Another fun way to teach them to back up is to teach them to back up in the heel position. I'll call this reverse and when she is in heel with me she's expected to back up with me. How I start that is, I do the same thing. I'll use a rail, however, one side is the rail, one side is me. And that just helps her stay straight and get the idea that she can walk completely backwards. They're not so great with the hind end awareness, so we really have to teach them where their back feet are. Good, heel. Good. So as I'm teaching heel, good, and getting her ready to back up, I'll have her in the sit position and ask her to back. And I have a lure in my hand, good, and the only way she can get it is to back up completely. Back, reverse, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, sit. Good. Good! So having the railing there, the side of your house, a wall of any sort you can start teaching them to take one step back, good, good. One step back. Back up, heel, heel, heel, heel, heel. Good. Good. And eventually try it without the railing.
