I’m using a toy, because with food I wouldn’t even bother starting 😄 I’m careful not to put pressure on him with my body language and keep moving backwards, also deliberately avoid intense movements so that he doesn’t shut down. He offers either backward movement or a heel position. Eventually, he squeezes out a few little “ehhh” barks, and I reward those. I don’t take the toy away — I exchange it for food that I toss on the ground and finish everything with food chasing. If I manage to activate this sweet pup, it’ll be my biggest win of the year 😄

In this video, my 8.5-year-old Zip demonstrates moments of activation using a toy, while integrating a behavioral element. Zip really enjoys physical play and absolutely loves this kind of interaction :)