Tricks
Teach Your Dog to Weave Through Your Legs
advanced · 2–4 weeks of consistent practice
Leg weaving is a flowing trick where your dog passes through your legs in a figure-eight pattern as you walk. It builds body awareness, focus, and coordination for both you and your dog. Because it involves several small movements chained together, it takes patience. Most dogs with a solid hand-target foundation pick it up in 2–4 weeks of short daily sessions. Expect to break the skill into small pieces before putting it all together.
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What you'll need
- Small soft treats (pea-sized)
- A treat pouch or pocket for quick delivery
- A quiet, low-distraction space with room to take a few steps
- Optional: a target stick if your dog has a strong stick-target
Step by step
1. Warm up with hand targeting
Spend two minutes reviewing your dog's hand-target-touch cue. You will use your hand as a lure guide through each leg, so a crisp, eager touch response makes the next steps much easier.
2. Lure through one stationary leg
Stand still with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold a treat in your right hand and lure your dog through your right leg from front to back. The moment their nose clears your leg, mark with a click or 'yes' and reward. Repeat 8–10 times until smooth.
3. Lure through the other stationary leg
Switch to your left hand and lure your dog through your left leg from front to back. Mark and reward each pass. Practice until your dog follows the lure confidently through both legs independently.
4. Connect the two passes into a figure eight
Lure your dog through your right leg, then immediately guide them around the outside of your left leg and back through it. Mark and reward at the end of the full loop. Keep your feet still. Repeat until the dog flows through without hesitation.
5. Fade the food lure to a hand signal
Hold an empty hand in the same guiding motion. Keep treats in your other hand or pouch. When your dog follows the empty hand through the figure eight, mark and reward from your pouch. Repeat until the hand signal alone works reliably.
6. Add movement — step with one foot
Take one step forward with your left foot as your dog passes through your right leg. Lure or signal them through your left leg as it lands. Mark and reward. This is the hardest transition; go slowly and reward generously.
7. Build a second step
Once your dog handles one moving step cleanly, add a second step. Step right, then left, guiding the dog through each leg as it moves forward. Mark and reward after both passes. Keep sessions to 3–5 minutes.
8. Chain multiple steps together
Gradually increase the number of walking steps to three, then four, then a full walking weave. Reward after every two or three passes at first, then stretch the reward interval as your dog gains confidence.
9. Add a verbal cue
Once your dog weaves reliably with the hand signal while you walk, say your chosen word — 'weave' works well — just before you give the hand signal. After 20–30 paired repetitions, the word alone will start to predict the behavior.
10. Proof in new environments
Practice in different rooms, then outdoors in a calm area. Distractions will temporarily lower performance. Drop back to easier steps, reward more frequently, and build back up. This is normal and expected.
11. Shape a clean start position
Teach your dog to begin the trick from a sit or stand at your left side on cue. A consistent start position makes the trick look polished and helps your dog understand when the behavior begins.
12. Put it all together
Cue the start position, say 'weave,' and walk forward while your dog flows through your legs. Mark and reward at the end of the sequence. Keep sessions fun and short. End on a successful repetition every time.
Troubleshooting
My dog stops halfway through and won't complete the pass.
The step is too large. Go back to a stationary lure through just one leg and reward that. Build duration and movement more gradually, one small increment at a time.
My dog keeps jumping up to grab the treat instead of following the lure.
Lower your hand so the treat is at nose level, not chest or face level. Slow your luring motion. If jumping continues, wait for four paws on the floor before presenting the lure again.
My dog follows the lure but loses interest when I switch to an empty hand.
The lure-to-signal transition was too fast. Go back to luring for several more sessions, then try holding the treat between two fingers so it is present but less obvious, then fade fully.
My dog weaves well at home but falls apart outside.
This is normal. New environments raise arousal and distraction. Start back at stationary single-leg passes outdoors with high-value treats. Rebuild the chain in the new location over several sessions.
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