Dioritt

Hi.

My mini is now 8 months and has started standing up and taking a few steps on his back legs. This isn't a taught behaviour, it's something he just suddenly started doing of his own accord, mostly when somebody comes in. He knows he mustn't jump up, so he's taken to this standing/walking behaviour instead.

I'm thinking I could use this behaviour to train some tricks (he knows lots already and loves learning new ones) but I'm concerned about whether it can be damaging to his back.

Anybody know anything about this?

fjm

When I took Poppy to puppy classes, the teacher advised us not to encourage the pups walk on their hind legs until they were adults - then she looked at the two poodles in the class, and said poodles would do it anyway! I think I would wait until she is fully grown before teaching her tricks based upon it, but not worry if she does it spontaneously.

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To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

Dioritt

That's what I was thinking, FJM. Just like with agility, I don't think it's a good idea to do anything that will put unnecessary strain on their joints while they're still growing. I thought I'd ask though as my son's eager to teach him to walk. I'll explain to him why we shouldn't yet, and find something else he can easily train.

outwest

My poodle walks on her back legs a lot. I didn't encourage it when she was younger, but she did it so often I stopped worrying about it. It is tremendously cute! I would let him do it on his own, not encourage it and when he is a year old he should be able to be trained to do it without hurting himself. I hope so anyway because my poodle is a year old and now dances.

Dioritt

Well I don't think I'm going to be able to stop him. He's doing it a lot now. Every time we're going to have a training session (we have many short sessions throughout the day) he's up on his back legs dancing about and whenever people come through the door. I shan't encourage it, though. Not yet.

Leooonie

It seems like a 'poodle' thing!

Harley is now 3 and can 'stay' on his back legs, 'hop', walk forwards and backwards, and go from beign on his back legs to lowering himself to a 'beg' . all very impressive. so I would wait a while, treat her occasionally for doing it, but wait till she is a bit older (a yr or more) before you actively start teaching her any tricks on her back legs. it'd be much more useful to have a good regime of other tricks before trying the more difficult ones.. this will increase her drive, and make her more willing to learn

poodles are just so clever they can learn anything at any age

tortoise

Just don't push past the point of fatigue and it is fine. It's when you're thinking you're going to walk a young dog for 2 miles on its hind legs that it could be a problem.

Just like starting any unusual activity, it will take some time to develop the muscles.

The stand to beg is a challenging exercise - I don'ts think it is appreciated enough!

LEUllman

Walking on two legs is a classic poodle trait, much beloved of circus trainers. Check out at 2:25, where a gray mini balances on its hind legs -- on a tightrope!

petitpie

Thanks, that was amazing video!

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petitpie

"Oh, dance pixy,dance
Twirl, spin, prancing pixy, whirl
Gleaming eyes twinkle"


Perfect visual in your Haiku, Outwest!

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