Benefits:

• Strengthens your dog’s Adductors and ABductors

• Engages your dog’s core

• Improves overall balance and coordination

Equipment:

• Don’t necessarily need equipment. Can start this exercise on the ground.

• You can use a long slightly elevated piece of equipment. Or two shorter pieces of equipment placed side by side. For example, two collapsed stools side by side. You could also use an elevated sidewalk if your street isn’t too busy.

• It is not required but can help some dogs, especially ones familiar with rear foot targeting, to place down a flat piece of equipment your dog’s length distance from the elevated object. 

Set-Up:

• If you don’t have equipment, then all you need is a non-slip surface to practice on.

• If you are using equipment, then just set down the piece(s) of equipment anywhere where you have room on non-slip ground surface.

• If you’re also using a flat piece of equipment (such as a bathmat or yoga mat), place it away from the elevated object at the distance equal to the measurement from your dog’s withers to the base of their tail. This is the same measurement used for the Finding a Balanced Stand exercise.

• The reasoning behind having a flat rear foot target is to help your dog think about their rear feet. Some dogs as they sidestep will begin to bring their rear legs under their bodies. If your dog has a good understanding of rear foot targeting, then the flat object will your dog better coordinate their rear limbs and encourage them to keep their rear legs out with appropriate form.

• How you apply body pressure will greatly depend on your individual dog. Some dogs are much more sensitive than others. Getting your dog to move sideways will be a bit of trial and error. There are 2 main methods people use to get their dog to move but you can try a varying degree of both:

• Standing at the Side of your dog

• Standing in Front of your Dog

How To:

1. Stand on one end of the elevated object and toss a treat directly behind it. If you’re not using equipment, still toss a treat behind them to help them approach you in a straight line. When your dog returns, reward, guide them into a balanced stand and ask for stillness.

1. Depending on how well your dog understands a balanced stand, try to get your dog to start off in the best form possible. Ideally, we want to see: 

1. Hocks perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other

2. Breed appropriate level topline

3. Forelimbs held straight under shoulders and parallel to each other. 

4. If your dog is still learning how to hold a balanced stand, just do your best to start your dog off in the best stand they’re capable of at the moment.

2. If you want to try standing to the Side of your dog:

1. Keep your treat hand at your dog’s nose so they stay facing forward, then rotate your body to their side. 

2. Subtly rotate the treat towards your body and apply gentle pressure towards the dog (away from you) while stepping forward into the dog. 

3. Your dog will most likely move away from your body pressure.

3. If you want to try standing in Front of your dog:

1. Turn your dog’s head slightly in the opposite direction of where you want them to move, then apply gentle pressure in the direction you want them to go. Begin walking sideways with them as they move.

2. Example: To move your dog to their LEFT, turn their head slightly to the RIGHT and apply pressure into them. The head turn and pressure encourage movement in the opposite direction.

4. For some dogs, they’re not comfortable with you at their side, but if you stand in front they need a bit more help move both ends of their body. In this case, move your body so you’re offset from their nose in the opposite direction you want them to move. This will still apply body pressure but not be as abrasive as standing right next to them.

5. Once your dog takes a step or two - stop and reward. It is not about how fast your dog can go. We want them to learn how to take slow, controlled steps.

6. Remember to work both sides evenly.

Troubleshooting:

• If you find one part of your dog is moving faster than the other, adjust how much pressure you’re applying to each end. 

• For example if your dog’s forelimbs are moving more than their back legs, lighten up on your treat hand pressure and move your body or hand more to their rear end in order to apply more spatial pressure there. Then adjust accordingly, depending on which end of the dog is moving faster or slower.

• If your dog is moving too much or too fast, then lessen how much pressure you’re applying to your dog.

• If your dog is moving too slow, then they need a bit more pressure applied.

Goal:

• Your dog should move their forelimbs and rear limbs simultaneously from side to side. They should be able to maintain proper form throughout all parts of the exercise. 

• Proper Form:

• Forelimbs - Held straight under the shoulders, legs parallel to each other

• Rear limbs - Hocks Perpendicular to the ground, legs parallel to each other

• Topline - Breed Appropriate 

• Ideally, you want their outside leg to be leading with each step.

• For example if you’re going to the RIGHT, then they should step with their RIGHT limbs first, then their LEFT limbs should follow. 

• This coordination will come with time. Don’t worry too much about it when they’re first learning. Just get your mechanics down so they learn the movement.