Forward chaining involves the dog learning to chain a series of behaviors, usually in an orderly fashion from the first to the last behavior. The behaviors are taught in the order in which they should be performed.
As the dog makes progress through the steps, there is a build-up of anticipation brought about by the eagerness to complete the final step and receive the well-deserved reward. Backchaining proves very successful when it comes to training a dog to perform complex behaviors.
There are several advantages to using back chaining as a way of training dogs. First, the small steps involved in the process are quite easy for the dog to assimilate and the small incremental successes only work to instill more confidence in the dog. As the dog makes progress through the steps, there is a build-up of anticipation brought about by the eagerness to complete the final step and receive the well-deserved reward.
When dogs are learning the basics, they are taken through simple, single behaviors. These include come, down and sit. Once the training becomes more advanced, the dogs are introduced to the chaining of several single behaviors. When it comes to learning behavior chains, there are two ways that are used in behavior training:
In back chaining, the order of behaviors is reversed. This means that the last behavior is performed first, with the preceding behavior following. The behaviors are carried out in a backwards fashion. If you are looking to teach a dog to drop a toy in the basket, start out by teaching the dog to drop the toy in the basket. Every time this is done successfully, reward the dog.
Use “Backchaining” to Teach Your Dog All the Steps in a Fixed Behavior Chain
When training your dog a behavior chain of retrieving something, like a Multipet Lamb Chop plush toy, and puttting it in a box, here’s what the finished behavior should look like:
To backchain, you start with steps five and six, which are dropping the toy into the box to earn a click and a treat.
First, cue your pup to grab the toy from you while he stands right over the box. (NOTE: If you’re having issues with your dog grabbing the toy, you’ll need to train that behavior separately and give it a cue, such a “take it.”)
Once your dog picks up the toy, start backchaining by cueing “drop it.” Once your dog drops the toy into the box, click and treat. Repeat steps five and six many times, so the dog is really jazzed about dropping the toy into the box to earn the click and treat.
Now it’s time to add the previous step, which is carrying the toy to the box. Assuming you practiced steps five and six many times, your pup should be eager to get to the box to drop the toy.
This makes teaching step four as simple as placing the toy on the floor near to the box, cueing your dog to take it and then waiting for him to poke his nose over the rim of the box before you cue “drop it.” You might not even need to cue “bring the toy to the box.”
Gradually place the toy further away from the box before cueing “take it,” so your dog must take more steps toward the box with the toy. If he drops the toy too early, go back to a closer distance and build up again more slowly.
Once your dog will carry the toy across the room to the box, start to ask him to stay while you walk away and place the toy on the floor. Then release your dog and cue him to pick up the toy, which he’ll probably grab and drop in the box since that’s earned him so many clicks and treats.
You also can throw the toy while your dog stays at your side, and then cue him to go get the toy. If he won’t walk over to get the toy when it’s far away, go back to a distance he can handle and build up again more slowly.
Backchaining a Canine Freestyle Routine by Pamela Johnson CPDT-KA See more here: www.YouTube.come/pamelamarxsen
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2013 Adrienne Farricelli
Pamela Johnson on August 02, 2014:
Thank you! I appreciate it! Glad you love my videos! You are welcome for me sharing it. 🙂
Adrienne Farricelli (author) on July 17, 2014:
Hi Pamela! I didnt mean to forgo giving credit links. I normally manually add credit links, but in this case I must have skipped that part because I probably saw that credit to your website showed at the end of the video. Ill be more than happy to add the link to your Youtube channel. I added it to the top of the video along with your name. Sorry if I missed that! Let me know if that works for you! Love your training videos! And thank you for sharing the article.Kind regards, Adrienne
Pamela Johnson on July 16, 2014:
I dont mind that you used my video in this article, but it would be nice to have a link to my YouTube channel or my website and give me credit for the video. www.pamsdogtraining.com www.YouTube.come/pamelamarxsen