Goal

Puppy is able to move into the sit, down, or stand positions when cued by the handler while keeping front feet on the paw pad.

Prerequisite

• The puppy needs to be able to maintain a stand and/or sit position on the paw pad for 10-20 seconds, without food rewards, while the handler changes positions.
• The puppy must understand the foundational down position.
• The raiser must know all the hand and verbal cues that go along with each position.

Set Up

• A quiet location
• Paw pad against a wall, but not so close that the puppy is able to lean on the wall
• The verbal cue for down will be introduced once the puppy is moving easily into the down position on the paw pad. Luring the down at this stage will be used because the location of the puppy will be different from when he was first introduced to the down position.

Procedure

1. The handler places the paw pad on the floor and stands beside it. The puppy should automatically assume the standing position on the paw pad. Mark and reward.
2. With hand and verbal cue, direct the puppy to sit. Mark and reward.  
3. The handler lures the puppy into the down position. The lure might only be needed a few times before the puppy understands that the down position is at the handler’s side. The puppy’s elbows or chest will be on the paw pad.
4. Once the puppy is in the down position, reward the puppy in rapid succession to keep him in the position. The left hand can deliver more kibble to the right to ensure the puppy stays in position until given another cue.
5. After 5-10 seconds of being in the down position, the handler cues the puppy into the sit position. The handler might need to bend over to give the hand cue at the puppy’s level. Mark and reward.
6. Start sequence over, slowly increasing the time between rewards, to work on duration.
7. Once the puppy is able to maintain the down position for 10-20 seconds with the handler standing up between rewards, cue the puppy to stand. Mark and reward. After 10-20 seconds of standing, cue to down position again, and repeat the sequence.
8. The puppy should be able to move through the 3 positions randomly. Focus on any areas of difficulty while practicing.
9. It is important that the puppy NOT be rewarded if he changes position without being cued.