Today we passed another small step in teaching Margaret, my bulldog, to skateboard. Steps to date:

Step 1: Get over fear of the board

Now I am not talking about standing all four paws on the board, just two. Margaret was afraid of the skateboard so first I sat on a step with the skateboard beside me. The board was leaning on my leg. All I wanted her to was put her front paws on the board while eating. By letting her confront the board sideways while stabilized to me, her desire for food overcame her fear.

Step 2: Standing on the board

For this I sat on a step with the board between my legs and my feet stabilizing the the board.

Step 3: Basic gliding

Step 4: Pulling the board

Now she has to stabilizer herself while the board moves.

Now for the new step:
Step 5: Getting on the board without me holding it

I break getting on a skateboard into two smaller tasks. Tonight Margaret got on the board resting on a rug. The rug is pretty flat so it will move but not as easily. It also helped that it was her supper and she was hungry. I will repeat this a few times then move to a hard surface.