The key to teaching dogs tricks is to teach them to associate your commands with their natural behavior. A good example is teaching your dog to sit. A widely used method is to say “sit” while moving a treat slowly back over a dog’s head until they sit down, which most dogs will naturally do to keep their eyes on the food. After a few times, the dog catches on and learns what you want when you tell it to sit.
With this in mind, you can take any action your dog routinely performs and turn it into a fun trick. Here are some cute examples of tricks you can teach your dog, simply by playing off what they normally do.
Remember before you begin training that every dog is different. It may take your dog as little as an hour to figure out what you are asking for, but it may also take weeks. Have patience and keep training fun and exciting for your dog to keep it willing to perform for you.
Bow Down
You may have noticed than when a dog wake up and stretches, it looks a bit like the dog is taking a bow. Since most dogs stretch after each nap, and nap multiple times a day, teaching your dog to bow may be one of the easier natural behaviors to turn into a trick.
To teach your dog to do this on command, you will need to carry treats with you constantly. Keep the treats small (a few pieces of kibble work perfectly). Pay close attention to when your dog stretches, and make sure you are there when your dog wakes up. As soon as you notice your dog beginning to stretch, say “Take a bow”, or whatever command you have chosen. As soon as your dog has lowered the front half of its body to the ground give it the treat while saying in an excited voice “Good bow!”
If you have a dog that gets in this position during play, (many puppies and young dogs do) use that to your advantage as well. As soon as you notice your dog go down, say “Take a bow” and reward with some kibble or a small treat.
Say No
If you’d like to teach your dog to say no, keep in mind that you still want your pet to respond to the word “No”. Make sure you keep your voice light and happy when giving the no command, and deep and stern when telling your dog to stop something.
To teach your dog to say no, you will have to get your pet’s head to shake. This can usually be done by tickling your dog’s ears or, if they are floppy enough, flipping them inside out. Find out which one will make your dog’s head shake. Each time you do it, give the command “Say no” (or whichever command you come up with). As soon as your dog’s head begins to shake, praise your dog and offer a small treat.
Shake it Off
Teaching your dog to shake their entire body on command can be as easy as teaching your dog to say no, especially if your dog bathes or swims often.
All of these tricks can be easily learned by your pet if you use the right training tools or devices. Barx buddy to easily conduct the training. This device will allow you to train and control your pet effectively.
When your dog gets out of water, look for signs that it is about to shake the water off. As soon as you see the signs, command “Shake it off”. When your dog begins to shake, praise it loudly and offer it a small treat.