I've decided to work on Radar's hind-end awareness using http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22dOf88RTiI

The problem is he absolutely REFUSES to put his foot on the box we're using. It's a very big, 2 inch tall box, so it should be pretty easy for him to even accidentally put a foot on it, but he refuses. He dances, he jumps, he whines, he paws at the ground next to it, he picks up the box and carries it around.

How do I get him to put his feet on the box? I'm open to a lure method, but prefer to use shaping. We do use a clicker and delicious treats.

If he can pick up the box, it may be light enough that it is moving around and spooking him. Try using something heavier. It doesn't have to be a box, it just needs to be sturdy enough to give him confidence, and shouldn't make noise. In the movie they used a heavy book and a lot of people use heavy rubber water bowls turned upside down.

I would prefer to use a book, but a box was all I've got. I need to buy a bigger feeder for my horse, so I'll see if his current heavy rubber bowl will work. Thanks for the suggestion!

Perfect! Those horse bowls are great for that.

We had this issue my my housemates dog....

He flat our refused to put his paws up on anything, so we "tricked" him into it. Once he did it a few times he was jumping right up there with his front end, it was like he needed to know that it could be done that first time...

As he reared up in frustration (whining) I sort of caught him in midair on his chest and moved the box under him and let him set himself on it, we then made a HUUUUUUGE deal about it. Took about 2 more times doing this before he was eagerly jumping up there, a few minutes later he was pivoting around with "normal" shaping.

He still doesn't always know where his butt is, but is a pro at this exercise now

LOL!! I am no help! This looked fun so I just tried Thor on it. I used a heavy book which he was pretty quick to put a foot on but somehow went from that to slamming his paws on it to send it flying across the floor. I pivoted to avoid being hit by the flying missile but I don't think that was suppose to be the outcome .

As I work on that issue I think I have an idea for you. How about using a sheet of paper which is flush to the floor? It might be more likely he'll put his foot on it and you can shape the behavior and then I would move the sheet of paper to the box; you'll have a better chance of the paws to follow it once he gets the idea paw on paper is good. Then you can fade out the paper as he gets it.

Now if shaping doesn't work it will still be easier to lure him to put his paws on paper which is flush to the floor and you can proceed from there.

My solution is a tool box of my husbands which weighs 40lbs....please God he can't send that skidding across the floor.

You had me laughing about Thor! I love the paper suggestion! I haven't found a feeder that I want to replace Harry the Horse's bowl with yet, but I do have some poster board that won't make a lot of noise when he steps on it. We'll try that right after lunch!

Other things around the house we've used are a throw pillow, cushion, tuperware storage thing filled with items to weight it, 5 gal bucket weighted, scale, case of dog food, new box of laundry detergent, cushion, laundry basket.

When I was teaching Toni her contacts for agility, she did NOT want to put her back feet on stuff. So I started with her standing on an item with all 4 feet on it... like an old tire, weight bench, or pallet in the yard. Then when she got bored with me and went to jump down, I clicked when she was in the 2 on two off position - front feet on the ground and back feet still up on the object. The treat was delivered between the front legs to accentuate the position (of butt in the air).

Once she figured that out - and it really didn't take long at all - she started walking around offering it to me. I would find her with her back feet on chairs, tree stumps, she would even stop in position when getting out of the car.

I have to add that this training was a HUGE help when training her for flyball. We had NO problem with touching the box. The first time she saw the box she put her front feet on it, and when I didn't respond, she swung around and put her back feet on it. This has resulted in absolutely PERFECT turns that the rest of the team is completely jealous of

 Quote: samanthatopper

I've decided to work on Radar's hind-end awareness using http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22dOf88RTiI



How do I get him to put his feet on the box? I'm open to a lure method, but prefer to use shaping. We do use a clicker and delicious treats.

I do this exercise in all of my beging agility classes. If you want to shape the behavior remember that shaping is about taking a behavior and breaking it into it smallest parts until you get the full behavior. I only watch the first 30 seconds of the video. The dog knows the behavior so you are missing the teaching steps. To shade you should start by marking and rewarding your dog for just looking at what ever you choose to use. Place the rewards on the item and let me eat off it. After a few of those wait for him to take a step toward it mark and reward. The touch it with his toes mark and reward, ect. The feeding on the object really seems to help them want to get on it. Alos remember that once you move ahead a step you should stop marking the "easier" behaviors. I have never had this take more than 2 minuets on any dog. I have a new foster dog and will be doing some short video clips for my students of stuff like this with her since she know nothing. Wish I had one done. Good Luck.