•Now that your dog is excitedly getting on the board, positioning themselves in the right spot, staying in position no matter where you are, or what distractions there are... you can start making the board unsteady... trying to simulate how it'll be in the ocean. You can use pillows or cushions under the board to make it un-even where the dog has to balance.
•Some dogs may be apprehensive to the movement at first, so go very slowly with the exercises, especially if your dog hasn't had experience on un-even or un-steady surfaces.
•Start out with having your dog step onto the board as you hold it secure by putting your foot on top of it to stabilize. Give your dog treats as they're stepping onto the board, as this will re-direct their attention to the treats, and away from thinking about the movement of the board.
•If your dog is nervous... just do it once to start out with, and build upon that. As you continue working with your dog his/her confidence will increase.
•Don't overwhelm your dog by going too fast with the exercises. Go slow. You are building your bond, and you don't want a bad experience to harm it. If your dog has one bad experience (in his/her mind), he/she may never get on the board again. Help your dog be successful... lots of treats and praise can help!
•When you are releasing your dog from the un-steady board, put your foot on it again to stabilize it. After he/she builds more confidence you won't have to do it anymore, but at the beginning don't take any chances of your dog getting scared.
•Once your dog is more comfortable getting onto an un-stable board, you can begin moving the board very slightly as you give him/her treats and praise. This is helping the dog build confidence on the board, and their bond with you will deepen as they feed off your confidence!
•If you have enough people, you can lift the board while the dog is on it. But, first start by lifting only a couple inches off the ground, and then slowly increase as your dog builds confidence.
•Go slow with these exercises, and before you know it you'll be able to rock the board more, and your dog will be confident on it.
•When you reach that level of confidence, you can put bigger pillows under the board to make it more un-stable. When you do, treats and praise again.