• 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. Lotta March 12, 2011 at 07:10 Log in to Reply

    Hi!
    I’m absolutely terrible with cues so I’m gonna ask for advice on this one. What do you use as cue to the trick where the dog lifts up left/right hind leg? and what do you call both left/right legs up? Thanks in advance 🙂

    • LoLaBu March 12, 2011 at 11:06 Log in to Reply

      Huh, my cues won’t help you, I use slovenian words for “side legs” (stranske) and “back leg” (zadnja) and I show with my hand which side I want.

      • Toni-Marie March 12, 2011 at 14:56 Log in to Reply

        Sometimes I wonder about using cues from another language because they are more appropriate than the english equivalent because I can have trouble thinking of cues sometimes.

        • Andreja March 12, 2011 at 16:51 Log in to Reply

          Haha, I often use English cues when I don’t like equivalent in my language. I even think foreign-language cues might be a tiny bit better, because they’re not used in every day conversation and there is no fear my boyfriend would use the cue when he would want the dog to do something else. Like I have “Sedi” for Sit and “Cicaj” for Sit Pretty (which both mean “sit” in Slovene), and sometimes my boyfriend uses “Cicaj” when he wants the dog to sit. I wish I put an English cue on that one 😉

  2. tsueyhiu March 27, 2011 at 04:16 Log in to Reply

    All the tricks are amazing -- trick training is so much fun -- I’m hooked! How do you train your dog to jump on your back? Also, I have no idea how one being to teach them to balance on our feet! Any hints, please!

    • LoLaBu March 27, 2011 at 11:18 Log in to Reply

      The general “jump on that thing” cue helps. Back is easy, you just need to kneel down first, reward for front paws on first and go from there. For jumping on feet, I first teach jumping on small, shaky objects -- first low, then higher&higher. See rel="nofollow">this video, you can see dogs in learning stage of those two tricks -- and yes, it’s easier with a helper.

  3. Emma March 28, 2011 at 18:32 Log in to Reply

    Hi!
    Please! How to teach it to limp? walking on three legs? we practice it one month. My border collie doesn’t understand it.

    • LoLaBu March 28, 2011 at 18:34 Log in to Reply

      In short: first shape one paw in the air and then click for movement of any of the other three legs. For more detailed instructions, see Tricks for better thinking skills: complex thinking part. Have fun!

      • Emma March 28, 2011 at 18:40 Log in to Reply

        thank you very much!

      • tsueyhiu April 10, 2011 at 09:36 Log in to Reply

        I have watched your Tricks for better thinking skill am still stuck at just one paw in the air -- not getting any movement of the other 3 legs. Am I expecting too much for the first session?
        This trick training is fun but so so addictive! In a day, we went from skateboarding, to hug the pole, bowl in bowl trick, rollover and now limping -- am I trying to do too many tricks? My puppy seems quite happy to participate…………

        • LoLaBu April 10, 2011 at 12:33 Log in to Reply

          Yeah, no problem doing more tricks at the same time, those are all different enough and if your puppy loves it, then it must be right 🙂 Limping can take quite long yes. It went really fast with Le, she started to move the first session, but it took pretty long with the BCs, needed to start with a weight shift and slowly shape from there.

  4. Tania April 12, 2011 at 16:38 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia,

    Here your trick about pick up and object and hold it.
    Two different dogs and two different ways to do it.
    One is our Loox just 6 months today and the other one is Pip’s sister.

    Pick it up and Hold it trick

    • LoLaBu April 12, 2011 at 22:56 Log in to Reply

      Looks like Bi and Bu! 🙂 Very cute video, thanks for posting!

  5. Andrea April 13, 2011 at 21:55 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia, this is our homework 😉
    Acua first idea was to hold it with one hand. I think she is not well balance so it took her a little more time to get the hold with both hands.

    Hug my Toy

    • LoLaBu April 14, 2011 at 10:55 Log in to Reply

      Wow, great! Really good for the first session, she offers muzzle-paw combination right away!

  6. Agata April 24, 2011 at 21:37 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia. I have your dvd with tricks and I have a big problem with \”hiding\”. Azja doesn\’t touch her paws to face. When she raises her paws she always gets head high. I can not catch low head and raised paws. I like this trick very much and I would like to teach this Azja 🙂 Here is our video: rel="nofollow ugc">

  7. Agata April 24, 2011 at 21:38 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia. I have your dvd with tricks and I have a big problem with \”hiding\”. Azja doesn\’t touch her paws to face. When she raises her paws she always gets head high. I can not catch low head and raised paws. I like this trick very much and I would like to teach this Azja 🙂 Here is our video:

    • LoLaBu April 24, 2011 at 23:19 Log in to Reply

      Maybe try in sit position first? It’s sometimes easier. Also, it helps if you can capture it sometimes and at the same time try to shape it, they usually make the connection between the two somewhere on a way and it makes things much easier.

  8. Freya May 2, 2011 at 13:31 Log in to Reply

    My german pointer x springer spaniel loves to learn new tricks, but at 29kg he’s a little too big for vaulting off me, so I am running out of trick ideas fast and forever looking for new activities. Currently we train in agility, disc dog, trick dogging, obedience, canine freestyle, search and rescue and treibball, but need new trick ideas or new activities.
    We’re up for anything!

    • LoLaBu May 2, 2011 at 14:51 Log in to Reply

      Well, if you check my YouTube channel, I’m sure you can find a trick or two you didn’t master just yet 🙂 It’s really GREAT to do so many things with the dog, I think it’s important to not just do one thing in order to keep them physically and mentally fit! And it’s definitely FUN for the dog too!

  9. Anonymous June 16, 2011 at 21:20 Log in to Reply

    Hi Sylvia,
    I just want to thank you for lots of ideas a got from your websites and your videos. I have 2,5 years old border collie Destiny, she was hit by car and she was operated after and they put away her hip on her back right leg. Unfortunately, because of that, she can´t jump on large. So we jump on small just for fun. But we really LOVE tricks. It´s fun and actually it help to her bad leg.

    • LoLaBu June 24, 2011 at 20:11 Log in to Reply

      Sorry to hear about the accident… Tricks are definitely a GREAT extension of rehabilitation program and I’m sure they will help her have a normal life even without the hip I know several dogs who underwent similar operation and can play and run normally. Jumping large might indeed be somewhat too much, but hey, jumping on small is just as much fun!

  10. Marie BARTHET July 11, 2011 at 15:03 Log in to Reply

    Hi Silvia!

    First, let me tell you I’ve read pretty much everything you wrote, and I think it’s just awesome what you do for dogs and dog trainers! Dogs just need more people like you who are able to think differently and see the world through their eyes!
    I’ve got a question about skateboarding. I taught skateboarding to my beagle, who, like your cute Pyrsheps La and Le, is quite fearless, very food-motivated and crazy about tricks, so she did just great.
    But I’m having problems with my shy, perfection-maniac aussie girl. She’s uncomfortable on moving objects, so I thought teaching her skateboarding would be good for self confidence. But we seem to be stuck with 2 front paws on the skate, and nothing more. I try to click every weight shifting and jackpot every tiny movement of the skateboard, but whenever it moves too much she jumps from it, and is not willing to climb again, or with lots of slow movements showing her stress. And then I have to go back to the beginnning.
    So I’m wondering maybe I should teach her some easier tricks before, and come back to skateboarding when she’s gained more confidence? She already knows quite a few of your basic tricks like “walk on my feet” or “crossing front paws”, but I find her difficult to train, since she is very cautious, eager to please me so much so that she seems to be obsessed by perfection (a bit like your Bu?) and afraid to try new things and propose behaviours. It’s ok if I lurre her into a trick but shaping is hard for her.
    I’ll gladly take any tips that will help me build up her confidence or ideas of tricks that can make her more comfortable on moving objects. 🙂
    Hope you’re having a great summer teaching agility and stuff! 😉
    Thanks!
    Marie and Ever (from France)

    • LoLaBu July 12, 2011 at 22:31 Log in to Reply

      Did you try to start with a skateboarding on carpet? I always start on carpet as it moves softer and slower there, that would be very important for your Aussie. With this type of dogs, shaping is much better, they need to learn that there are no mistakes, there are just tries. Try to teach as many tricks that involve objects as possible to give her more confidence to interact with objects, objects also give them more ideas on what they can offer. Maybe you can join our puppy class, I think it would be good for her to start some basic shaping tricks and go from there to build more confidence.

      • Marie July 13, 2011 at 14:32 Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the reply 🙂
        We started on grass to have the skateboard move slower, and as a matter of fact, we’re still there with the aussie whereas the beagle is already skating wildly all the way down the street LOL!
        Front paws on a box and circling with hind legs is ok for her since the box is not moving. Sitting on a tiny children’s chair and even sitting pretty on it is quite fine. We were even working on a big fitness ball like you have until a friend’s dog destroyed it 😛
        Anyway she’s clearly afraid of moving objects (she gets panicky whenever doors slam with wind drafts), so you can suppose she’s not very comfortable on a see-saw…
        Definitely thinking of joining your class, only I would like to join agility foundations as well, so hard to choose!!!
        Well in the meantime I should maybe try to get her to close doors and drawers with front paws, do you think that could help?
        Thank you so much!!!
        Marie.

        • LoLaBu July 17, 2011 at 11:40 Log in to Reply

          Sure, that’s a very good one too! And balancing on a small ball with front feet on would be an easier version of a trick that goes in the same direction.

          • Anonymous July 26, 2011 at 17:54 Log in to Reply

            Ok will do! Thanks soooo much for the advice and congrats for Bu and La’s qualifications for Lievin! These will be de first WC I attend, I look forward to applauding your runs!!! 😉

            • LoLaBu July 26, 2011 at 22:54 Log in to Reply

              Thanks. See you there then! 🙂


  1. Pages:
  2. «
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. »

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.

 

April Foundations class is now open for registration!!!

 

  • 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

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT