Many dogs don't realize they have rear legs and that they can act independently of their front legs. Mr. N's natural rear awareness is pretty good (my theory is that small dogs often have better body awareness because they're so used to avoiding getting stepped on and avoiding obstacles) but dogs all benefit from heightened rear awareness. It makes them more coordinated, reduces the risk of injury and comes in handy for sports.
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| I'm perfectly aware of my rear end, thank you very much |
1. Step through a ladder without touching the rungs. So the next time you have a ladder out, practice with your dog! We don't have one but I was helping a friend paint and borrowed it afterwards to test Mr. N.
2. Pivoting. Mr. N puts his front paws on an object and moves his hind legs around in a circle. This is still a work in progress.
3. Targeting with his back paws. I've been mainly using his K9 Fit Bone for this. He puts his back paws on the bone and his front paws on the ground.
4. Backing up. I taught Mr. N how to do this by putting two chairs together with a small gap and standing in front of it and rewarding for any moving backward.
5. Standing/sitting on tiny objects. I have Mr. N sit on small things (for him) and he has to figure out how to cram all four paws together.
December's Blog Hop's theme will be rewards during training. Hope you join us on December 1!
Looks like you could start in the circus with all your balancing acts. Nice work and great ways to learn about your "other end".
ReplyDeleteWe've not tried targeting with back legs yet. #UnbelievablySlowStudents :/ Good job, Mr N!
ReplyDeleteNice balance Mr. N!
ReplyDeleteMr. N. You've got me wondering if Harley can do this! Might have to give it a whirl.
ReplyDeleteI like these ideas and tips for Kilo! Always looking for stuff to train indoors. We'll join training hop tomorrow as we do Training Tuesdays. Thanks X Susie.
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all!
ReplyDeleteMr. N I usually just lift one leg at a fire hydrant...course my Human says I'm too big to stand on top of one.
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Rita is aware of her back end... when she's licking it. Oh, is that not what you meant? :) Rita would be too afraid to go near a ladder, but we'll try some of the other things. Thanks for the helpful post!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about having them on small objects. Nola does it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about dogs! That's very interesting and something else we can work on with Luke.
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
Good job Mr. N.
ReplyDeleteI've done some hiny awareness with Heidi using a semi-inflated BOSU. I have her put her front paws on it, and then we move in unison around the BOSU. Sometimes I have her put all four feet on it, and sometimes just her hind feet. We haven't done it enough yet to see clear rewards, but there has been some improvement. Just getting her on the unstable BOSU was tough in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI never even thought of "rear end awareness" as "a thing." It makes complete sense. I, too, can see how it might be more difficult for a large dog, though very large dogs do quite well "backing it up" to sit on the furniture, with their front paws on the ground. This is really interesting, and Mr. N's accomplishments are impressive!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if the cogis are aware of their rear drumsticks (they're soooo far away from the front ones). Dewi can back up, though (he does it regularly) and he can sit straight up and balance (still don't know if that mans he knows he has legs under him). :/
ReplyDeleteMr. N makes EVERYTHING look so easy...and it's impossible not to ooh and ahh over that face!
They usually recommend pivoting as a good first trick for rear awareness. I can see how the Corgis could have difficulties! Mr. N has no self esteem issues lol!
DeleteI think Gretel has hind leg awareness but we've never done any training. She can stand on really small things like you described. Also, we tried to do a an agility ladder once. She didn't do it the right way but it was a pretty amazing feat. It was elevated about 6 inches off the ground and she was supposed to teeter-totter through it (I think). Instead, she got up on op of the rungs - front legs on one rung and back on another - and walked across the top of the whole things that way! The agility lady was really impressed. I think doing some of the training exercises you mention would be fun with her.
ReplyDeleteOh this is great. Ossian needs this. He basicly runs on his front legs. Great things to train. Thanks for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh this is great. Ossian needs this. He basicly runs on his front legs. Great things to train. Thanks for sharing!!!!
ReplyDelete*claps paws* Well done!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if my humom is going to start trying to get me to balance on items?
Great job! Well now you have us very curious, we're going to have to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteI love training and giving dogs a "job" -- keeps their brains active and mine, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm just amazed how you can stand on some of the objects your do! :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting training exercises. Looks like Mr N is doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteone of my favorite training games! So many dogs don't know they have a booty and this game is a fun one to teach. great post!
ReplyDeleteI would love to get a Fit Bit Bone for the boys to use. They both know back-up because they get too close to play fetch. ☺
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I never really thought of this and I'm pretty sure Ruby is not very aware of her rear end.
ReplyDeleteMy dogs are all pretty good at backing up, perhaps because they are all pretty small.
ReplyDeleteWe learned something new. We had no idea the back legs could work differently than the front legs.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting, I've never thought about rear end awareness. Mr N looks so cute in these photo!
ReplyDeleteLove & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us And We Luv Them
This is really interesting, I've never thought about rear end awareness. Mr N looks so cute in these photo!
ReplyDeleteLove & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us And We Luv Them
Walter really struggled with this - our nosework trainer actually pointed this out when we were at class a few years ago. He had to search in a tub and getting over the tub area was difficult for him so we totally did some of the techniques you mention in this post. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteMr N is so smart - I didn't realise why dogs did all these things, so thanks for the 'rear end awareness' education :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible post! I didn't realize that dogs lack awareness of their hind legs, but it makes sense. Chuleta is pretty aware of her hind legs and has been able to balance and reverse on her own (I take no credit for this) for her entire life. Nowadays, with her luxated hind patellas, she continues to be aware, but because she is so sensitive.
ReplyDelete