2 Lure his nose toward his shoulder blade.
3 Continue luring toward his backbone.
advanced
Play Dead
TEACH IT:
When playing dead, your dog rolls onto his back with his legs in the air. He remains “dead” until you cue his miraculous recovery. Stick ’em up or you’re a dead dog!
1 Teach this trick after your dog has had some exercise and is ready to rest. Put your dog in a down (page 16) and kneel in front of him. Hold a treat to the side of his head and move it toward his shoulder blade, as you did when teaching roll over (page 31). Your dog should fall to his side.
2 Continue to roll him to his back by guiding his midsection. Praise him and give him a belly scratch while he is on his back. Reinforce the verbal cue by saying “good bang.”
3 As your dog improves, try to lure him into position with the treat only, without touching him. If he is likely to roll completely over instead of stopping half way, stop him with your hand on his chest, and then slowly release your grip so that he holds the position on his own.
4 Practice this skill until you are able to elicit the behavior with the “bang!” cue and hand signal. Your dog should stay in this position until he is released with “OK” or “you are healed!” or some other release word.
WHAT TO EXPECT: This position can be a little awkward for your dog, and will take some getting used to. Practice in combination with roll over, so your dog understands the difference.
PREREQUISITES
Stay (page 18)
Roll over (page 31)
TROUBLESHOOTING
DEAD DOGS SHOULDN’T HAVE WAGGING TAILS!
Try lowering your voice to a more commanding tone to stop the wagging. Or don’t worry about it … it’s sure to get a giggle!
MY DOG DOES A SLOW AGONIZING DEATH THAT REQUIRES SEVERAL BULLETS AND A FEW CIRCLES
Improvise with “darn, missed him! Will you die already! Talk about a scene stealer!”
TIP! As the use of a “finger gun” is not always appropriate with young children, consider using a command of “boo!” and scaring your dog to death instead.
“Things I don’t like: baths, kitty sleeping in my bed, being left alone.”
STEPS:
1 Put your dog in a down, facing you.
Lure him onto his side, as in a rollover.
2 Continue to lure him onto his back and steady him there.
4 Practice until your dog can play dead on cue!
Chapter 3 Time for Chores
Dogs and people have lived in symbiotic relationships throughout history, each providing the other with valuable services. People provide food, shelter, and veterinary care, while dogs traditionally served humans by offering protection, hunting assistance, flock tending, vermin control, and transportation by carts and sleds. In today’s modern world, your dog may not be expected to serve in these traditional capacities, but that doesn’t mean he gets a free ride! Your dog can still earn his keep by helping around the house with these modern chores.
Dogs need something to do. They want to feel useful and love to work for praise and a sense of accomplishment. In this chapter, you’ll learn some useful tricks that can become part of your dog’s daily chores. Sure, it will take effort to teach your dog, but think of the time you’ll save each day when your dog fetches your morning newspaper, brings your slippers, and tidies up his toys into his toy box! (Feel free to try these out on your kids.)
Your dog will be most enthusiastic to do his chores if he feels they are important jobs. When he brings you the morning paper, take a moment to appreciate this wonderful service instead of casually tossing the paper on the table. When he carries your purse, don’t let him get away with dropping or chewing it. This is a valuable item! And if he proudly offers you two slippers from different pairs go ahead and wear them with pride! After all, what’s more important than the feelings of your best friend?
intermediate
Fetch My Slippers
VERBAL CUE
Fetch shoe
TEACH IT:
Upon your command, your dog will search for and bring one of your shoes. Your dog will distinguish between your shoes and someone else’s. Note though, it is not guaranteed that you will receive a matching set!
1 In an empty environment, place one of your slippers a short distance from your dog. Point to the slipper, and tell your dog to “fetch shoe” (page 24). Reward a successful fetch.
2 After several successful iterations, put the slipper out of site, or in another room, and send your dog to find it.
3 Once your dog is conditioned to retrieve one specific shoe, repeat the exercise with a different shoe. Your dog will come to understand that a “shoe” is any footwear that smells like you.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Practice this for as long as it is fun for your dog, about 4–6 times per session. In two weeks, you could be receiving slippers while sitting in your armchair!
PREREQUISITES
Fetch (page 24)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG BRINGS OTHER OBJECTS (TOYS, CLOTHES) INSTEAD OF MY SHOE
Your dog is excited and remembers he wants to bring you something… but can’t remember what. Don’t accept the object, but rather encourage him again to “fetch shoe.”
MY DOG BROUGHT ME TWO SHOES… BUT FROM DIFFERENT SETS!
What can I say, either be happy with what you got or do a better job of cleaning up your clothes!
1 Instruct your dog to fetch.
2 Put the slipper in another room.
3 Repeat with a different shoe.
easy
Get Your Leash
VERBAL CUE
Get your leash
TEACH IT:
Your dog will fetch his leash from it’s regular spot, either upon your command or whenever he wants to go for a walk.
1 Introduce the word “leash” to your dog by using it each time you put it on him. Toss his leash playfully and tell him to “fetch leash” (page 24). You’ll want to secure the metal clasp within the leash so your dog doesn’t bonk himself in the head with it in his exuberance! Forming a circle with the leash by buckling the clasp onto the handle is not always a good idea, as the dog can get tangled in the loop.
2 Now put the leash in its regular spot, such as on a hook by the door. Point to it and encourage your dog to “get your leash!” Maneuvering the leash off the hook may be a little tricky, so be ready to help coax it off if your dog is having trouble. Reward your dog by immediately buckling his leash to his collar and taking him out for a walk. In this trick, the reward is a walk instead of a treat, so be sure to introduce this concept early on.
3 The next time you are ready to go for a walk, get your dog excited to go out, and then have him get his leash before leaving.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Don’t be surprised if your dog interrupts your TV show by dropping his leash in your lap! This method of communicating his wishes sure beats barking and scratching at the door, so try to reward his politeness with a walk as often as possible.
PREREQUISITES
Fetch (page 24)
TROUBLESHOOTING
SOMETIMES THE LEASH GETS STUCK ON THE WALL HOOK
An excited dog can pull the hook right out of the wall! A straight peg is a better idea.
BUILD ON IT! Use the leash to teach walk the dog! (page 38)
1 Introduce the word “leash” to your dog.
2 Have your dog take his leash from its normal spot.
Reward your dog by taking him for a walk.
easy
Walk the Dog
VERBAL CUE
Heel or Come
TEACH IT:
This adorable trick is not so much useful as it is amusing. You’ll be sure to get double takes as you stroll the block with your dutiful pooch as he walks himself. With your dog leashed, he carries the loop end of the leash in his mouth. Now that’s doggoned clever!
1 Fold up your dog’s leash and secure it with a rubber band. Instruct your
dog to “take it” (page 24). After a few moments, take the leash from his mouth and reward him.
2 Practice heeling (page 160) with the folded leash in his mouth.
3 Now clip the leash to his collar and hand him just the loop end of the leash. Instruct him to take it and heel by your side. He’s walking himself!
4 Clip the leash on another friendly dog and instruct both dogs to heel.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Your dog will have a new leash on life as he takes himself for walks. Dogs skilled in “take it” will pick this trick up quickly. The problem will be in convincing your dog to hold the leash for an extended time, especially when there are tempting smells to sniff. Your dog will enjoy the freedom of holding his own leash, and may even test your rules by trying to take the leash from your hand as you walk. This is dangerous territory, as it could be perceived as a challenge to your dominance. Give it some thought beforehand.
PREREQUISITES
Take It (page 24)
Heel (page 160)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG DROPS THE LEASH WHEN HE IS BORED
Immediately pull your dog back to heel position and instruct him to “take it” again. He should not be allowed to drop the leash except upon your command.
THE DOGS SHOW AGGRESSION WHEN I ASK ONE TO HOLD THE LEASH OF THE OTHER
Don’t put your dogs in this situation if you suspect there will be aggression. This wouldn’t be the best way to work out pack-dominance issues.
BUILD ON IT! Learn mail carrier (page 76) to vary this trick by having one dog “deliver” the other dog to a family member!
TIP! The ideal leash length is 18”–24” (46–61 cm) longer than the distance from your waist to your dog’s collar. A flat braided leather leash will become a favorite.
“I pull on my leash when I go for walks. Sometimes, people tell my owner she should train me.”
STEPS:
1 Fold his leash and have your dog “take it.”
2 Heel with the leash in his mouth.
3 Attach the leash to his collar and have him take the loop end.
4 Teach one of your dogs to take the other for a walk!
intermediate
Newspaper Delivery
VERBAL CUE
Get the paper
TEACH IT:
Your dog will learn to bring the newspaper from the driveway or mailbox to your front door.
1 Roll up a section of the newspaper and secure it with a rubber band or masking tape. Toss it playfully indoors, and instruct your dog to “fetch! (page 24) Get the paper!” Do not allow him to shake or tear it, and reward each successful fetch.
2 Now try it outside, tossing the paper in its usually delivery spot, while you stand nearby.
3 Gradually work your way back, so the paper is tossed in the same spot, but you are standing closer and closer to your front door. Give your dog the verbal cue and reward him with a treat or praise for retrieving the paper.
4 Now that your dog is competent in paper delivery, make it more challenging by hiding the paper in the bushes, as your paper boy does. If your mailbox has a flap door, your dog can learn to pull it open (page 73), close it (page 70), and even lower the flag (adapted from turn off the light page 68)!
WHAT TO EXPECT: Most dogs enjoy carrying things in their mouths, and will especially enjoy this daily task because of its importance! As dogs have a habit of dropping items after they lose interest, be consistent in teaching them that the paper is an object that needs to be reliably delivered.
PREREQUISITES
Fetch (page 24) Helpful:
Give (page 26)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY NEWSPAPER COMES FOLDED, NOT BAGGED, AND FALLS APART AS MY DOG CARRIES IT
Yep, that happens. Ask your delivery person to install a dog-height newspaper mailbox.
THERE’S DOG SLOBBER ON THE FRONT PAGE!
Large-jowled dogs such as bloodhounds and Newfoundlands are generous with their saliva! If your dog enjoys this job, walk out with him and wrap a section of yesterday’s paper around the the new paper. Most of the salivation happens as dogs approach the front door, so be quick to take that paper!
TIP! Once your dog has learned to get the paper, don’t pick it up for him if he drops it. It is now his responsibility.
STEPS:
1 Secure the newspaper with a rubber band and practice fetching.
2 Toss the paper outdoors, in its usual delivery spot.
4 Teach your dog to open your mailbox,
pull out the paper,
close the door,
and lower the flag!
advanced
Say Your Prayers
TEACH IT:
When saying his prayers, your dog places his front paws on the edge of a bed or chair, lowers his forequarters as in a bow, and hides his head between his arms.
1 Kneeling sideways in front of your dog, cue him to put his paws on your arm (page 198). When you reward this behavior, do so with a treat from your other hand positioned between your dog’s paws, so that he must bow his head for the treat. Start by requiring only a mild bowing of his head, and be sure to give the treat while your dog is in the correct position—with bowed head.
2 Now practice on a chair. Have your dog put his paws up, cue him with “prayers,” and position a treat below his forearms. Using the “bow” cue (page 164) may help him get the idea to lower his forequarters.
3 As he improves, have your dog wait a few seconds before releasing the treat from your closed fist. In its final stage, when you point to the chair and say “prayers,” your dog should assume the praying position until released.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Always offer the reward low, near your dog’s chest, as rewarding from above would encourage peeking in anticipation. Dogs usually take a few weeks of squirming before they begin to understand trick.
PREREQUISITES
Paws on my arm (page 198)
Helpful: Take a bow (page 164)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG DROPS ONE PAW OFF THE CHAIR WHEN I OFFER THE TREAT
Offer the treat closer to his nose, and not as low. Your arm should be coming from below.
BUILD ON IT! Be creative—teach a doggy prayer with “amen” as your release word.
TIP! Never give your dog acetaminophen (Tylenol), as it can cause serious tissue damage.
1 With his paws on your arm, offer a treat from below.
2 Transfer this behavior to a chair.
easy
Kennel Up
VERBAL CUE
Kennel up
TEACH IT:
When told to kennel up, your dog goes into his crate.
1 A crate provides a den for your dog, which instinctually feels safe. Your dog’s kennel is his personal space and he deserves to be left alone while inside. Blankets and a cover make it cozy and comfortable.
2 Allow your dog to approach a new kennel on his own. Tossing a few treats inside may entice him to explore it further. Once he is comfortable with his crate, toss a treat inside as you tell him to “kennel up.” Praise him for going inside.
3 Now that he looks forward to this command, tell him to “kennel up” without tossing a treat inside. Once he goes in the crate, immediately praise him and give him a treat. Remember to give the treat while he is inside the kennel, as this is the position you wish to reinforce.
WHAT TO EXPECT: As part of his bedtime routine, your dog will look forward to kenneling up and receiving his good-night treat.
TROUBLESHOOTING
I HAVE A CRATE IN MY HOUSE AND ONE IN MY CAR. SHOULD I USE DIFFERENT VERBAL CUES FOR EACH?
Dogs are smart. They will understand that “kennel up” refers to any of their crates or boxes.
TIP! For a tasty treat, microwave hot dog slices for 3 minutes on a paper towel– covered plate. Cool before serving.
“I love my kennel. After a long day, I just curl up and think about things.”
2 Toss a treat in his kennel.
3 Give the command a
nd then the reward.
Make it a bedtime routine.
intermediate
Carry My Purse
VERBAL CUE
Carry
101 Dog Tricks Page 4