The next stage of teaching a middle position is to bring your puppy into place starting from in front of you, rather than from behind. Begin with food in both hands—use one hand to lure your puppy from the front, guiding them around one of your legs, then let your second hand take over to smoothly bring them into the final middle position between your legs.
Step by step, start with your puppy facing you. Use your first hand with food to lure them around one side of your body, keeping the movement slow and clear so they can follow easily. As they come around behind your leg, switch to your second hand to continue the lure, guiding them into the middle position. As soon as your puppy is correctly positioned between your legs, mark the behaviour with a clear “yes,” then feed 2–3 treats while they remain in position to reinforce it. After rewarding, use your release cue to send your puppy forward and reset, ready to repeat the exercise and build confidence and fluency.
