Warning: this is one of those "why the heck would you want to teach that thing" but hear me out.....


When I was little I had a Welsh Terror...um...terrier and when we had to walk through and navigate a crowd we'd toss her up over our shoulders like a little lamb see this picture-> http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/88878387.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=F5B5107058D53DF52923B4FB3B58DCC0193410C05AF8CC7C9732101E55391125

Training her was easy, she was used to being picked up already, had no fear of heights (that dog would take off up a tree and bring down everything that had been living up there in a neat pile it out by the back door) and took to hanging out on shoulders naturally.

I'd like to teach this to my current dog, Ryuk...not really for crowd avoidance (he's very good at walking in that aspect) but one of the buildings on my campus has a "no dogs on the floor" rule to walk through since a little while ago some idiot let there's puppy mess every 3 feet across the floor and didn't clean it. While walking around campus going through this building saves about 10 minutes and gives you a few minutes to thaw in the process...so you can understand how this carrying method may be useful....

Unfortunately unlike my terrier Ryuk is not 16lbs and is not very still even when he's sleeping (he does know how to stay down for long periods of time...but he still shifts). He does have very good balance and has no fear of heights and is comfortable lying on a 3 inch wide beam 4 ft off the ground and napping (please don't even ask...I didn't train him for it and it freaks me out) I can carry more than his weight on my shoulders in the form of bags of cement and dog food, that I checked.

How to a teach this? Unlike my terrier who I could just pick up and throw on my shoulders, Ryuk isn't really throw-able so I need to teach him to go over my shoulders (preferably without clawing the skin off of my neck) then how to stay up there. At the same time I don't want to teach him that whenever anyone bends down he should jump on their shoulders...

This sounds like a fun command for a show, so here is one way you can approach it, everything will depend on your dog

Teach him a command using marker training that is a little more uncommon to just come up in a "normal conversation"!!

Then I would start with getting my dog to stand, then put my arm under his rib-mark reward.

If no reaction, move to head under ribs while I was kneeling-mark, reward

If no reaction, head under ribs, slight pressure upwards using your neck-again mark, reward.

Then if he's feeling comfortable start lifting him in small increments, like an inch then a foot and so on-stopping to mark and reward each time. You will eventually be able to stand up with him on your shoulders. Then take one step-mark, reward. Two steps and then start just walking around with him up there and giving him lots of mark and rewards but speak lightly and calmly so he doesn't get too excited!

If your dog is a quick learner and confident it should take no time at all. Just remember that if he looks apprehensive work on what ever is making him uncomfortable until he is confident with it or you risk ruining the command and making him scared of ever going up there.

I know this will sound strange, but did you do a search? I think that I remember a question from a while ago along the same lines.
The member was in Canada and did avalanche search and rescue. If my memory is right, she wanted to carry the dog on skis. Maybe some one else (better at it than I) could help you find it.

 Quote: Mary K.Pope

I know this will sound strange, but did you do a search? I think that I remember a question from a while ago along the same lines.
The member was in Canada and did avalanche search and rescue. If my memory is right, she wanted to carry the dog on skis. Maybe some one else (better at it than I) could help you find it.

WOW - Good memory Mary!!
Her name is Jennifer Coulter - she hasn't posted in a while, but here's the thread:

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/176935/page/0/fpart/1

~Natalya