How to Teach your Dog to Skateboard

If you’ve seen any videos of Tillman skating Bulldog riding along a street, then you’re aware the fun the sight of a dog cruising along on a board is. The technique may seem difficult to learn however with the appropriate dogs’ food treats and a little determination, that you are able to teach your dog.

BeChewy met with the world’s top skater William Delago and dog trainer Aly DelaCoeur the founder the website Why Does My Dog? to learn their suggestions on how you can get the dog you love to learn skateboarding.

Think About your Dog’s Breed and Age, as well as their Athletic Capacity

Before you teach your dog how to skateboard, it is essential that you look at a few aspects. The first is to be sure that the technique is something your dog physically is able to perform. Delacour For instance, she has been working together with her Pit Bull to hop onto the board but she hasn’t convinced the Lhasa Apsos to take it on. “The Pit Bull has a extremely muscular back that helps him be more stable on the board.

However, my second and third dogs tend to be smaller with squirmy knee. They are prone to injury easily and aren’t suited for this type of work,” she explains. While all dogs can learn skateboard Delago insists that some breeds, including bulldogs, are more suited to do it over other breeds. Welsh Corgis, for instance come with legs small to be able to get their feet from the skateboard.

It’s also essential to talk to your vet to ensure you’re dog in good shape and is healthy enough to take on the rigors of skateboarding. You don’t want to let a pet that is anxious on a skateboard. “You would like a dog who is a go-getter. There’s a chance that he’s anxious at first with skateboards, but eventually the dog will get used to it and join in,” says DelaCoeur. “If your dog that’s very shy and does not want to play with new things do not force him to. It’s not worth damaging your relationship with your dog just for an interesting trick.”

Make your Dog Accustomed to Skateboarding

Before you teach your dog how to skate, you need ensure that he is actually enjoying the actual skateboard. As per our experts, it is best to start by introducing the skateboard your dog, and ensure that he’s happy near it. “Let the dog take a sniff and walk around it and offer him plenty of food and plenty of energy,” DelaCoeur notes.

Once the dog is comfortable with the board that is stationary, you can begin moving the board just a bit to introduce the dog to the idea that it’s not stationary.

“For most dogs, this is when they become scared of something moving,” DelaCoeur adds. The skateboard should be moved a slightly, and give your dog treats whenever the dog is attentive and observes the skateboard.

Try a Stationary Skateboard First

The next step is to ensure that it is essential that the skateboard doesn’t move. Set it on either the lawn or the floor to keep it in place, or to lock the wheels. “You are trying to get the dog onto the skateboard, and you need it to be stationary as if it moved when the dog is trying to learn how to use it, he could become scared and not ever again approach it,” says DelaCoeur.

“You might also consider making your dog jump onto those steps that are aerobically stackable initially, as they are roughly the same height as skateboards, however they aren’t moving.” The goal is to help the dog develop the muscle memory needed to climb up on something.

Get behind the skateboard and place your hands over it, with dog’s treat in front of your dog’s eyes. Slowly lead your dog toward the skateboard until they step onto it. Then, once your dog is on the skateboard, congratulate him for getting on the board. Offer him high-value snacks like Hot dogs, cheese or boiling chicken, and ask for him to remain. You can then give him more treats for being at a distance.

Do not rush through this process. “You would like to go at an appropriate pace for your pet. It’s not a good idea to force him to do something and then cause him to be scared. Based on the dog you have, it may take only 5 minutes, or it could take several days,” adds DelaCoeur. Try it over several days and break for breaks.

The Skateboard is Moving your Dog

When your dog is at ease skating gradually begin moving the skateboard just a bit. “If you see him swerving off, it’s okay. This is all part of the game,” says DelaCoeur. Repeat this process until you’re able move the skateboard just slightly and your dog remains on it.

Learn to Teach your Dog to Move the Skateboard

The next step is to Delago suggests attaching a lead or rope on the back of the board to ensure that you can have complete control over the board. Also, he suggests that you shouldn’t let your dog go from his side when they are in front of the skateboard.

“Once the dog is accustomed to the movement of the board moving along with him sitting on top of it, let him put two paws onto the skateboard. Then, using your hand or foot to move the skateboard side to side, only an inch,” DelaCoeur explains. “The dog will be required to master the ability to transfer his weight that he can move alongside skating.”

In the next step, gradually increase how you move the skateboard until the dog’s front paws remain on the skateboard but his rear paws have to be pushed to move along with the skateboard. In the next step, DelaCoeur suggests to gradually increasing the amount of distance till your dog realizesthat “Oh. I can make use of my back paws in order to push the skateboard toward the food.” If your dog isn’t interested, she suggests you can make use of toys or pay focus.

“Eventually the dog is going to understand that when they move their front or back foot and the skateboard moves towards my pet and receive a massive reward when I’m done and get a huge reward at the end,'” she says.

Safety Guidelines when Teaching your Dog to Skateboard

DelaCoeur emphasizes that you need you get the right skateboard to match how big your pet. “My Pit Bull is 66 pounds, which means he’ll require a bit more space on his skateboard than if you’re having an Yorkie do the same,” she explains. “You need to choose the right size skateboard to the size of your dog so that they can stand upright with all four paws in the board.” Delgado says to not use a skateboard which is less than 10.5 inches wide.

When you teach your dog to skateboard, it’s crucial that you practice it in a secure and controlled space. “You do not wish to see your dog start in a parking area then slipping off only to be struck by a vehicle,” warns DelaCoeur.

It is also crucial that if you decide to skate in your driveway or at a park, you remain connected to your skateboard so that you’re in control. “Start with a safe place even if it’s in your home. Start there and gradually move until you are where you want to take you,” says DelaCoeur.

The trainer further advises that you need to pay close the paws of your dog. In the case of a dog who does not enjoy long walks, or isn’t active The foot pads may be extremely soft, and the force of pushing on the skateboard may cause injury to the pads.

Conclusion

“It’s crucial to be on the lookout for this,” she explains.The art of teaching your dog skateboard is a enjoyable activity that can create an enjoyable bonding activity for both of you. Skateboarding is an excellent mental stimulation for dogs with high energy. “Teaching the dogs to get on a board can help the brain,” she says. “If you have an and energetic dog like me, it’s the ideal way to wear out your dog!”

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