In reality, dogs and puppies are a great deal different from their human counterparts. Simple actions such as talking and walking are incredibly different across species. People speak and dogs bark. Human babies learn to crawl, then walk, while puppies are straight to the walking and never learn to crawl…that is…unless you teach them.
You know how our human children need to learn to crawl first before they walk? Well, going along with the theme of canine versus human differences, dogs need to learn how to walk, and a few other things, before they learn how to crawl. Training your dog to crawl should be done after they’ve mastered a few other essential commands and is best taught with slightly older puppies.
Crawling is more than just a fun party trick to teach your pooch. Crawling uses a ton of essential core muscles, providing a mini workout for Fido. Additionally, training overall helps improve your dog’s mental and physical health and is also great for strengthening the bond between dog and owner.
The process of training your dog to crawl involves mastering both 'down' and 'stay' first, training in progression to crawling.
Training your dog to crawl won’t take a whole lot of extra equipment or special props. In fact, most of what you’ll need to teach this fun behavior is already available in your house. You should have a sturdy, flat buckle collar for your dog and a medium length leash for training outdoors with distractions.
Treats are a must in any training session. Try to pick items with a variety of “values” on the tastiness scale. This helps keep your dog guessing and also allows you to provide bonus, extra special rewards for stellar performance. Hot dogs, dry dog cookies, chunks of cheese and even steak are all great options. Once you’ve prepped your treats, grab your treat bag and get ready; it’s time to delve into your training methods.