Growing Up FDSA - Free Ebook

WEIGHT SHIFTING

The last piece to this puzzle is training a weight shift. We want our dogs to have more weight coming from their rear when they first launch out of their startline position, whether they are being restrained or not. Dogs who are scrambling trying to run forward before they are released, or dogs who are hovering forward like a vulture, will not be able to take a consistent or powerful first stride. We want consistency! If it takes 7 strides for our dog to get from the back of the dock to the front, we want those to be the same sized stride on every turn. This is how we get the confidence for a dog to power off at the edge of the dog vs slipping and falling in, or taking off early because their striding is out of whack or they are worried about a slip. Get the rear-end powerhouse loaded right at the startline. 

You've already got most of the pieces that we need for this behavior, now it's just time to notice and mark the weight shift. Most dogs will offer this in a standing position most easily, particularly when they are anticipating a release. First we'll take advantage of their anticipation to capture and reward the weight shift, and then we'll put it on cue. 

So following all of the above that you've done with the middle, restraint and bracing, get yourself all set up and toss the cookie or toy out ahead as their visual target. Now just wait briefly. Watch for a sign that your dog is 'holding themself back'- this may come with a slight head raise or you might even feel them lean back a bit in anticipation of being released.  This will always be more subtle if the dog is sitting, so you might be able to feel it more than see it. When you see that first clue, mark it with your release cue and let go. 

Here is a dog who tends to do the leaning forward/vulture move. I don't release her if she's leaning forward or jerking back and forth. When I am holding her in the sit or down, I can feel her lean back just a touch and her head lifts up- this is when I release her. In the very last rep, where I am not holding her, she tends to want to lean forward again- I ask for a back up ("beep beep") and that slight scooch backwards is enough to shift her weight back so I can reward her with a release. 

Build on this- as your dog starts to realize that their action of leaning away from the cookie or toy results in a release, they will start to offer more. 

When you see that your dog is starting to get it,  I add a weight shift cue word. Mine is a whispered 'readyyyyyy' followed by a much louder Get It as a release once they have weight-shifted. Once I start putting this on cue, I will no longer release the dog just for offering a weight shift - only when I specifically have asked for it. We don't want a whole bunch of weight shifting back and forth while they are waiting, or hovering in weight shift mode, as that can be super comfortable and removes some of the benefits of the momentum that you get from releasing the dog just as they offer a weight shift.  I have my dog standing relaxed and focused until I cue readdyyy, and then it's a quick release once they have shifted their weight back. The release is quick after the weight shift to take advantage of the loading in the rear. We are not looking for them to weight shift and then pause before releasing. Load on cue and then go! 

Here is a quick clip of Venom working on her weight shift on the dock. Initially, she offers a weight shift before I am ready and so she doesn't get released for that- I wait until I cue it. (Note that Venom is really well conditioned to handling and I can lift her around on the dock without worrying her- most dogs are going to do better if they get into their stand or sit position on their own. Another big note here: YOUR feet move into the bracing position after your dog has assumed a square stand. You do not move their feet to accommodate your stance for bracing.)