How to teach a dog to make a “snake”?

In order to teach the dog to “snake”, you can use the methods of pointing (target) and pushing.

Guidance method

It is necessary to prepare a couple of dozen pieces of tasty food for the dog and take a few pieces in each hand. Training begins from the starting position, in which the dog sits to the left of the trainer.

First you need to give the command “Snake!” and take a big step with your right foot. After that, you should freeze in this position and present the dog with a piece of treat with your right hand so that it passes between the legs. Then you need to lower your right hand between your legs and move your hand to the right and slightly forward. When the dog passes between the legs, feed him a piece of food and take the same wide step with your left foot. Following this, you need to lower your left hand between your legs, show the dog a treat and, moving your hand to the left and slightly forward, make it pass between your legs, and then feed a piece of food. In the same way, you need to take a couple more steps and then arrange a break with a fun game.

After about half an hour, the exercise can be repeated. Since the method of induction is not associated with coercion and negative emotions, the frequency of repetition of the trick and the number of sessions per day are determined by the availability of free time and the dog’s desire to eat. But you should not rush: the number of steps per exercise and the speed of movement should be increased gradually. To do this, introduce a probabilistic reinforcement: feed the dog not for every step and make the hand movements less and less pronounced over and over again. As a rule, dogs quickly understand that unusually large steps are accompanied by the owner’s demand to pass between the legs, and begin to make a “snake” without additional manipulations.

Fighting fears

If your dog is afraid to walk between his legs, do a few prep sessions. Prepare treats, put the dog to bed. Stand over your pet so that it lies between your legs, and in this position, feed the dog a few pieces of food. Without changing position, stand the dog and feed her a treat again.

Take a starting position. Take a big step with your right foot and freeze. Slowly feed your dog the treats, gradually making him go deeper between his legs. When the dog finally passes between the legs, do not take the next step, but, remaining in this position, get the dog to come back. Make it pass between your legs two or three times while you are standing still. It will be possible to move to the movement only when the dog boldly and confidently passes under you when you are standing.

Small dog training

In order to teach the “snake” to a small dog, use a telescopic fountain pen, a pointer, or purchase a special device – a target. The easiest way is to cut a stick that fits your dog’s height.

So, first you need to prepare a stick and attach a piece of food that is attractive to the dog to one of its ends. And in a pocket or in a waist bag, you need to put a couple more dozen of the same pieces.

Take the stick with the food target in your right hand, then call the dog and ask him to take a starting position on your left. Give the dog the command “Snake!” and take a big step with your right foot. With your right hand, bring the food target to the dog’s nose and, moving it to the right, make the dog pass between your legs. When he does this, sharply raise the stick up and immediately feed the dog a few pre-prepared pieces of treat. Take a step with your left foot and, manipulating the target stick with your left hand, make the dog pass between the legs. And then proceed as described above.

On the 3rd-4th day of training, you can use the stick without attaching a food target to it. And after a few workouts, you can refuse the stick.

Pushing method

You can teach the dog to “snake” and using the method of pushing. To do this, put a wide collar on your pet, fasten a short leash and prepare a couple of dozen pieces of his favorite food.

You need to start from the starting position, in which the dog sits to the left of the owner. The command “Snake!” is given to the dog, after which the owner must take a wide step with his right foot, and then freeze in this position and shift the leash from his left hand to his right between his legs. Then, pulling the leash with your right hand or slightly tugging on it, you must ensure that the dog passes between the trainer’s legs. As soon as she does this, be sure to praise her and feed her a few pieces of food.

Then you need to take a wide step with your left foot, in the same way shifting the leash between your legs from your right hand to your left. By pulling or tugging on the leash with your left hand, you need to force the dog to pass between the legs, after which do not forget to praise him. Thus, you need to take at least a couple more steps, and then you can arrange a break with a fun game.

Pulling and tugging on the leash should not be unpleasant or painful for the dog, otherwise the learning process will be slow, if not at all, if the dog is very frightened. Over time, the effects of the leash should become less and less pronounced and eventually disappear altogether. And when the dog will make a “snake” without your influence with a leash, it will be possible to unfasten it.