puppy Platform training
Training puppies? Consider incorporating a stationing platform into your training plan! A stationing platform provides many benefits. It not only serves as a designated and safe space for training, but it exposes puppies to novel surfaces, keeps puppies focused (the puppies will know that it’s training time), and helps you observe and manage behavior. Platforms also help you manipulate body position more precisely so that core skills can be learned more quickly, a powerful advantage for dog sports. You will be amazed to see the many ways that you can use a platform!
A platform can be almost anything—a sturdy wooden box, a footstool, or any other sturdy object that elevates the puppy off the ground. You’ll just want to ensure that the platform is not slippery and that it does not have any gaps to trap little paws. In this video, KPA CTP Carol Creamer is using a foam pad to teach a puppy how to station on a foam block platform.
When you begin platform training, reward the puppy for going to, and eventually climbing on, the platform. The key to platform training is strategic treat delivery; note how Carol resets the behavior by tossing the treat behind the puppy.
Interested in growing your business by offering puppy classes? Karen Pryor Academy offers a curriculum focused on growing your business and running a successful puppy course. Set up your class for success by introducing novel stimuli, different surfaces, and noises. The KPA curriculum includes essential tips on format, organization, and management techniques! Learn more about KPA's Puppy Start Right for Instructors course.
Happy Training!