101 Dog Tricks

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101 Dog Tricks Page 14

by Kyra Sundance


  2 Reward your dog periodically for a good effort, remembering to reward at the time when your dog is in the correct position—with his shoulder aligned to your left leg.

  3 When preparing to stop, slow your gait, plant your left foot, and bring your right foot up to meet it. Pull up on the leash and say “sit” (page 15).

  HEEL BACKWARD:

  4 With your dog on a short leash at your left, tap his chest with your right foot while cueing “back.” Reward him for taking a step back. As you reward him, don’t cause him to step forward by offering the treat too far in front of him. Practice heeling backward alongside a wall to keep your dog straight.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: In obedience classes, most dogs will be heeling nicely on leash by the end of eight weeks. Heeling is an art form, however, that can always be refined!

  Heel Back

  PREREQUISITES

  Sit (page 15)

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG LAGS BEHIND

  Pat your leg and use peppy encouragement, or break into a jog.

  MY DOG PULLS FORWARD

  Give a quick jerk on the leash followed by release of tension. This should immediately bring your dog back into position, at which time you praise him with “good heel.”

  BUILD ON IT! Continue to practice heeling until your dog can do it off-leash!

  TIP! The more your dog knows, the easier he will learn.

  HEEL:

  1 Command “heel” and step with your left foot.

  3 Command “sit” when you stop.

  HEEL BACKWARD:

  1 Use your right foot to tap your dog backward.

  easy

  Back Up

  TEACH IT:

  Your dog backs up in a straight line away from you.

  1 Stand in a hallway facing your dog while holding a treat in your closed fist directly in front of his nose. Press gently on his nose while walking toward him giving the verbal cue “scoot.” As your dog takes a few steps backward, praise and release the treat. If he squirms use your foot opposite the wall to guide that side, or place an ex-pen to create a narrow chute.

  2 Once your dog is getting the hang of this, start to decrease dependence on the nose push by instead walking in toward your dog while raising your knees to gently bump his chest. Use your hand to signal him backward.

  3 Over time, take smaller steps forward, while continuing to raise your knees to pressure your dog backward. Walk over to him to give a reward, or toss one to him, rather than calling him back to you.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: In a week, your dog could be walking backward following your treat. In another few weeks, you may be able to stand stationary while he backs up.

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG BOWS

  You may be holding the treat too low. Keep it no lower than nose height.

  MY DOG SITS

  Holding the treat too high will lift your dog’s nose and cause him to sit. Bump him with your knee to cause him to hop backward.

  TIP! Hand signals are more powerful than words. Be aware of your signals.

  1 Press a treat against your dog’s nose.

  2 Raise your knees as you walk toward your dog.

  3 Take smaller steps forward while continuing to raise your knees.

  easy

  Spin Circles

  TEACH IT:

  Your dog spins either a left or a right full circle.

  SPIN:

  1 Begin with your dog facing you, hiding a treat in your right hand. Move your hand to your right, in a large counter-clockwise circle, slowly luring your dog while telling him “spin.” Release the treat at the end of the circle.

  2 As your dog improves, diminish your hand signal until it is merely a flick of your wrist.

  3 Add some pizzazz—a spin is doubly exciting when you mirror your dog’s movement. As your dog spins, cross your right foot in front of your left and pivot on your toes until you’ve spun completely around. (And you thought your dog was going to do all the work!)

  4 Reach around by using your left hand to trace a clockwise circle.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: Practice ten times per day, and your dog should be following your hand easily within a week. In a month, he can be spinning on command!

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG GOES ONLY HALFWAY

  Reaching your hand too far forward too early will cause the circle to stall. Start close to your stomach and move your hand to the side before extending it forward.

  MY DOG CIRCLES ONE DIRECTION, BUT NOT THE OTHER

  Analyze your own movements to ensure you are moving symmetrically.

  MY DOG FINISHES A CIRCLE, THEN IMMEDIATELY CIRCLES THE OTHER DIRECTION

  When you finish the hand signal for the first spin, make sure your hand returns to your side. By leaving it crossing your body, you are inadvertently signaling your dog to do the next spin.

  BUILD ON IT! Teach military turns—while heeling (page 160), cue your dog “around” as you turn left 180 degrees. Continue heeling in the opposite direction.

  “I love going to the pet store. I find things under the shelves!”

  STEPS:

  SPIN:

  1 Hide a treat in your right hand.

  Move your hand directly to your right, and trace a large circle.

  Release the treat when the circle is complete.

  3 Spin with your dog for added pizzazz!

  easy

  Take a Bow

  TEACH IT:

  Your dog bows by keeping his back legs upright, while bowing down his front until his elbows touch the floor.

  1 Have your dog stand facing you. Hold a treat in your fist at nose height.

  2 Gently press your hand into your dog’s nose and downward, while giving the verbal cue.

  3 As soon as your dog’s elbows touch the floor, release the treat and back your hand away.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: Practice this trick six to ten iterations per day. Remember to quit while it’s still fun.) After one to two weeks your dog should be bowing easily when you press a treat to his nose. Gradually lighten your touch on his nose, and soon your dog will be bowing on his own. Thank you! Thank you very much!

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG SITS INSTEAD OF BOWING

  You are holding the treat too high. Start at nose height and press toward your dog’s hind paws.

  MY DOG LIES DOWN

  Release the treat sooner. You may have to reward before his elbows touch the ground. If this does not solve the problem, position your foot on the floor under his belly.

  BUILD ON IT! Once you’ve mastered take a bow, use a similar action to learn say your prayers (page 42)!

  TIP! Give your dog an ear massage, inside and out. Arf!

  “I do a curtsy, because I’m a girl dog.”

  STEPS:

  1 Hold a treat at nose height.

  2 Press toward your dog and downward.

  3 Release the treat as soon as your dog’s elbows touch the floor.

  easy

  Place (circle to my left side)

  TEACH IT:

  Your dog circles behind you to end sitting at your left side. This can be the start to a heeling drill or the end to an obedience test.

  1 Stand facing your dog with his leash in your right hand.

  2 Say “place” and take a step back with your right foot, pulling your dog toward your right side and behind you. Keep your left foot planted throughout this exercise.

  3 Transfer the leash to your left hand while returning your right foot next to your left and pulling your dog into position at your left side.

  4 Pull up on the leash and tell your dog to sit (page 15). Praise and reward your dog in this position.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: This trick is quite impressive as your dog shows off his obedience training. In its final stage, keep both feet planted while your off-leash dog responds to your cue to circle behind you and sit at your left side.

  PREREQUISITES

  Sit (page 15)

  TROUBLESHOOTING

 
MY DOG IS SO SLOW!

  As your dog is passing behind you, take an extra step or two forward and tell him to “get it up!”

  I FEEL LIKE I’M JUST PULLING MY DOG AROUND ME

  You are conditioning your dog to the movement. At first, you are pulling him around, but over time his muscle memory will take over.

  TIP! It takes approximately 100 repetitions for a dog to learn a new trick. Have patience!

  STEPS:

  2 With the leash in your right hand, step back with your right foot.

  3 Transfer the leash to your left hand.

  Return your right foot next to your left as you pull your dog into position at your side.

  4 Pull up on the leash as you command your dog to sit.

  easy

  Side (swing to my left side)

  TEACH IT:

  Starting facing you, your dog makes a tight circle, almost pivoting on his front paws, to come to a sit at your left side.

  1 Face your dog holding his leash in your left hand.

  2 Tell him “side” and step back with your left foot, pulling your dog to your left and slightly away from your body. Your right foot remains planted throughout this exercise.

  3 Circle your dog clockwise, bringing his head in the space where your left leg used to be.

  4 Bring your left leg back into position and have your dog sit (page 15) at your side. Reward your dog while he his sitting.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: With practice, your off-leash dog will jump into position while you stand in place. Energetic dogs may learn on their own to hop into position rather than circle.

  PREREQUISITES

  Sit (page 15)

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG SITS TOO FAR IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME

  You’ll be surprised at how your body position can affect your dog’s sit. Slight adjustments to your left shoulder position will bring your dog forward or back.

  MY DOG SITS CROOKED

  Tap his left haunch as he is sitting to bring it in tight.

  TIP! Consistency is key to success. Practice motions solo before involving your dog.

  STEPS:

  2 Step back with your left foot as you pull your dog back and away.

  3 Circle your dog clockwise.

  4 Bring your left leg forward to meet your right.

  Have your dog sit.

  intermediate

  Leg Weave

  TEACH IT:

  Your dog crosses back and forth between your legs as you walk. This trick is not for the uncoordinated!

  1 Start with your dog sitting or standing at your left side. Hold several small treats in each hand.

  2 Take a big step with your right foot and drop your right hand straight down between your legs while giving the verbal cue. As your dog crosses between your legs, reward him with a treat from your right hand.

  3 Take a step with your left foot and drop your left hand straight down while giving the verbal cue. Again, treat your dog when he noses your left hand.

  4 Repeat the steps.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: Practice this trick in five-minute sessions, once or twice per day. After two weeks, your dog should be following your hand smoothly, and you can require several successful weaves before treating. Keep practicing until your dog speeds through your legs with no hand guidance at all!

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  MY DOG RESISTS WALKING BETWEEN MY LEGS

  Start with the peekaboo trick (page 52) to reinforce this position.

  I’M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY COORDINATION

  Instead of treats, use a tab leash to guide your dog. Step with your right foot and pull the leash between your legs with your right hand.

  MY DOG IS TOO EXCITED AND NOT FOLLOWING MY HAND SMOOTHLY

  This is not uncommon in the beginning. Focus on one weave at a time, and reward each.

  MY DOG IS TOO TALL

  Unless you’re looking to take a tumble, this probably isn’t a trick for a Great Dane!

  BUILD ON IT! Once you’ve mastered leg weave, use a similar action to learn figure 8’s (page 172)!

  TIP! Always start leg weave by stepping with your right foot. Stepping with your left foot is a signal to heel.

  “On weekends I have just so much to do!”

  STEPS:

  1 Start with your dog at your left.

  2 Step with your right foot, drop your right hand.

  Lure your dog through.

  3 Step with your left foot, drop your left hand.

  Lure your dog through.

  Bring his head forward.

  4 Repeat.

  advanced

  Figure 8’s

  TEACH IT:

  As you stand with your legs apart, your dog runs figure 8’s through them.

  1 Warm up with a leg weave (page 170).

  2 Next, try the leg weave while taking steps that are wider apart but shorter going forward. Continue to use the “weave” cue.

  3 Transition to taking steps in place, with your legs wide apart, without making forward progress. Continue to lift each foot to cue the dog, and say “weave.” Use an imaginary leash to “pull,” or guide, your dog through your legs from front to back.

  4 Finally, keep your feet planted but lunge to each side as your dog crosses between your legs. As he crosses between your legs in preparation for circling your right leg, your right leg should be bent, and he should see your right hand guiding him through your legs and toward your right leg. Now is the time to change your verbal cue to “cross.” Have him do several figure 8’s in a row before treating. Give him the treat as he is doing the action, rather than after he has stopped.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: With a reliable leg weave, your dog can pick up the figure 8 in a few days. As you continue to train, you will be able to do it without lunging and with your hands on your hips.

  PREREQUISITES

  Leg Weave (page 170)

  TROUBLESHOOTING

  WHICH WAY IS MY DOG GOING THROUGH MY LEGS?

  Because this is adapted from the leg weave, your dog always starts at your left side and crosses through your legs, front to back, and then circles your right leg first. Your dog will always be passing through your legs front to back.

  BUILD ON IT! For an impressive dance sequence, have your dog do several figure 8’s, and after he passes through your legs in anticipation of circling your right leg, close your legs and use your right hand to cue him to spin (page 162).

  TIP! Figure 8’s are a good part of your stretching and warm-up routine to help prevent injury before exercise Cross

  “We have a kitty named JoJo. You have to watch out for her because she swats when you go around corners.”

  STEPS:

  1 Practice a leg weave.

  2 Make your steps shorter and wider apart.

  3 Using a wide stance, alternate lifting each foot in place.

  4 With feet planted, guide your dog through your legs, front to back.

  Stand in place with hands on hips while your dog runs figure 8’s around you!

  intermediate

  Moonwalk

  TEACH IT:

  When moonwalking, your dog scoots backward while in a bow position.

  1 Face your dog with him in a down position (page 16). In much the same way you taught him to back up (page 161), push your knee toward him while giving the “scoot” cue. He will likely try to stand up, so guard his shoulder blades with your hand to keep him down. Reward even a small scoot backward.

  2 Start to stand up straighter, and minimize your knee action. Continue to guard your dog’s shoulders, pushing him down every time he rises.

  3 Stand in place while giving the hand signal and verbal cue. If your dog rises to his feet, tell him “down” and then “scoot.” You may have to alternate these cues repeatedly.

  WHAT TO EXPECT: This adorable dance move can be learned in a few weeks by a dog with a solid back up. Dogs will often try to cheat by rising up, so be vigilant about form!

  PREREQUISITES

  Down (page 16) Back up
(page 161)

 

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