Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 15:18:59 +1100 From: "Robards" Subject: Re: Teaching dog to ride skateboard. Thanks and more Info. - -------- > From: DOGDORIGHT > > Date: Monday, 29 December 1997 8:21 Hi tigs, great to hear from you, so THAT was the reason for sitting on the a board. <snip> >>>> I purchased a used skateboard for him that is built in an unusual manner; it's > about twice as wide as the usual street board. I thought that this would be > easier for him to balance on.<<< Geat thinking, my boards are wide as well for that very reason, more balance. >>>> Question: Would it be ok to teach the "Pop-It' with the targeting on the fin and "Get On Board" with the targeting on the circle at the same time but not the same session? Let's say "Pop-It" in the AM and "Get On Board" in the PM<<<<< ANSWER: Sure tigs but I would use a different area for teaching "get on board" and I don't know whether the barriers still remain for "get on Board" so perhaps remove those as well to avoid confusion. I would also leave the tow rope obvious and before beginning that particular lesson just tow the board yourself for a few seconds. One day your dog will surprise you and hop on it!!! Give a jackpot!!! Why I mention this as they are similar behaviours so by helping to make a distinction between the two by changing the props will assist in the learning. I am glad to hear you are keeping them as separate tricks, should look really cute. You have done marvellously yourself already, adding targets to help. I used barriers as well in the beginning so the dog wouldn't run around the side to get the lure, I didn't have the advantage of a clicker then. If a dog falls off when I am towing I want it to automatically jump back on from any angle, when they are back on I reward by hand and the dog only a receives reward when on the board so how you work it out with your clicker I can't advise you with that, I try to instill pleasant associations with the board so sometimes, if it hits a wall ... well.... If you are always positioned at the front of the board and that is where the treats come from, your dog will jump on it correctly.However if you are not there, this is what happened to me. I was making a commercial which involved a skateboard and the Props guy had been angling the wheels, finished what he needed to adjust and left near a slope on a road. Spot, who loves riding hopped on and went sailing past us while we all stood there gawping like stunned mullets because he was riding it backwards! BTW, when I am at the stage of them free riding I put a visual marker out where I think the board will end up. No matter if is a bit cockered. I don't know whether you use a release command but my  dogs are taught never to jump off until I "free" them . The dog is on a sit stay a few feet (gradually increasing the distance, depends on yourself) at the back of the board waiting for you to cue "get on board" which you can give from any angle if you do decide to uses a marker in the distance. I place the board on a slope and put a tiny pebble under a front wheel to stop the board from rolling down the hill. It is really does looks impressive when the dog goes sailing past not even bothering to look at you (we know they are looking at the marker.) It is good training to look straight ahead, more realisitic. Pat Robards and her Jack Russells probards@ozemail.com.au NSW Australia

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