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:
To learn more about tricks, please see my training DVDs on tricks.
Here’s a video of Sleet and Wrens new amazing duo trick. It would be great if others, including Silvia, who have more than one capable dog could teach this and post their responses. I can just see Bu holding the rope and crazy La bouncing up and down in Sleet place for example, hehe!!
Very cute!!!
WOW! This is awesome :-))
Well,
what about Bu holding the rope and crazy La plus crazy little Le bouncing. 😉
You girls did a really good job (with the skipping rope as well as the pickaback-jumping-stuff).
Memo to me: next apartment needs a backyard.
Roxy is a 1 year old clicker trained Siberian husky. All of Roxy’s training has been done with positive reinforcement and clicker training.
K9 Cleaning Team “Rescues” You from Housework.
Oh,
I need this Ridgeback. One dog (obvious mine) making the dirt and a second one for cleaning. ^^
Nice video by the way.
Howdy,
We have something new. Still in the first steps but it’s so cute. Yoshi shakes his head. Well it’s seems to be really exhausting because in the middle of the session he tried to get his reward in doing older stuff like handstand. ^^
And something older. Also first steps. Growling. Don’t know how to lure him in showing his teeth during the growl. Well maybe in a while.
Anyway, why is it this quiet here?
Do you have any advice on a start line trick? Spur’s start line isn’t great. He is my worrier and I haven’t found the right trick to help him at the start line. I would never ask him for a stay.
I think I put this question in the wrong section.
Do you have any advice on a start line trick? Spur’s start line isn’t great, he speeds up once he gets going, but leaving the start line he isn’t super speedy at trials. He is my worrier and I haven’t found the right trick to help him at the start line. I would never ask him for a stay. I think I need to practice his start lines even though I don’t ask for a stay? I need a specific behavior that we do every time.
Try to find something he really loves and that makes him busy and more excited… Usually, spins to the left&right, jumping up in the air, vaults, barking etc. works the best. But each dog is different, so it’s important to have as many tricks as possible to choose from. From some strange reason, the trick that always wakes up my Bu is shaking her head 🙂
Hi Silvia, I am wondering how do I get my dog to stop relying on the target when teaching the handstand and to just target the wall? Should this come naturally after enough practice with a stack of books/other random objects that serve such a purpose? 🙂
Cute tricks! Usually, getting from the books to the wall isn’t a problem. Getting off the wall is the hard step. Try varying the objects so that he doesn’t search for books but instead anything to put his hind feet on. Try the trees, sofa, bed etc.
Happy New Year -- Dolce and I can’t wait for your upcoming tricks seminar in Tampa! Here is our Christmas Greeting
Cool! See you soon!
Wow, Ruby knows Left and Right (which is more than can be said about his handler 🙂 )! I mean, really knows. I taught him to spin left/right on cue as per your instructions, but I didn’t think I would ever use it for anything more than a trick.
Today I found that it’s really useful for catching frisbees -- if only I can remember which side is Left and which is Right… I was sending him through channel weaves and throwing the disc after him. The throw had to be high and since I’m not the most gifted thrower it always veered to one side, so Ruby was running ahead and looking up in the air, hoping for the disc to appear. I discovered that I can tell him where to expect the disc by saying Left/Right. He responded instantly and correctly every time!
Yay for tricks! 🙂
Here’s a new video of Sleet and Wren playing the Glockenspiel. I should make a little stand to put the glockenspiel on. Sleet plays louder and slower and Wren plays faster but quieter:P
Enjoy!
Cool! Have to get one of those!
super cool!