Dog on a Log

It might be kind of hard to tell from the picture, but he has all four feet on the log.  He's looking at the lake, which he would like to get in, instead of at me.

There's a reason for having my dog get on a log.  It's a training exercise.  It helps him learn body awareness, including back end awareness.  A friend of mine likes to say that dogs tend to be "front wheel drive."  They need to know where their behind is.  It also helps with balance and core strengthening.

Isaac hops up on lots of logs and tree stumps and rocks, at my direction.  We are working on smaller surface areas, and uneven surface areas, and higher objects, gradually making it more challenging.  Isaac is OK with it because he gets treats for it, although sometimes he'd really rather be sniffing something or playing in a lake.

Here he is on a rock, a while back.  The rock was kind of high and the surface was tilted a bit, so it was a challenge for him.