I have never before met a dog who was so insistent that he could only use one foot. I feel like we have been trying to get him to shake with his right paw for so long, and FINALLY today he offered a beautiful right shake without hesitation...and then got about 1/4 of a big can of Taste of the Wild wet food for it!!
Even when we were about halfway into training it, he was still so dysfunctional with his right paw, like he had to concentrate *really* hard in order to use it instead of his left. It was funny, but frustrating too.
Now the only trick we need in order to catch up is backing up. You would think this would be easy to lure...not with Frodo...
luring a back can be quite hard; dogs often want to sit. I find it easier to use a channel (like between the wall and the couch) and quickly move into them if you want to "lure" it. And hold the treat lower rather then higher so it doesn't bring their head up.
Otherwise I free shape this with my own dogs, trying to click the offering and then throw the treat between their legs so if I have good aim they have to back up to get that treat, thus offering another clickable moment. Another technique I have used is first teach them to put 2 back feet on a low object, or even a mat. Then have them "back" into the 2o2o position, and gradually gain distance. This way you are clicking a 2o2o position but really teachign the dog how to back up!
Does he know he has a back end yet? It's hard to teach a dog to back up who has no rear end awareness (Hello Mushroom).
I've taught the back up by throwing a treat under a chair so that they go in and get it and then back up to get back out, and then clicking the backing up and throwing the treat under again. I've also taught it simply by using Luce's pretty strong sense of heel position and clicking/treating for moving backward with me, one paw at a time. But she's got a pretty good sense of her back end, which made it easier.
No, he doesn't really "get" that his back end is there, lol.
Right now I have a coffee table and a sofa pushed close to each other, lure him in, and then click when he backs out. We will see how it goes.
Thanks for the suggestions!