Teaching them to skateboard

[Paige]

Spanky's over excitability is proving to be a funny challenge when teaching him to skateboard. Usually he picks up on things right away. Bandit is schooling his bum on this new trick. His slow and steady is really paying off.

Anyways both dogs (Spanky has had three sessions in skateboarding, Bandit has had one) will put their front halves up on the board. Both have figured out the board moves and are comfortable with that. The only issue I am having is how do I get their bottoms up on the board? They know how to move it, they know to put their front halves on the board but alas I am stumped at how to get their hind ends on the board as well. Spanky goes noodely when you pick him up and Bandit, though he will let you, does not enjoy being picked up at all so I'd rather avoid that if I can.

So help a sister out.

[lizzybeth727]

How are you getting them on the skateboard in the first place? Are you luring? That's probably the quickest way, and it's perfectly fine as long as you take the treat out of your hand as soon as they've figured out what you want them to do.

Anyway, hold the skateboard still, then pull the treat over the board so they follow it. If they're having a really hard time, you can click and treat when they stretch really far over the board, just to encourage them for trying. Eventually, they'll probably pick a foot up (click and big reward!), and maybe even put it on the board (again, big reward). Reward several times for having three feet on the board, then try luring it farther over again until you do the same with the fourth foot. Once they're comfortable jumping up on the board, then you can stop luring and start moving the board little by little (and treating when you move the board) until they're comfortable with that too.