Figure 8
Tricks · 8 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to weave under their owner's legs while they stand still with their legs in a wide stance, for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Figure 8'.
Training steps
Lure under your legs 1 at a time
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With Your Dog beside you, take a wide stance and bend your knee forward on the leg opposite Your Dog. Use a treat to lure them under your bent knee, then reinforce them in a forward-facing position as they come out the other side. Immediately repeat on the other side. Preloading both hands with treats helps keep things moving.
Success: Your Dog goes under one leg.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure under both of your legs
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog under one leg, then the other, completing a full figure 8 path before reinforcing with a treat.
Success: Your Dog goes under both legs.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Fade the lure
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Make the same luring motion under each bent knee, but with an empty hand and the treats tucked in your other hand or pouch. Guide Your Dog through the full figure 8, then reward once they come out the far side. This bridges from following food to following your hand.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Large hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Bend your knee and guide Your Dog under it with an empty hand, then repeat on the other side before reinforcing with a treat.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Small hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Bend your knee and point to the side you want Your Dog to be on. Repeat with each leg to create a figure 8 path.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Figure 8' before bending your knee and pointing once per leg.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Say the verbal cue 'Figure 8' before bending each knee. Do not point. Wait to see if Your Dog goes through the bent leg. Repeat with the other leg to complete the figure 8.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Ask for 2 figure 8s
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Prompt Your Dog to do a full figure 8 twice before reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog does a figure 8.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Figure 8.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.