Keep Your Hand Closed ✊ — ViBaDog (Kopie)

At this point, the Stand from backward walking is nearly complete.

The next step is to make sure your guiding hand stays closed the entire time.

That means the dog should no longer depend on seeing or following an open food hand.

Ideally, your hand is already closed while you are walking backwards.

Then:

➡️ Say “S”
➡️ Move the closed hand up as a small aid
➡️ Say “T”
➡️ Bring the closed hand back down
➡️ The dog stands securely

The important difference is that the hand is no longer open when guiding the dog down.

It is now only a signal and support, not a lure.

Now start varying what happens after the Stand.

If the dog performs a really nice, clear Stand with the hand staying closed, you can reward immediately.

If the Stand is only okay or still needs a little more stability, continue with the stay sequence:

➡️ Move the hand away
➡️ Take a step back
➡️ Return to the dog
➡️ Reward

Use the quality of the exercise to decide what the dog earns.

A very good Stand can be rewarded straight away.

A less secure Stand can flow into another repetition of the standing stay.

💡 The goal is that the dog can perform the Stand from backward movement without needing an open food hand anymore.