3 Continue on with “twoooooo…. ooooooone…” and then release his collar shouting “let’s go!” and sprinting away from him. No treats are necessary as this is a self-rewarding game.
4 Require your dog to stay during the “3-2-1” without holding his collar. If he breaks, stop the game and order him back. Start over with “3.”
WHAT TO EXPECT: The intelligent (and conniving) animals that they are, dogs often learn the pattern of “3-2-1 …” and take off a half second before your cue! It’s a good exercise in discipline to enforce the stay.
PREREQUISITES
Stay (page 18)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG GETS CRAZY EXCITED!
Dogs can go bonkers with this game and can hurt themselves or you with their wild abandon so be smart about your surroundings. Use this game to amp up your dog up before an agility competition or to encourage more exercise.
4 Require your dog to stay as you say “threeeeee…”
“twoooooo…. ooooooone…”
and release him with “let’s go!”
Chapter 7 Jumping and Catching
Teamwork is the name of the game as you and your partner perform synchronized jumps and catches. You’ll learn to trust and read each other as you work collaboratively to execute a stunt. The rewards are in the journey and the successes are measured in the smiles, barks, and tail wags of you and your best bud.
Dogs love to jump—it’s an exhilarating and self-rewarding behavior. Jumping and catching tricks are impressive to the onlooker as they showcase your dogs’ speed, grace, coordination, and athleticism. A jumping dog is a happy dog, and people can’t help being inspired by his zest for life!
Jumping is also a strenuous behavior, and a painful one if the dog is not at a high fitness level or has health problems or injuries. Keep a close eye toward signs of discomfort, and remember to stretch, warm-up, and cool-down your dog. Do not encourage him to jump higher than he can achieve with moderate effort, and control his form so that he jumps and lands straight and close to horizontally.
easy
Jump Over a Bar
VERBAL CUE
Hup or jump
TEACH IT:
Your dog will learn to jump over a bar.
1 Set up a bar jump or create a homemade version out of two chairs and a broomstick. For safety reasons, the bar should release if hit. Set the bar to a low height: 3”–6” (7.5–15 cm) for small dogs and 12”–18” (30.5–46 cm) for medium-sized dogs.
2 With your dog on a lead, run with him toward the jump. Give an enthusiastic “hup!” as you jump over the bar with him and praise him for his success. A treat may be given, however most dog enjoy the jump on its own. If your dog is reluctant, lower the bar to the ground and walk over it with him. Avoid pulling him over the jump, and give him plenty of encouragement.
3 As your dog’s confidence improves, gradually raise the bar. Try sending your dog over the jump from different positions. Put your dog in a stay (page 18), and call him from the opposite side of the jump. Or stand on the side of the jump and wave him over. Have your dog do figure 8’s over the jump: jump forward, circle the left side and back to you, jump forward, circle the right side and back to you.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Most dogs enjoy jumping and will take to it easily if given positive feedback. Within a few days, your dog can be a jumper!
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG TRIPPED ON THE BAR AND IS NOW SCARED OF IT
Much of his memory of this episode will be determined by your reaction. Encourage your dog to “walk it off” and in the future make sure the bar has a release and the ground is not slippery. Instead of a leash that can become tangled, use a tab—a short lightweight rope.
BUILD ON IT! Build on this skill to teach jump over my back (page 110).
2 Run with your leashed dog over the jump.
3 Gradually raise the height of the bar.
Stand on the opposite side of the jump and call your dog over.
easy
Jump Over My Knee
VERBAL CUE
Hup
TEACH IT:
As you kneel on the floor, your dog jumps over your raised thigh.
1 With your dog on your left, kneel on the ground with your right leg outstretched. Rest your foot against a wall. Lure your dog over your leg with a treat. Tell him “hup!” as he moves over your leg. If he attempts to go under your leg, move your leg lower.
2 Raise your leg up a little higher. Your dog may be tempted to cross near your ankle as that is the lowest spot, so keep your treat close to your body to tempt him in that direction. An enthusiastic voice will stimulate a higher jump!
3 Kneel with your thigh horizontal and your knee against the wall. If your dog tries to go under your leg, lure him slowly so that he first places his front paws on your thigh. Allow him to nibble the treat from this position, then move the treat farther away from him and use an enthusiastic “hup!” to coax him to jump the rest of the way.
4 Move away from the wall and use a sweeping motion of your right arm to signal your dog to jump over your knee.
WHAT TO EXPECT: This is a fun trick for your dog, and one that can be achieved by most dogs. Practice when your dog is full of energy and he should get the hang of it in a week or two!
BUILD ON IT! Jumping over your knee is the first step in learning jump into my arms (page 112)!
TIP! Have your dog circle behind you (page 166) in preparation for a second jump.
1 Lure your dog over your outstretched leg.
2 Raise higher and tell your dog to “hup!”
3 Kneel with your knee against the wall.
advanced
Jump Over My Back
TEACH IT:
In an impressive show of athleticism and teamwork, your dog jumps over your crouched back.
1 Stand next to the upright while you have your dog jump over a bar (page 108). Set the bar height to about 24” (61 cm).
2 This time, crouch down next to the upright.
3 Kneel on your hands and knees under the bar and instruct your dog to jump. If he is reluctant, have a friend encourage him over. If your dog has trouble at any point learning this trick, go back to the previous step.
4 Remove the bar from jump, but keep yourself positioned between the uprights. Alternate jumps with the bar and without it.
5 Continuing in the same training session, lay the uprights down and have your dog jump you again.
6 Remove the jump entirely. If your dog seems confused, hold the bar across your back as a visual cue.
7 Once your dog is comfortable jumping over your body, move away from him and stand with your back to him, arms extended. Look back at him and call “hup!” As your dog runs toward you, wait until the last second to crouch down. Very impressive!
WHAT TO EXPECT: Athletic dogs can be jumping over you within a few weeks. Be sure your dog has good traction and is jumping with control. Send him to a target (page 145) after each jump to keep his trajectory straight. A few repetitions of this trick per day are enough to keep up your dog’s skills without overdoing the stress on his body.
PREREQUISITES
Jump over a bar (page 108)
TROUBLESHOOTING
MY DOG IS LAUNCHING OFF MY BACK
Some dogs prefer to jump on your back on their way over while over while other dogs will do anything to avoid touching your back. Work in collaboration with your dog to develop the method that works best for the both of you.
BUILD ON IT! Build on this skill to learn summersault/handstand vault (page 114)!
TIP! Have a training goal for each session.
STEPS:
1 Send your dog over a 24” (61 cm) bar jump.
2 Crouch next to the upright as your dog jumps.
3 Kneel under the bar. Have a friend encourage your dog over if he seems reluctant.
4 Stay in position but remove the bar.
5 Lay the uprights down.
6 Remove the jump but hold the bar a
cross your back as a visual cue.
intermediate
Jump into My Arms
TEACH IT:
Your dog jumps toward your chest as you catch him in mid-air.
FORWARD JUMP (SMALL DOGS):
1 Sit in a chair and encourage your dog to jump into your lap by patting your thighs and saying “hup!” A toy or treat should help motivate him. Be sure to catch him securely and praise and reward him while in your lap. If your dog enjoys being held, this can be his reward.
2 Gradually straighten up out of the chair. Press your back against a wall so your dog is confident in your stability as he uses your thighs as a push-off platform.
3 As your dog gains confidence, move away from the wall. Continue to bend your knees slightly to provide a ramp for your dog’s jump. Be sure to catch him securely every time.
PREREQUISITES
Jump over my knee (page 109)
TROUBLESHOOTING
I DROPPED MY DOG!
Your dog is putting a lot of trust in you and needs to feel confident you will catch him securely. Go back to the basics and take care to catch him securely every time.
MY DOG DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY
If your dog is toy motivated, this will often inspire more enthusiasm than food. Tease him with a toy, and when he jumps, toss the toy a few inches and catch him!
TIP! You get enthusiasm by giving enthusiasm.
1 Encourage your dog into your lap.
Praise him while there.
2 Lean against a wall for support.
3 Bend your knees slightly.
STEPS:
SIDEWAYS JUMP (SMALL OR LARGE DOGS):
1 Have your dog jump over your knee (page 109). Your dog should be on your left with your right knee raised. Hold your right hand high and away as a target for your dog, and use a toy if that helps.
2 Rise up slightly so your back knee is off the ground.
3 Continue to rise until you are in a position that causes your dog to jump high enough to be caught. When your dog is at the apex of his jump, lightly touch him with both hands in the position that will later become your catching grasp. Do not attempt a full catch the first time, as it will startle your dog. Increase the pressure and duration of your grasp, concentrating on carrying him through the path of his arc and releasing him to the ground.
4 Finally, catch your dog at the highest point of his jump, continuing to swing in the direction of his travel so as not to jolt him. Be sure his weight is distributed and excessive pressure is not caused on his neck or belly.
WHAT TO EXPECT: This trick requires a good amount of physical energy from your dog, as well as confidence in your ability to support him. Some dog/owner combinations may never be able to work this trick out.
1 Have your dog jump over your knee.
2 Raise your back knee off the ground.
3 Lightly touch him as he jumps.
4 Catch your dog at the apex of his jump.
expert
Summersault/Handstand Vault
VERBAL CUE
Summersault
TEACH IT:
This spectacular trick requires precise synchronization and complete trust as you execute a summersault or a handstand while your dog vaults between your legs.
SUMMERSAULT:
1 Your dog already knows how to jump over your back (page 110) from behind you. Work with him now to jump the opposite direction. Face your dog and crouch down, arms extended, head bowed but tilted so you can make eye contact.
2 Add a slow-motion summersault. Walk toward your dog, arms raised straight up in the position that will later serve as your hand signal. Crouch down and tell your dog “summersault, hup!” After he jumps you put your hands on the ground, shoulder width apart, set your head between your hands with your chin tucked toward your chest, and roll forward. Practice this step several weeks before moving forward, as a collision with your dog could set him back significantly.
3 Your dog is now going to be asked to jump you while you are in mid-roll. He will need to calculate speed and distance and may not be successful at first. Remove your shoes in case of a collision. Keep your summersault slow but continuous. If your dog bails from the jump, try it again and praise him profusely when he is successful.
4 Finally, split your legs into a V for your dog to jump through! Your dog may at first be caught off guard when your legs separate, and collide with them. Teach him this configuration by starting your summersault in a straddle and keeping your legs split all the way through.
PREREQUISITES
Jump over my back (page 110)
BUILD ON IT! Have your dog carry a baton (page 116) while jumping!
TIP! Wear protective gear when performing the handstand.
1 Face your dog as he jumps your body.
2 Finish a summersault after your dog has jumped you.
3 Try rolling while your is dog jumping.
HANDSTAND:
1 Practice a solo handstand; start in a lunge, hands extended up and slightly forward. Push with your front leg as your hands go to the ground and your back leg conversely goes up. Your feet should meet pointing toward the sky, then separate them into a wide V for your dog to jump through. Lower your head to the ground, tuck your chin toward your chest, and roll forward to finish.
2 Remove your shoes! Starting with a summersault vault, work incrementally to create a higher and higher summersault. Your first handstands should have your head lowering to the ground before your feet ever get straight up.
WHAT TO EXPECT: There will be few dog/trainer pairs that can pull this trick off. There are issues of size, jumping ability, confidence, and trust. If this is one you can master, you’ll have the flashiest trick in town!
1 To perform a handstand, start in a lunge,
connect feet straight up,
lower your head and tuck your chin,
roll forward,
and finish.
advanced
Baton Jumping
VERBAL CUE
Hup Baton
TEACH IT:
Your dog jumps over your baton while holding one of his own. Creative positions can turn this trick into a real circus act!
1 Warm up with your dog jumping over a bar (page 108). Stand alongside the jump and use a sweeping motion with the arm farthest from your dog to signal him over.
2 Remove the jump and hold just the bar parallel to the ground using the arm closest to your dog. Cue him to “hup” and lure him over with a treat in your other hand. If your dog tries to go around the bar, hold the other end against a wall.
3 Experiment with changing your body positions after every jump in a sequence of jumps. Decorate your bar or use a flashy baton.
4 Make a baton for your dog to hold. Select an object that your dog holds willingly in his mouth. A length of hose or irrigation tubing wrapped with colorful electrical tape works well, as does a tennis ball–textured throwing stick sold at pet stores. Associate the word “baton” with this object and have your dog take it (page 25) and hold his baton while he jumps!
WHAT TO EXPECT: Your dog can learn the basics of baton jumping in a few weeks. However, every new body position will require a learning period as you and your dog figure out the logistics. This collaborative effort is a true bonding experience.
PREREQUISITES
Jump over a bar (page 108) Take it (page 25)
TIP! Your dog’s safety comes first. Take a moment to survey the area, inspect your props, check for injuries, and consider anything that could go wrong.
“Sometimes, I don’t want to hold my baton so I spit it out. Sometimes, I hold the very end from the corner of my mouth.”
STEPS:
1 Use a sweeping motion to send your dog over the bar.
2 Hold the bar against a wall and lure your dog over.
3 Use a flashy baton and experiment with different body positions.
4 Make an easy-to-hold baton for your dog.
expert
Jump Rope
VERBAL CUE
Hup
101 Dog Tricks Page 10