Goal:
Have puppy put their front feet on a low, stable target
What you need:
Non-slippery floor
One large, low, stable target
Cookies
Your puppy
What to do:
Put the platform between you and the puppy
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 any front foot on the platform, mark + treat
Toss a cookie away from the platform
Repeat steps 3-4
What the progression may look like:
Mark + treat any interest in the platform, such as:
Coming close to the platform
Looking at the platform
Sniffing the platform
Mark + treat any part of the body touching the platform, such as:
One paw touching the side of the platform
Nose touching the platform
Any accidental touching of the platform
Mark + treat any front foot on the platform, no matter how briefly
I mark + treat even if the puppy accidentally steps on the platform
Mark + treat both front feet on the platform
I usually jackpot and have a party when the first few times puppy does this