Teaching Your Dog the ‘Middle’ Cue
Teaching your dog the middle cue—where they come and sit or stand between your legs facing forward—isn’t just a fun party trick. It’s a great way to build confidence, teach focus, and strengthen your relationship. It's also incredibly practical for busy areas or as a go-to position to help your dog feel safe.
Here’s how to teach it in seven simple steps:
Step 1: Have Your Treats Ready
Use treats your dog absolutely loves—something soft, smelly, and easy to eat quickly. You can also use a clicker or a marker word like “yes” or “good” to clearly communicate when they’ve got it right.
Step 2: Lure Behind You
With your dog in front of you, use a treat to lure them around one side of your leg so they end up standing behind you. Mark and reward once they’re back there. Repeat this step 4–5 times so they get comfortable moving around you.
Step 3: Lure Between Your Legs
Now, use a second treat in your other hand to lure your dog from behind you through your legs until they’re standing in the middle position, facing the same direction as you. Mark and reward when they’re there. Repeat 5 times, then begin to fade the food lure and just use your hand movement to guide them.
Step 4: Add a Sit (Optional)
If you’d like your dog to sit between your legs, now’s the time to add that. Once they’re in position, lift your hand slightly to prompt a sit. Mark and reward. Practise the full sequence: lure around, through your legs, sit, reward.
Step 5: Add the Cue Word
Once your dog is confidently following your hand into the middle position, start adding your cue (like “Middle”) right before you give the hand signal. Over time, they’ll start to respond to the cue word alone.
Step 6: Build Duration & Add Distance
When your dog is reliably getting into position, begin to increase how long they stay there. Keep it short and fun at first, gradually adding duration. You can also practise calling them into position from a short distance away, rewarding when they get it right.
Step 7: Practise Often in New Places
Dogs don’t generalise well, so practise the middle cue in different rooms, on different surfaces, and eventually outside. Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes), end on a win, and always make it rewarding.
🐶 Why It’s Worth It:
Builds focus and calm around distractions
Strengthens your dog’s confidence and trust
Can be used as a safe, grounded position in overwhelming environments
Great foundation for recall and engagement