Training Leash Walking with a Platform: Teaching Your Dog to Stay on the Platform

Your dog should be comfortable putting his/her paws on the platform.
Your dog should understand the clicker (or other distinct marker you have chosen)
Your dog should understand his release word.
You should be able to move your dog around by doing a nose touch on your hand.

Start by putting the treats right in front of your dog so he/she doesn’t have to move off the platform. We are trying to get your dog to feel “glued” to the platform.
In Part Two pull the treat toward you and slightly downward so your dog has to stretch to get it. Out and down, not straight.

Part 1

Lure your dog until he/she has both back feet on the platform.
Click and jackpot (rapid fire treats one right after the other)
Use click and treat to keep the behavior going for several seconds.
Use touch or your release word to get your dog off the platform and give him/her a break.
Repeat these steps four or five times.
When your dog is eager to have his/her back feet on the platform and seems “glued” there, move on to Part 2.

Start with your dog’s back feet on the platform.
Take a treat a lure just a few inches in front and slightly downwards until his/her weight shifts slightly forward, but the feet don’t come off the platform.
If he/she moves his/her feet, start over and don’t move your lure quite so much.
Click and treat for success.
Lure a little more each time. Your dog should shift his/her weight a little more each time.
Repeat this four or five times.

When starting, count out 20 treats and jackpot five treats at a time in rapid succession as in part one. Do this until the treats are gone. Repeat this 4-5 times a day for the first three days.
On day four start counting 10 treats, begin clicking and treating (one treat), and use click and treat to extend the time your dog keeps his feet on the platform. Use release or touch to get him off the platform and start again. Do this five times a day until your dog is ready to move on to Part 2.
When your dog is ready for Part 2: Count out ten treats and practice until they are gone. Do this at least three times a day.

At the end of this exercise your dog should be stretching forward as if his/her feet are glued to the platform.