Purpose – Highly effective for working on strengthening the small stabilising muscles. Works on adductors, abductors that helps strengthen a weak hock similar to weak ankles. Also a good place to start with dogs that are being rehabbed for a rear leg issue like cruciate injury etc. Same for older dogs that need some muscle building in a safe way. 

Criteria – Dog can maintain correct stand without falling over. 

Placement of reward – For this exercise I tend to have food out in front of the dog on a chair in a container. I teach them that I am going to reward them when marked from that container. This allows me to get forward focus while being beside them and doing the weight shifting. 

Increasing difficulty – Increasing height of the front platform for extra weight on the rear. Be aware you still need them to maintain correct angles of the hock. Unstable equipment like the Propel air. Increasing how much you push (as long as they can maintain position). Also increasing the amount of time held. 

NB - When reading your program number of reps are per side. Each rep should start on a lower number of 5-10 secs and build up to 1 min.