In backward chaining, where do you start?

• A. With the last step and work toward the first
• B. With the first step
• C. With no steps
• D. With a random step

Answer: (A)

Backward chaining starts with the last action and builds the sequence toward the first. The idea is to have the dog finish with a correct, rewarding end state, then add the step that leads into that end, and keep extending backward step by step. This makes the final outcome solid and gives the dog a clear goal to reach, which often speeds learning and yields more reliable performance. For example, if the task is a three-step routine, you’d first train the dog to complete the last step and reward that finish, then teach the preceding step to lead into that finished action, and so on until the entire sequence—from the first step to the last—is established.