moving in one direction than the other due to his left- or right-handedness. With practice you can get both directions working equally well.
The dog needs to be able to pivot all the way around the platform in both directions equally well.
Pivot Platform Work provides an excellent foundation for many moves.
You can teach
all heel positions
front position
front lateral side passes
behind position
behind lateral side passes
swing easily from say left heel position to right side heel position
pivot on front paws on the flat clockwise (CW) and counter clock-wise (CCW)
An additional move is for the dog to pivot around the back paws as the handler moves in a small circle around the dog with the dog maintaining front position. This has nothing to do with the pivot platform unless you want to teach the dog to place his two back paws on it. Back paw pivot platform work will not be covered here.
Once the dog understands a particular “position”, the dog will maintain that position when you move
straight or diagonally forwards,
straight or diagonally backwards,
sideways-left,
sideways-right
A suggestion for teaching pivot platform work is as follows:
1. Dog places two front paws on the pot and becomes “magnetized” to the pot.
2. Teach “front” position.
3. Put front position under stimulus control (on cue).
4. Dog circles in one direction (a) all the way around the pot.
5. Dog circles in the other direction (b) all the way around the pot.
6. Put (a) under stimulus control (on cue).
7. Put (b) under stimulus control (on cue).
8. Teach left or right side heel position.
9. Teach the other side heel position.
10. Put left side heel position on cue.
11. Put right side heel position on cue.
12. Use steps 8 – 11 to teach other heel positions.