canine freestyle moves database
Teaching position using a pivot platform
front position
Once the dog is magnetized to the pivot platform you are ready to teach something.
Suggestion: Teach Front Position (dog centred in front of handler facing the handler) before teaching the dog to pivot around the pot.
While teaching Front Position some rear end movement will happen.
If you teach the dog to pivot CW and CCW around the pot first it, is harder for the dog to later learn to remain still in front of the handler. This is only the opinion of the writer. Always make things as easy as possible for the dog’s success. If the dog has been taught to pivot around the pot first, you can teach Front position on the pot by controlling the environment with an x-pen. Arrange it like a chute with you standing at the closed end with the pot in front of you.
Prerequisite: Dog must be “magnetized” to the pivot platform and understand that the presence of the pivot platform is the cue for two front paws
to be placed on it and remain there.
Aim: is for the dog to place two paws on the platform squarely in front of you and face you. You are not yet clicking rear end movement. If the dog corrects his position by moving his back legs so that he can be in front of you, you click once movement has stopped. You want front position with 2 paws on the platform only.
Prepare for your training session: Get your treats and clicker (if using a clicker)
Get your pivot platform (pot), but don’t put it down yet
Get your dog
Ask the dog “Are you ready?” or whatever you say at the start of a training session.
By now the dog should be magnetized to the pot, that is, when you put it down, the dog immediately places his two front paws on it.
Position yourself so that when you will put the pot down it will be between you and the dog so that the dog can come straight to you and be in front of you. Once the pot is down stand still and look at the dog in general. For some dogs eye contact can be confronting.
The instant the dog places his front paws on the pot, click.
Most *** dogs like to be in front of you. After you have clicked
(a) If the dog is in front of you toss the treat behind the dog so that he can go and get it and simply turn around and come straight back to
you.
(b) If the dog is not in front of you toss the treat out in front of you, thereby encouraging him to return in a straight line in front of you.
You are now clicking for position. The dog may need to move his back legs to achieve position. Initially, there is no need for you to move around the pot. Simply stand still and have the dog mount the pot in front of you. Keep your hands by your side or behind your back. You don’t want the dog targeting your hands as seen in some of these demonstration videos.
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Not all dogs put them selves into the front position naturally.
They may approach and mount the pot at an angle.
To assist the dog to approach from the front and to stand on the pot in front of you, use a guide like an X-pen (or a row of chairs) to set up the environment for the dog to succeed.
Once the dog is confidently approaching and standing in front, start widening the chute and eventually remove it before going on.
In the following video much time is wasted through using the wrong colored treats. The dog has difficulty finding them.
Also notice that when the treat is not tossed directly out in front, the dog mostly returns at an angle. When the treat is thrown in the right direction, the dog returns straight.
Through habituation the dog learns to be in front of you.
If the dog has trouble being in front of you on the pivot platform check out the trouble shooting tips.
Teaching Front Position
When the dog starts to successfully mount the platform in front of you reward heavily. Make it worth the dog’s while to be in front of you.
Reward Good Position
Once the dog is regularly mounting the pot in front position move to a different position around the pot to present a different picture to the dog – that is, change of context.
When you move the dog may not immediately come in straight. Reduce the criteria.
When you move, remember to toss the treat in front of you to give the dog every opportunity to come back straight.
If the dog is not straight on the platform toss a treat to reset him.
Remember to leave enough room for his head and neck when you stand near the pot, else he cannot position himself straight..
Changing Context by Moving Around the Platform
Adding the Cue
When you are happy with the front position the dog is offering you and you can predict the dog will always return to the pot and stand in front, add the verbal cue.
Suggestions are: “Front”, “face”, “mug”, “visage” or “vizzy” for short. If you have already taught front position using rectangular platforms and you used the word “front”, try using a new word if you are teaching front position again using the pivot platform.
To add the cue, when the dog has gone out to get the treat and starts to turn around to return, say the cue. The cue must be uttered before the dog gets on the pot. In the following clip, the cue is sometimes said a bit late.
Adding the Cue “Front”
A word of caution: Only add the cue when you know the dog will return to front position, not if the dog returns to the pot and then moves the back legs to be in the front position. This could result in the dog has learning “front” means to move the back legs while keeping the front paws in position. You don’t want the dog associating rear end movement with the “front” cue. This is very subtle and is an excellent example of putting a cue on the wrong behavior.
Test Dog’s Understanding of Front Position
Sidestep around the pot in very small steps (inches) to see if the dog will maintain front position. Cue “front” and move sideways around the pot a few inches. If the dog adjusts his back feet to maintain the front position, click and treat. Move around the pot in very small steps in both directions. You will find the dog will be stronger in one direction than the other, that is, it will be easier for him to maintain position by moving his back legs in a particular direction. Practice both directions to make the dog to be equally proficient at moving all the way around the pot in both directions. If you need to keep adjusting the head to get the correct position, the dog is not yet ready for this test. Spend a lot of time on this step and the previous step. The position needs to be accurate. Over time, increase the distance you move around the pot in one step.
Test Dog’s Understanding of Front Position
Removing the Pivot Platform
When the dog, on cue, accurately pivots around the platform in front position with you, try it on the flat, that is, remove the pot.
Start your training session as normal and cue “front”. If the dog comes into position you know he understands it when you are stationary.
Toss out a treat to reset him and while he is out getting the treat turn 90 degrees. Then cue “front” again. Repeat the 90 degree turns several times. This will check that he can come to front position from any angle while you are stationary.
Removing the Pivot Platform
Pivoting in Front without the Pivot Platform
Next cue front, and with the dog in front position turn slightly on the spot , moving your feet, just a few degrees and see if the dog will maintain front position. You can cue “front” before every move. Each time the dog moves to maintain front position, click and reward.
Repeat this CW and CCW until you can do 360 degrees in both directions. Do not rush this.
Initially move slowly such that the dog’s front paws mostly remain on the spot. Over time you can speed up your movement, but make sure the front position is always accurate. As soon as the dog starts to be crooked go back a few training steps and re-train for accuracy. Do not rush this.
Front Pivot
Side Passes
Finally you are ready to try front side passes.
With the dog maintaining front position the handler steps sideways left or sideways right and the dog correspondingly side passes maintaining front position.
When the handler moves left the dog moves to his right. When the handler moves right the dog steps to the left.
Initially keep your steps small and work slowly, allowing the dog time to process what you want. As the dog becomes proficient at this you can move sideways faster. As you speed up, if the dog loses correct position, go back a step in your training. You don’t want to teach the dog sloppy side passes, that is, sloppy front position.
Side Passes
Initially you will notice that the dog is better at side passing in one direction than the other. Work on both directions.
The associated video shows the dog pivoting on the flat before moving into side passes. Note that the side passes left are stronger than to the right.
NOTE: Pay attention to the length of your sideways steps. They should not be greater than the dog’s chest width. When the dog is well practiced in side passes and is side passing accurately you can increase the length of your stride to achieve a “skipping” side pass from the dog. Not all dogs will be able to do this.
Forward Front
Definition: Dog walks forwards maintaining front position as handler moves backwards.
Like everything else this is taught step by step to maintain correct front position. Most obedience trained dogs who have done a lot of recalls where they come and sit in front of the handler, seem to have no trouble picking this up, except that they always want to automatically sit when the handler stops moving. This should not be a problem if the dog understands the front cue as a position and has been taught this standing up.
This is taught on the flat.
Cue “Front” and C/T when the dog comes into front position.
Without saying anything, take a small step (just a few inches) backwards and see if the dog moves forwards to maintain front position.
a) If the dog moves forwards maintaining front position click and treat in position.
b) If the dog moves forwards and does not maintain front position, cue “Front” and C/T in position when the dog corrects himself into
front position. If you find after a few training sessions the dog still has difficulty moving forwards maintaining front position go back to
the last stage where the dog was able to maintain position. Also, watch your hands. The dog may actually be targeting your hands if
held in front and/or looking for treats in your hands. This may cause his rear end to angle out.
Over time gradually raise the criteria:
… gradually increasing the length of your step
… increasing the number of steps you take
… adding speed.
If at any stage the dog starts to be sloppy about front position, immediately return to the last stage at which he was correct. Do not accept a sloppy position and hope that the next time will be better. The more you practise an imprecise front position the more likely the dog will do it again.
Backward Front
Definition: Dog walks backwards maintaining front position as handler moves forwards. If the handler moves forwards in a straight line the dog
should go backwards in a straight line.
Teach this step by step to maintain correct front position. Initially some dogs want to sit down when you lean or step into them. This should not be a problem if the dog understands the front cue as a position and has been taught this standing up.
This is taught on the flat.
Cue “Front” and C/T when the dog comes into front position.
If the dog will already move backwards on cue, give the “back” cue as the dog starts to move back take a small step forwards and stop.
a. If the dog moves backwards and maintains front position click and treat in position.
b. If the dog moves backwards and does not maintain front position, cue “Front” and C/T in position when the dog corrects himself into
front position. If you find after a few training sessions the dog still has difficulty moving backwards maintaining front position go back to
the last stage where the dog was able to maintain position.
2. If the dog has no “back” cue; without saying anything, slide your foot a small step (just a few inches) forwards and see if the dog moves
backwards and maintains front position. (By applying social pressure, most dogs will move backwards.)
a. If the dog moves backwards maintaining front position click and treat in position.
b. If the dog moves backwards and does not maintain front position, cue “Front” and C/T in position when the dog corrects himself into
front position. If you find after a few training sessions the dog still has difficulty moving backwards maintaining front position go back to
the last stage where the dog was able to maintain position. You can use a chute to assist the dog to maintain position.
Over time gradually raise the criteria:
gradually increasing the length of your forwards step
increasing the number of steps you take
adding speed.
If at any stage the dog starts to be sloppy about front position, immediately return to the last stage at which he was correct. Do not accept a sloppy position and hope that the next time will be better. The more you practise an imprecise front position the more likely the dog will do it again.
You can put a cue on moving backwards, eg the word “Back”, to give the dog a clue of what you want him to do next when performing a routine.
If you do this the order of events would be
… cue “back”
… step forwards
… cue “front” if required
… stop, click then treat.
Troubleshooting
Dog will not remain in front of you
….. Most likely you have been moving around and not presenting the same picture to the dog.
….. If the treat is not tossed straight out in front of you, the dog will be returning to the pot at an angle and we do not want that at this stage.
….. If the dog is focused on the hand that delivers the treat and you lower that hand to your side after treat delivery, the dog may come in crooked
because he is lining himself up to your hand. You will see this in the next video. To overcome this you may need to do some “Doggy Zen”, that
is, “if you don’t look at the treat you will get it”.
….. To get the dog in front, you can use a food lure to turn his head to steer his
back legs to be square in front of you.
Click the instant he is square in front of you.
And remember when you start getting success, big reward for good position.
Adjusting Position by Turning the Head
….. If turning the head does not work, control his environment by setting
up a chute to control the dog’s approach and mount.
You can also use an X-Pen.
Fade the chute by widening it, if using chairs use less chairs, widen the chute
until you can remove it altogether.
Control Approach and Mount