Skateboard
Tricks · 20 steps · by @fearfuldogs
Your Dog will learn to step onto a skateboard, push it along with a back foot or by walking, and hop on to ride a few metres across flat ground for the verbal cue 'Skate'.
The plan runs in three phases: **a board that can't move** (building value for standing on it), **a board that moves a little** (making motion and noise predictable and safe), then **Your Dog makes it move**. The motion steps are Classical on purpose: one startle drops you back, because a dog who gets spooked by a rolling board can take a long time to trust it again.
**Safety first:** flat ground only, never a slope; no leash on the dog while riding; never push the board with Your Dog on it faster than a slow walk. Keep sessions short (a few sets), especially for puppies and for long-backed or giant breeds. If Your Dog hops off, that's allowed every time: stepping off is the dog's exit, never a mistake to fix.
Training steps
Meet the blocked board
Setup: Board on a rug, wheels wedged with rolled towels so it cannot roll or rock. Your Dog is loose in the room.
Mark and treat any interest in the board: looking at it, sniffing it, stepping toward it. Drop the treat on or right beside the board. No luring; let Your Dog choose to go near.
Success: Your Dog looks at, sniffs, or moves toward the board.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Paw on a folded towel
Setup: A folded towel on the floor next to the blocked board.
Rebuild the idea of putting a foot on something. Mark any front paw touching the towel and treat low, near the towel. When this is easy, move the towel on top of the board.
Success: A front paw lands on the towel.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
One front paw on the board
Setup: Board blocked on the rug. Your Dog standing near it.
Mark the moment a front paw lands on the board, then treat low and in front so the paw can stay. You may toss a reset treat away from the board between reps.
Success: One front paw lands on the board.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Both front paws on the board
Setup: Board blocked on the rug.
Hold out for both front paws. Treat low, at the front edge of the board, so Your Dog's weight shifts forward onto it.
Success: Both front paws on the board.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Three paws on
Setup: Board blocked on the rug.
With both front paws on, feed slightly forward so a back foot steps up. Mark the first back paw landing.
Success: Both front paws plus one back paw on the board.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
All four paws on the board
Setup: Board blocked on the rug.
Mark all four paws on the board and treat while Your Dog is still standing on it. Place work helps here if you've trained it.
Success: All four paws on the board for at least a moment.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Four paws, hold 3 seconds
Setup: Board blocked on the rug.
Once all four are on, count 3 seconds, feeding once or twice during the hold, then mark and treat. Release with your release word and toss a treat off the board.
Success: Stays on with all four paws for 3 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
The board rolls nearby
Setup: On a hard floor. Your Dog a few metres away, free to leave. Board unblocked.
Roll the board slowly a short way (about 30 cm) away from Your Dog, then treat. Rolling predicts food. Start farther away if the wheel noise is loud on your floor.
Success: Your Dog stays loose, looks at the board or you, and eats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Front paws on, board rocks
Setup: Board on the rug, one towel removed so it can rock slightly but not roll. Your foot steadies the back end.
With both front paws on, let the board rock a centimetre, then treat. Just a tiny, predictable wobble.
Success: Keeps paws on, stays relaxed, eats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Front paws on, board rolls 5 cm
Setup: Board on the rug, towels removed. Your foot behind the back wheels.
With both front paws on, ease your foot back so the board rolls about 5 cm forward, stop it, and treat. The rug slows it; you control the distance.
Success: Front paws stay on, body loose, eats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Four paws on, board rolls 15 cm
Setup: Board on the rug, you kneeling beside it, one hand on the deck.
With all four paws on, slide the board slowly about 15 cm with your hand, stop, treat. Stepping off is always allowed: just reset.
Success: Rides the short roll calmly and eats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Front paws ride, back feet walk
Setup: Board on a smooth hard floor. Your Dog puts both front paws on.
Hold a treat just in front of Your Dog's nose and move it slowly forward so the back feet walk and the board rolls with the front paws riding. Mark after about 30 cm of rolling.
Success: Front paws stay on while the board rolls about 30 cm.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Front paws ride 1 metre
Setup: Smooth hard floor.
Same as before, but walk the lure forward for about 1 metre before marking. Keep the pace slow.
Success: Front paws stay on for about 1 metre of rolling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
One back paw on, board still
Setup: Board on the rug so it barely rolls. Front paws on.
Feed forward and slightly up so one back paw steps onto the board. Mark that paw landing.
Success: One back paw steps onto the board.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Push, then hop on
Setup: Smooth hard floor. Front paws on the board.
Lure forward so Your Dog walks the board 2 or 3 steps, then slow the lure so the back feet step up and all four ride briefly. Mark the moment all four are on while it rolls.
Success: Walks it forward, then gets all four paws on while it's rolling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Ride 1 metre to a hand target
Setup: Smooth hard floor. Stand about 2 metres ahead of the board.
Swap the food lure for your flat hand as a target. Your Dog pushes off and rides toward you. Mark once the board has rolled about 1 metre with all four paws on, then treat from your other hand.
Success: Pushes and rides about 1 metre with all four paws on, following your hand, not food.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Smooth hard floor. Your Dog near the board.
Say 'Skate', pause 1 second, then show your hand target if needed. Mark once the board has rolled about 1 metre with all four paws on.
Success: Starts to skate for the verbal cue alone.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Smooth hard floor. Hands still at your sides.
Say 'Skate' once. No hand signal. Mark once the board has rolled about 1 metre with all four paws on.
Success: Pushes off and rides about 1 metre for the word alone.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Ride 3 metres
Setup: Long smooth hard floor or a hallway.
Cue 'Skate' and walk along beside the board at its pace. Mark at about 3 metres.
Success: Rides about 3 metres, re-pushing if needed.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Skate somewhere new
Setup: A new FLAT, smooth surface: a garage floor, a quiet level driveway, an empty tennis court. No slope at all.
Go back to 1 metre in the new place. Cue 'Skate' and mark at 1 metre. Rougher ground makes more noise and vibration, so give Your Dog a minute to sniff around first.
Success: Rides about 1 metre for the verbal cue in the new place.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Your Dog can skate! Keep it to flat, smooth ground and short rides. Revisit the proof steps now and then in new places, and pay generously: riding a moving object is a big ask, and it stays fun because it keeps paying.