Goal:
Have puppy put their back feet on a low, stable target
What you need:
Non-slippery floor
One low, stable platform
Cookies
Your puppy
What to do:
Put the platform between you and the puppy, with enough room for puppy to stand with back feet on the platform
Put a cookie on the floor or in a bowl, away from the platform for the puppy to eat
When puppy comes back towards you and puts their front feet on the platform, mark + treat
Before puppy gets off the platform, lure puppy forward so their front feet step off the platform
Mark + treat any back foot on the platform
Toss a cookie away from the platform
Repeat steps 3-6
What the progression may look like:
Mark + treat any back foot on the platform, no matter how briefly
I mark + treat even if the puppy accidentally steps on the platform
Mark + treat both back feet on the platform
I usually jackpot and have a party when the first few times puppy does this