canine freestyle moves database
Teaching position using a pivot platform
The primary function of pivot platform work is to teach a dog rear-end awareness. It teaches the dog to move his rear-end independently of the front feet by placing his two front feet on the pivot platform and moving his back legs around in both clockwise (CW) and counter clockwise (CCW) directions while the front feet remain on the pivot platform.
For future discussion here, the term “pivot platform” will be referred to as “the pot” for brevity.
An additional bonus of pivot platform training is the “cool behaviors”, apart from “heel” positions, you can teach and get on cue.
“Cool behaviors” refers to pivoting clockwise (CW) and counter clockwise (CCW) with the back feet. The CW and CCW pivot can be put on verbal cue and executed on the flat, ie without the pivot platform, to produce an interesting “spin”.
All heel positions, including “front” and “back” positions can be taught using a pivot platform by presenting different body targets to the dog.
You need to decide what you are going to teach and the order in which you are going to teach the various behaviors using the pivot platform. Whatever you teach first will become the strongest behavior on the pivot platform.
method - summary
The dog is shaped to place his two front paws on the pot and move his back legs to the left or the right so that he can pivot around the pot.
Pivoting is shaped through judicious tossing of the treat.
The dog can be taught to pivot all the way around the pot, in both directions.
Positions are taught by standing in the correct place near the pot and having the dog target a particular body image.
Lastly, the different behaviors are put under stimulus control, ie verbal cues.
method - details
Description of pivot platform
Dog is shaped to mount the pot and maintain front paws on the pot.
Teaching the dog the front position.
Teaching left hand heel position.
How to teach other positions.
note
Not all dogs are “textbook dogs” who immediately put two paws on the pivot platform and start pivoting with their back feet. Perhaps they lack confidence. Perhaps they are afraid of touching something.
Never give up.
In the video shown here, the dog had been working on this for two months! And finally he succeeded. Once he realized he was allowed to get on the pivot platform he never looked back.
Nikki and Mr Darcy