2 Paws Up

Today’s trick is “2 Paws Up,” a versatile and confidence-boosting skill that’s one of the AKC Novice tricks we’ll cover.

What is “2 Paws Up”?

“2 Paws Up” asks your dog to place their front paws on a raised or different surface. This is an important foundational behavior for a lot of tricks, and one of my favorite starter tricks for parkour because it allows your dog to “test out” a surface before committing to other actions. By practicing this behavior, your dog learns to feel comfortable and make decisions about what surfaces feel safe—an essential skill for both parkour and everyday life.

Shaping/ Luring/ Capturing

Before we get started with our trick of the day, let’s take a moment to talk about three different training techniques—shaping, luring, and capturing—and how each can be used in trick training. Understanding these approaches will help you decide the best way to teach a new behavior to your dog while keeping training fun and engaging.

What’s the Difference Between Luring, Shaping, and Capturing?

  1. Luring: Using a treat or object to guide your dog into a specific position or behavior. Using a hand target would also be considered luring. 
  2. Shaping: Rewarding small steps toward the final behavior, building the behavior incrementally.
  3. Capturing: Waiting for your dog to naturally perform the behavior, then marking and rewarding it.

Each method has its own strengths, and the best choice depends on your dog’s learning style and the behavior you’re teaching. During the course of this class, our trainers will utilize some of each of these techniques to help our dog’s learn new tricks! 

 

 

 

 

Teaching “2 Paws Up” with Each Technique

1. Luring

This method is great for dogs who are new to learning or need a bit of guidance.

  • How to do it:
    1. Hold a treat near your dog’s nose and slowly guide them toward the object you want them to place their paws on (e.g., a stool or mat).
    2. Move the treat slightly upward to encourage them to lift their front paws onto the surface.
    3. As soon as their paws touch the object, mark and reward.
    4. Reset and repeat. Gradually fade the lure by using only your hand motion instead of the treat.

2. Shaping

This method is perfect for dogs who enjoy problem-solving or for building confidence in more complex behaviors.

  • How to do it:
    1. Start with the object in front of your dog.
    2. Watch for any interaction with the object, such as sniffing or stepping toward it, and mark and reward.
    3. Gradually raise your criteria, rewarding only for behaviors that bring them closer to placing their paws on the object.
    4. Once they place one or both paws on the object, mark and jackpot reward (give extra treats or praise).
    5. Continue practicing until they consistently offer “2 Paws Up” on command.

3. Capturing

This method works well if your dog naturally puts their paws on objects during play or exploration.

  • How to do it:
    1. Place the object in an area where your dog is likely to interact with it, such as a room they frequently explore.
    2. Wait for your dog to place their front paws on the object. The moment they do, mark and reward.
    3. Repeat this process several times, adding a cue like “Paws Up” once they reliably perform the behavior.
    4. Over time, increase your expectations by only marking when they place both paws on the object or hold the position longer.

 

 

 

 

Taking it to the Next Level

Once your dog is confidently putting their paws up, start practicing on a variety of surfaces: high, low, narrow, textured, or even slightly movable. This helps build their confidence and adaptability, which are key for parkour and trick work.

Have fun with 2 Paws Up today! We’d love to see how you’re doing—head over to our Facebook group to share videos, ask questions, or cheer on your fellow students.

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