• About us
  • Training articles
  • Training videos
    • Xtreme Foundations
    • Agility Diary
    • Puppy diary
    • Weaves
    • Agility Foundations
    • Running Contacts
    • Ready, steady, GO!
    • Tricks for better thinking skills
    • Tricks for a great bond
    • Tricks for balance, strength&coordination
    • Heeling
    • Cik&Cap
    • En français
    • In Deutsch
  • Online classes
facebook
youtube
email
  • About us
  • Training articles
  • Training videos
    • Xtreme Foundations
    • Agility Diary
    • Puppy diary
    • Weaves
    • Agility Foundations
    • Running Contacts
    • Ready, steady, GO!
    • Tricks for better thinking skills
    • Tricks for a great bond
    • Tricks for balance, strength&coordination
    • Heeling
    • Cik&Cap
    • En français
    • In Deutsch
  • Online classes

Tricks

I teach my dogs pretty much everything they need to know via tricks. Afterall, agility, obedience, tracking, disc dog... - it's all just another dog trick.

Tricks train them to think, to use their body and mind. Tricks teach them that there is no difference between working and playing and gives them the right attitude. Teaching tricks teaches them that they’re the smartest dogs in the world, that there are no mistakes and no failure, that trying things is good. Tricks give them confidence in their thinking abilities and moves, improve their strength, balance and coordination. Tricks build a bond between me and them and create a deeper understanding for them how I think and for me how they think. Tricks make them feel important, smart, confident, needed and bonded with me.

Tricks are very important for young dogs as they learn to use their body and mind that way. They're also great for cross training of competing dogs, it keeps all the muscle active and strong and prevents injuries. And it's especially great for old dogs, as tricks keep them mentally and physically active and that's what keeps them young and healthy.

AND they don't take much time, space or equipment, so you don't have any excuse not to teach some tricks to your dog!

Here is the right place to post your videos to give us some ideas, to ask questions on "how to" or ask for a suggestion if you get stuck somewhere on a way.

Here comes one of my favourite videos:

winter tricks

To learn more about tricks, please see my training DVDs on tricks.


216 Comments

  1. Kathy October 2, 2012 at 13:37 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia,

    I’ve been doing some handstand practice with Elsa & Zephyr recently. They both seem to be doing good lifts into the position but I’m wondering how to get a freestanding handstand from this point. Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

    Handstand practice with Zephyr & Elsa

    0
    • LoLaBu October 2, 2012 at 14:02 Log in to Reply

      You need an empty object next that won’t allow any climbing -- like a table or something. Jackpot for the most powerful pushes up. Alternatively, use thinner&thinner objects (like thinner&thinner tree and eventually a pole) or such objects that don’t really offer much support (like a soft fence). You can also have them do it against your legs as you can either stand so that they can climb some or so that they can’t + can feel really well if they’re leaning on you or not and can reward the right moments.

      0
      • Kathy October 2, 2012 at 16:08 Log in to Reply

        OK, great…we’ll try these things! I never thought of a tree— we certainly have enough different size trees to practice on! Will let you know how it goes.
        THANKS!!!

        0
  2. Corine Graham August 17, 2013 at 14:15 Log in to Reply

    Hi, I’m new to shaping (or lets say I’m bad at shaping!). I just got your DVD Training for a better bond and I’m trying the basic (supposedly quick and easy) Suitcase trick. With no luck! I spent 15 minutes and all I get is front feet in, nothing more. The problem is I don’t even get anything that moves closer to a back leg in to click! I am trying to click and treat a lot, but I just get standing with front two legs and then nothing more offered, except for maybe pawing at me or the edge of the suitcase. If I continue to click, we just stay there and if I stop to see if he will offer something else, he just gets out of the suitcase! Help!

    0
    • LoLaBu August 17, 2013 at 22:19 Log in to Reply

      First, make sure the suitcase is big enough ie. longer as the dog. If you can find another, bigger object, that might be even better. Do you get any movement with hind feet that you could click at all? Also, reward by tossing treats in the suitcase, to keep his focus off you and on the suitcase.

      0
  3. Iris Jakobi April 24, 2014 at 10:16 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia,
    if you get a new puppy, do you show him / her that a click means food before the first session or do you just start right away with an easy trick? 🙂

    0
    • LoLaBu April 24, 2014 at 11:36 Log in to Reply

      I start right away with clicking for action, but click&reward any action for a couple of sessions and then go for a specific trick. They learn click=treat after a couple of clicks, so that’s no big deal, but it can take a couple of sessions for them to understand their actions can cause click/treat to happen.

      0
      • Iris Jakobi April 24, 2014 at 11:53 Log in to Reply

        Thanks! My sister is getting her new puppy in two weeks. A sheltie girl called Luna -- Holly’s little sister. 🙂
        She will be our first puppy trained by your methods right from the start! 🙂

        0
        • LoLaBu April 24, 2014 at 12:07 Log in to Reply

          Great! Fun times ahead! 🙂

          0

  1. Pages:
  2. «
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with:
Facebook Google

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Last call for January online classes! Join us in Running Contacts or Puppy/Tricks Class!

Xtreme Foundations starting soon too!

 

  • Log in
  • Register
Login with:
Facebook Google

Search Forums

My classes

Tags

articles beyond foundations bi bu busting the myths camps EO foundations hiking la le my philosophy my videos photos puppies! puppy class running contacts students' videos ta To trials tricks world championships xtreme xtreme foundations
sialaSilvia Trkman is known for bringing every dog, from her first dog on, to the very top of the sport. Her dogs are known for great speed, tight turns, running contacts and long and injury-free careers. Silvia is in agility since 1992 and is
– 3x World Champion (with two different dogs)
– 5x European Open winner, with 4 different dogs (Lo, La, Bu, Le)!!!
– National Championships podium and World Team member with every dog she’s ever had
– National Champion for 22-times (with 5 different dogs of 3 different breeds)

– World Team member for 19-times (mostly with at least two dogs at the time – sometimes four 🙂 )

RECENT COMMENTS

Contact me

silvia.trkman at gmail.com

Copyright Silvia Trkman, 2010-2016; All rights reserved
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

necessary Always Enabled

non-necessary