Baloo is suddenly having problems with this, probably due to the massive and ongoing growth spurt he's had.The trainer assured me that it's not really uncommon in puppies. I've known of dogs that have had to work on this but have never had to deal with it personally. We didn't get home from our training class until after 10 last night so won't be able to start working with a ladder until I get home from work today, which I've been told is one of the best ways to help a dog understand where it's back end and feet are during movement.
Has anyone else had to help a dog with this problem?

I've helpped one person with this. We made cavalettis out of broom sticks and set them on top of 3# coffee cans. All you need is 3 - 4 of them.

If you would rather buy them pre-made here is a link: http://www.affordableagility.com/cavaletti.htm

I haven't really heard of problems like these, what happens or whats the problem?

Before you send a dog up on elevated agility equipement, you test them on wobbly planks on the ground, long straight boards, etc. Baloo doesn't keep his back legs aligned with his front all the time, frequently landing his back feet off of the planks. Basically, it's a coordination problem with puppies, but some adult dogs do it as well, just rushing ahead without being aware or concerned about where their back feet are. Not a safe thing when doing agility.

Betterdog4u wrote:

I've helpped one person with this. We made cavalettis out of broom sticks and set them on top of 3# coffee cans. All you need is 3 - 4 of them.

If you would rather buy them pre-made here is a link: http://www.affordableagility.com/cavaletti.htm

I put the word out at work that I need coffee cans. We're working with the ladder now and he seems to be getting the concept that he needs to plan what he's doing with those back feet. I doubt that it will be an ongoing problem so don't really see the need for the pre-mades. I'm HOPING this problem will resolve within a few weeks. If not, I've saved that website!

One other thing ... if he "gets" the concept of the ladder figured out, you can elevate the ladder a few inchs a a time with 2x4's in the corners. This will get him to pick up his feet more and get him thinking about deliberate foot placement even more. They do this more for search and rescue training ... but I can see a use for it in Agility too.

We started out with it elevated about 3 inches, and yeah, I'm going to elevate more in the next few days.

Ann wrote:

We started out with it elevated about 3 inches, and yeah, I'm going to elevate more in the next few days.

Sounds great to me!!!

I see, thanks for explaining it! Honestly, so many years on dog forums and I've never heard of this sort of problem! I do hope it resolves itself though!

Already much better. at least I think so, Will be able to tell more when we get back to class this week. Baloo is probably about as tall as he's going to get now...maybe another inch or so to go. The rest will be filling out and gaining muscle mass. Easier for a doggie to deal with, I'd imagine.

Keep us updated with his progress!

He's doing the exercises and seems to me to be doing so much better. Our trainer says he's still not ready for the dogwalk but is staying on the teeter totter and balance boards now. We focused mainly on targeting during our class this week because it was so hot out there and we could do that in the shade. All of the equipment is out in a fenced in field with no trees or any kind of shade.

Great news Ann!!! Keep up the good work!!!

Ann wrote:

Baloo is suddenly having problems with [rear-end awareness] probably due to [his] massive and ongoing growth spurt...
I've known of dogs that have had to work on this but have never had to deal with it personally. We [will] start working with a ladder
[when] I get home from work... I've been told [it] is one of the best ways to help a dog understand where [the] back end and feet
are during movement.
Has anyone else had to help a dog with this problem?

T-Touch exercises with guiding wands and a maze with right-angles are excellent with this -
http://tinyurl.com/2b6lw7n

here is the book - which the library may have: http://tinyurl.com/23jmxow

check out the photo of T-Team here - http://tinyurl.com/26pxo49

scroll to the bottom to see the BC in a T-Team exercise - http://tinyurl.com/23ytgc7

an article and photo - http://tinyurl.com/yccktp7

how to do the BODY WRAP - with a 4-inch wide Ace-Bandage -
if the maze and wands or double-connected leash are too awkward, try the body-wrap:
HOW TO - http://tinyurl.com/b5urnc


or SHAPE a dog to place the Rear-Feet on a raised-surface - a plank, a stair-stepper segment for exercise-class, a thick book
[like a phone-book wrapped tightly in a pillowcase or rubber-banded to hold it as a block - IT CAN SLIP + the dog fall!] -

http://tinyurl.com/28rx8z7

U can do FRONT and REAR pivots on a raised-surface: http://tinyurl.com/2cwlut8

4-MO pup begins to learn handstand: http://tinyurl.com/2cjkzdz

WARNING: this is a clicker-savvy dog and fluent trainer - http://tinyurl.com/24e955v
don't get intimidated, and she is only doing 3 good reps before upping the ante [raising criterion]

happy training,
- terry

wow...thanks, Terry! The Tellington article is great, and the video of the pivots gave me the visual I needed to understand how to get more attention on the back legs! All great info!!