Train Your Dog to Weave Between Your Legs

Recently, Ezra and I learned a cool new trick that I never imagined we would do. We learned how to walk together while Ezra weaves through my legs. It was really funny and I think we both enjoyed working together in new ways. It’s pretty tough to navigate with a big dog, but it is not impossible. If you are interested in having some laughs with your dog while trying not to trip, this will be a fun skill to add to your repertoire.

How does the dog weave through my legs?

With each step you take forward, your dog walks in the gap between your legs and circles around. You are both moving forwards together, but you are moving in a straight line and your dog is moving as if he’s weaving through poles.

Alternatively, if you have a large dog you can also just stand in a lunge position and have your dog weave through your legs like a figure eight. This is a little easier because you stay still.

Why should I teach my dog to weave through my legs while we walk?

The only real reasons are to have fun! This is a great party trick to show off with your friends. It’s also a skill for the AKC Dog Trick Intermediate Title, so if you are trying to work towards an Advanced Dog Trick Title, you will probably learn this skill along the way.

2 Ways to Train Your Dog to Weave Through Your Legs

In this section, I will cover how to train your dog to weave through your legs as you walk, and then standing still. If you have a really big dog, it may be hard to take actual steps forward without tripping, so I recommend to skip down to the standing still weave.

To train your dog to weave through your legs, all you need are treats and a positive attitude.

1st Way to Weave: Train your dog to weave as you walk.

Start by taking one step forward, and luring your dog through your legs. Once your dog is comfortable walking through, take another step and have your dog lure through your legs twice. Keep practicing until you can comfortable take four steps forward. Then add in the command.

• Position your dog in a heel standing beside you.
• Take a step forward with your right foot, and plant your foot there.
• Then take the treat in your right hand and position it behind you and in between your legs.
• Focus your dog, and lure him through your legs. He may not walk all the way through the first time, and that’s OK. Mark the small behaviors as you go and keep repeating.
• When he starts going all the way through your legs, time to make it harder. Take a step forward after he completes his first weave and lure him through. Keep repeating the first two steps with weaving until it starts to feel natural.
• Now you’ve got it! Add more steps, and keep food luring!
• After you are able to take ~4 steps with your pup easily, add the verbal command. I like the command “through” but you can use any new word you want to signal this behavior to your dog.

2nd Way to Weave: Train your dog to weave as you stand still.

This method will follow a lot of the beginning steps as the first method. Start by taking one step forward, and luring your dog through your legs. Once you are comfortable luring through your legs once, you’ll turn the dog around to lure back the other way to complete a figure eight. When your dog is able to do two figure eights, start to add in the verbal command.

• Position your dog in a heel standing beside you.
• Take a step forward with your right foot, and plant your foot there.
• Then take the treat in your right hand and position it behind you and in between your legs.
• Focus your dog, and lure him through your legs. He may not walk all the way through the first time, and that’s OK. Mark the small behaviors as you go and keep repeating.
• When he starts going all the way through your legs, time to make it harder. Take more treats in your right hand around your front leg and then back through your legs.
• Mark the small behaviors as you need to until your dog completes the figure eight. Then do it all again!
• Once your dog is able to complete a figure eight with ease, lure him to making two figure eights in a row. When this starts to become routine, add the verbal command. I like the command “through” but you can use any new word you want to signal this behavior to your dog.

Conclusion

If you want to have some fun with your dog, learning to weave through your legs is a fun party trick to learn! Start with your dog in a heel position, and then take a step forward. Lure your dog through your legs, marking small behaviors until he makes it all the way through. Once he does, you can either take a step forward, and lure him through again or you can stand still and lure him back like a figure eight. That’s it! Just keep practicing and seeing how far you can walk or how many figure eights you can do with your pup.

Have you impressed anyone with this trick yet? Comment and let me know!