Senior Dog Comfort & Care

Sometimes, it seems like dogs aren’t aware they have back feet! And they may find themselves stuck in a corner or under a chair and have a hard time figuring out how to get out, especially for dogs with vision issues. That’s where the back up cue comes in handy.

To teach your dog this skill, grab your treats and stand about a foot or two away from a wall, facing out and with your legs wider apart than usual. Drop a treat for your dog between your legs and a few inches behind you. The goal is for your dog to walk under your legs to eat the treat. When they take a step backwards after eating the treat, say “Yes!” and drop another treat in the same place under your legs. This sets them up for another repetition.

Watch their back feet in particular — moving the back paws is the behavior you want to reinforce. Once your dog is getting comfortable intentionally moving their back feet, start to add in the verbal cue. With practice, you’ll be able to start asking your dog to back up without using your leg position as a guide. You can start to use corners or other “chute-like” areas to help them succeed. Take it slow and have fun!