How can I train my dog to do tricks?

Question

A lot of people on here advise taking a dog to obedience school. My dog does NOT have any serious behavior issues, and I have no desire to go to obedience classes. I'm just interested in teaching her to do some funny stuff like roll over, play dead, sit up and beg, etc. I got her from the pound. She is 3 years old. I started off by teaching her "sit," and we are now working on "down." But she really only listens if I have some treats out. Without the food, she won't necessarily do the trick. Also, she won't always come to me when I call her. She doesn't run away or anything like that, but when she's comfortable on the bed, she may or may not come when I call her. Any suggestions? How long should I spend training per session? How many sessions per day? Are cut up hot dogs a suitable treat? I'm afraid to give her too many because I don't want to upset her stomach and cause her to have an accident in the house. Thanks!

Barbara: I'm not sure what you mean. My dog is small. She is completely house broken. She does not bite, and she hardly ever barks. She has only destroyed one thing in my apartment (the mini blinds), and that was because she misses me when I leave so she tries to look out the window. I have done some crate training to fix that. The only thing left to do is tricks! She never is off the leash in public.

Answer 1

Training tricks is like training any behavior - you capture the behavior and shape it until you get what you want. Basic obedience training (with positive reinforcement/clicker training) can actually help you learn how to work with your dog on any behavior you want. I generally keep training sessions short (5-10 min, cpl times a day) and always end on a positive note. BTW, training can happen every time you interact with your dog. Suitable treats are anything your dog will work for (make them very small - no larger than 1/4 inch). Coming when called usually requires higher value treats. see links for more on training specific behaviors. And most importantly, have fun!

Answer 2

- make it fun! use a high-pitched happy, excited voice at first. when she knows how to come, you can tone it down a bit
- be patient: she's a little older and won't learn as quickly as a puppy
- several training sessions a day lasting 5-10 minutes is better than 30 minutes once a day. If your dog looks stressed or bored, stop training, or if you're in a bad mood, don't train. Better to have 3 productive minutes than 10 stressed out ones!
- don't know specifics on teaching tricks, but Dog Training for Dummies (or any other dog training book) give step-by-step instructions.
- hot dogs aren't a great treat, as they are not particularly healthy for humans. I know a lot of people on here use them though.

ADDED: I think what Barbara means (at least, this is how I took it) is that you should focus on training your dog to perform basic commands (sit, down, stay, off, which equal good manners) before teaching your dog 'tricks' which are more for human amusement (roll over, play dead, paw, high five) than anything.

Answer 3

The best trick training ever is http://www.takeabowwow.com/ . Lots of tricks, fun,clever, unusual tricks, and all taught with positive reinforcement.

Fun, fast! Also, you will learn some basic principles that you can apply later to other behaviors, like the Come, if you wish to...

I teach short distance comes by teaching the dog hand targeting -- targeting is on the DVD.

I agree with others, that several short sessions a day is optimal for teaching. If you are working her frequently, and especially since she is a small dog, with a small tummy, try to use a complete and balanced treat, and count those calories as part of her diet. I use Natural Balance Roll. http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/DFRolls.html

have fun!

Penny

dog trainer for 25 years.

Answer 4

I am underwhelmed by a dog who will roll over and play dead - but pulls on his leash when out for a walk. Worse still is the dog who can balance a cookie on his nose - but jumps on me with his muddy paws instead of sitting quietly at the sit-stay.

Obedience training for ALL dogs is more important than tricks.

You just happen to be ahead of the curve since Fifi doesn't have any "serious" behavior problems.

You see, being a responsible dog parent involves more than just spay/neuter and proper vet care. It's obedience training too.

Do that - and THEN the tricks, please.

Answer 5

I recognise plenty of persons won't trust this, however in my opinion I consider taking them to obedience categories is a well suggestion, persons might say you'll do that at dwelling but when you're relatively eager on coaching your puppy its valued at paying to have an informed educate you the right way to teach your puppy then you'll train at dwelling. Also, at those categories the puppy learns the right way to socialise and turns into used to seeing different puppies and learns how to act, which is helping while the puppy is permitted off his lead on a stroll. Honestly, I could propose those categories, it used to be valued at each minute+penny in my revel in with my chocolate labrador, he is excellently knowledgeable now, that's announcing anything considering the fact that he isn't even three but as it's usual for labradors to be disobedient till they relax ordinarily on the age of three. He does the whole thing I ask and I discovered all of it on the categories and simply practised it at dwelling.

Answer 6

As a professional dog trainer for over 16 years, I have to tell you my strong opinion that you need these group classes for obedience training. http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?J1Kv

Other pet warehouses are there to get you to buy their products and hang around their strore. And their trainers are their employees...never forget they have an agenda. Most of the trainers have very little education--if they had actual training and skills they wouldn't be there making just over minimum wage--trust me on this. But even if they did have experience and talent...a group setting is a terrible place for learning to take place. It's distraction training and it is the LAST phase of training not the first. You wouldn't have your child try to do their homework in a toy store, would you? Of course not...the level of distraction would be too high! It's the same with dogs. Having said that, these classes can be an excellent way to socialize dogs...but not to train them. And while they appear to be cheaper than a professional trainer...you have to attend many more sessions to get the same results because of the poor learning environment--so you wind up spending MORE money for less training than you would with a professional. Save your money and go to someone who actually knows how to train dogs. OR, read books and try to train your dog yourself. There is nothing they train at a Petsmart or Petco that you can't do yourself with a couple of hours of reading.

Answer 7

Try using a clicker or yea treats are good i thnk sausage is okay ask a vet