Paddleboard Adventure Phase 1: Little Games

Boston’s job description is pretty simple: go everywhere shit kicker truck dog, backcountry buddy, and professional tag along for whatever my kids and I are doing. He’s not going to be out there doing high flying bite work. He might do a little nose work. But I’ll tell you what he’s perfectly designed for: riding a paddleboard.

Paddleboard season is coming, so I’m getting him ready now. I’ll eventually organize this whole thing into a standalone course, but for now I’m just building it in public.

Phase 1 montage is up on YouTube here: [PADDLEBOARD ADVENTURE: PHASE 1]

Phase 1: little games

It’s still cold out and there’s still snow on the ground, so we’re in the yurt playing small games that build big stuff later.

Also notice I’m not really telling him to do anything. This is mostly me setting up the situation and letting him hunt for the behavior.

What I’m using right now is intentionally simple:

Terminal marker: clicker (that’s the “you’re done, come get paid” sound)  
Continuation marker: “yes” (means keep going)  
The food toss game keeps him on the platform, but he’s got to concentrate. Body awareness on a moving surface while tracking food. Nice little body and brain exercise.

Then I slide logs under the platform to create instability, basically fake waves. Nothing dramatic. Just encouraging environmental stability, core, and body awareness. At its core the lesson is simple: stay organized on the moving platform and you get paid.

We’re just jamming. Phase 1.

The bigger point

This is the church music before the rock and roll.

Build the behavior first. Make it fun. Make it confident. Then later we’ll start layering in more of the specific components of a board on the water. Right now I’m just exposing Boston to as many concepts as I can in a controlled environment before we bring it all together for the real thing.

If you want the foundation behind what you’re seeing

Foundational On Leash Obedience: shaping, luring, fading the lure, letting the dog hunt out the job, and charging markers. 
Ignite Your Training System: reward style, play, and terminal marker power. Especially good for dogs with a little more drive and firepower. [link]  
Advanced Off Leash Obedience: the electronics process I’ll use later to add stability and structure once the behavior exists. [link]  

More coming.