{"id":9829,"date":"2021-08-16T22:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T22:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=9829"},"modified":"2021-08-16T22:00:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T22:00:17","slug":"the-rise-of-platform-training-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=9829","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Platform Training"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

The post The Rise of Platform Training<\/a> by dogedit<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n

The magic of animals on platforms dates back some 160 years to trained horses on boxes and later to circus lions on pedestals. There\u2019s just something about your own perch. And dog trainers have taken notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe circus world learned that if you put an animal up on a platform that they can stay on, they\u2019ll be perfectly happy to stay there,\u201d says Michele Pouliot, a positive reinforcement trainer and international clinician who champions the use of platforms through canine freestyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think in about any kind of dog training, you can come up with a logical reason to use some kind of platform,\u201d Michele says. And for many dogs, it has become an ideal place for times when the doorbell rings or during meals.<\/p>\n

Michele witnessed the benefits of the box by accident while training for competitive obedience in a California training facility in the 1970s. Years later, when she started freestyle, she brought the box out of storage. Her dogs learned the mixture of obedience, trick training and dance cues rapidly through building up a reward history within a clearly defined space.<\/p>\n

Why It Works<\/h3>\n

Both dog and human have clarity of position by delineating their place on a raised surface. \u201cIt gives them a clear defined boundary \u2026 Having that and a particular default behavior on that boundary is what you are really looking for,\u201d says certified professional dog trainer Heather Lawson.<\/p>\n

Heather encourages an automatic down as a default because it is a relaxed position, and you really do want your dog to stay there. \u201cIn reality, they don\u2019t do a lot of sitting. It is only because we ask them to sit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, it\u2019s great for an older dog new to your home, because the platform creates a sense of structure and a place for security, Heather explains. Teaching your senior to go to a particular location such as a dog bed or mat moved to a different location becomes an easy transition at the vet and easily accomplished by placing the mat on top of the platform while training. It\u2019s a two-for-one! Platforms can provide conditioning opportunities for your older friend. (See professional dog trainer and movement specialist Lori Stevens\u2019 specially created protocol Two Paws Up for Seniors in the sidebar on page 52).<\/p>\n

After six to eight weeks, they\u2019ll be stronger and ultimately more confident to move Lori says. Note: For all dogs, and particularly older dog safety, place a non-skid material underneath to prevent the platform sliding on slippery floors like wood and tile.<\/p>\n

When using a platform to train puppies, training time is key. Choose it carefully so your puppy is able to focus on staying on the platform. Exercise the puppy beforehand, so he\u2019s more likely to stay put, and keep sessions short and sweet.<\/p>\n

Use For Home<\/h3>\n