training to walk backwards

[scox1313]

saw this video and i gave it a shot with lou. not working. anyone have any alternate ways to teach this?

our problem is that she turns sideways no matter what, even if i have her against the wall. or if i try going over her head she'll sit or lay down.

 

[corgipower]

I don't really have an alternate way to train it, but I will suggest that you reward for one single backward step for a while, then try to get two steps, then three and keep building it slowly.

Some dogs get it more easily than others.

 

[Linds]

Are you using your hand to push the treat at her like I see in most of the video?

If you are have you tried just waking towards her with her against a wall (or maybe at a slight angle so that she can't swing herself out away from the wall without trying to use the treat as a lure or use your hands to push her?

Mark for anything that's close to what you want including the back leg moving and build up. Don't expect a full clean step back, you might need to work up to that.

When I was teaching Traveler to do it I made it so he almost couldn't help moving his back leg because once he did that I had something to build off of.

Once I was getting a consistent step back everytime I moved forward I added in the hand single (my open palm facing him fingers pointing down) and hammering home what that meant. After that I started moving forward less but asking him to back farther and then moved my body leaning forward instead of taking a step until I was able to fade to just the hand single

Now, I'm working on getting him to understand he can back up the stairs, I figure if he can do that it would mean he can do it anywhere

 

[Laurelin]

Back up I find is easier with small dogs (they're already very aware of their size and so if I step towards them they'll back about 3-5 steps first try lol). But anyways...

I don't shove a treat at them like in the video. I start out making a sort of 'tunnel' against the wall. Put things on both sides so the dog really can only back up (of course harder with a small dog since they can turn around in a tighter space). We used folding chairs and a wall. I stood there and had the dog facing me. I took a step forward and clicked for her backing up. Now, my dog naturally backs about 5 steps if I go towards her but bigger dogs I've seen will sometimes start with just a little inch back. Click and build it up. After they get it in the 'tunnel' then I move them out to an open area. Same thing. Eventually fade it to where the dog can back with just a hand signal and then back to where the dog will back in other directions (like with you next to them instead of in front).

 

[scox1313]

excellent, thank you(s) i will try these things

 

[Dekka]

Why do you want the back up?

My dogs (those who know heel... I really need to work with Kat) back up in heel. But I didn't train back up at all like this. I trained it as part of heel. So if you want it for a reverse heel I can help you.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I teach it the way Linds described. I think the important thing is to start by clicking for any movement backwards and build up to as many steps as you want.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I'm in the process of training back up.... just as a trick. I want to teach him to reverse, so that he starts a few feet in front of me, and then reverses (or backs up) to get to me.

I'm currently having him stand in between my legs and I back up, so while he's under me, he takes a few steps back as well. I click/treat that. He's now to the point where he goes about 4 inches in FRONT of me (so he's not *directly* under my legs) and I still back up, and he also backs up... if that makes any sense. I'm just working up the distance.

 

[scox1313]

i'd like her to do it for the heel sort of, i just want her to do it when she hits the end of the leash.

it's working ok so far. she's definitely not going straight back, but she has stopped laying down when i walk at her, so i suppose that's progress.

 

[lizzybeth727]

i'd like her to do it for the heel sort of, i just want her to do it when she hits the end of the leash.

Sometimes it's easier to teach the obedience-style "finish" instead of the back up.... So when she hits the end of the leash, she turns around and puts herself back in heel position. Back in heel position is a more difficult concept if the dog is completely in front of you.... they usually don't know where their back end is and use your leg as a guide to back up straight. But if your leg is behind them, it's more difficult.

 

[scox1313]

so would finish be the same as training to heel?