Leg WeavesDog weaves in and out between your legs as you walk
A flashy trick built on middle and heel. The dog passes through your legs in a figure-eight pattern as you walk. Teach each leg as a separate step first, then chain them together. Requires a wide stride and slow walking.
Also known as: Weave, Figure Eight
At a glance
- Tier
- 3 · Advanced
- Time to fluency
- 4–8 weeks
- Practice
- 3× per week, 5 min each
- Equipment
- Small soft treats
Prerequisites
Your dog should know these words first:
How to teach leg weaves
Lure
Lure the dog through one leg at a time while stepping forward
- Start stationary: lure through the right leg, reward, then the left leg, reward
- Take wide strides so the dog has room to pass through
- Lure with alternating hands. Left hand for left leg, right hand for right leg
- Chain: right leg, step, left leg, step. One weave per stride
Hand Signal
Alternating thigh taps as you walk
- Tap the inside of each thigh as you step to signal which leg to pass through
- Walk slowly and rhythmically. The dog learns your cadence
- Reward every 2 weaves at first, then every 4
Verbal Cue
The cue starts the weave pattern; the walking sustains it
- Say the word to start, then the dog should continue through your stride
- Build from 2 weaves to 4 to continuous
- Perform it at a slow walk. Running defeats the purpose
Success criteria
- Unlearned
- Does not pass through legs or gets tangled
- In progress
- Weaves continuously on the word as you walk
- Mastered
- Smooth continuous weaves at a walking pace, 8+ strides, in any environment
Common mistakes
- Taking strides that are too narrow for the dog to fit through
- Walking too fast. Slow and wide is the rhythm
- Only luring from one side so the dog weaves one direction
- Trying to chain before single-leg passes are reliable