As with most canine tricks, “back up” has the potential to be both fun and useful in day-to-day life. You can use the command to stop your dog from crowding you as you make their dinner, stepping in a mess if you spill something, or excitedly leaping out of the car when you arrive at the park. If you’re looking for a new trick to add to your dog’s repertoire, give “back up” a try! Teaching dogs is what we do – and we love to help you to create a loving and trusting bond between you and your pup.
Teaching Dogs- Step By Step
- Have your clicker and a pocketful of yummy treats on hand. Bring your dog into a space without any distractions–since we are trying to teach a directional trick, you may want to have them in a hallway or mudroom where it is narrow. This will help encourage them to step backward instead of to the side.
- To begin, put your dog into a “stay”. Make sure they can calmly hold this position for at least a few seconds before you proceed. Keep them in the stay as you back away (you may need to repeat the command). You only need to step back a couple of paces.
- Next, step forward to close the space between you and your dog. Depending on the dog’s personality, they may back up pretty easily as you approach, or they might need a little encouragement. If they don’t move, gently nudge them to get them moving. Hold up the hand signal you want to use to tell them to back up. This could be a wave, or pointing behind them, or anything else you prefer. As soon as they take a step or two, click and reward them with a treat.
- Reset them in a “stay”, back up, and repeat the process of approaching them and moving them backward. Each time, try to get them to take another step or two back. Make a big deal of their success each time they back up properly. Treats and verbal praise are extremely important! Once your dog is able to consistently back up as you step to them, you can begin incorporating a verbal cue.
- You may find that your dog tries to side-step you or jump out of your way as you approach. This is where practicing in a hallway or other limited space comes in handy since it helps force them in the direction you want them to move. If your dog is particularly stubborn and doesn’t want to move, you may need to lean your knee into them (always gently–you don’t want to hurt them!) and push them back the first few times until they understand what you are asking of them.
- Practice “back up” for a few minutes each day, keeping the sessions fun and short. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, end the session and try again later. You should only stay positive while training. If your pup is having a difficult time understanding how to back up and seems to be getting frustrated too, give them an easy command they already know and reward them for that.
- As they get better and better at backing up in your low-distraction hallway, move them into a bigger room and then into other situations like the car and in your yard. Be sure to incorporate this trick into your regular review sessions so they don’t forget it, since it’s not used as often as “sit” or “leave it”.
Teaching dogs can be challenging, but you can do it with patience and perseverance. If you need assistance, however, we are always here. Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is a professional dog training company based in the Sarasota area.
