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An Introdocution to Tricks

Tricks are great fun to teach your dog. Tricks are great to show off at bar- b-ques, at the beach, down the pub, at a school fete with some of your dog's friends that also do tricks.

Tricks are not only entertaining they are also mentally stimulating for your dog. If you don't have time to take him for his daily walk or the weather is miserable, spend a few minutes and start teaching him a new trick. Some tricks can be useful in daily life. For example, teaching your dog to play dead (lie on his side) will make cutting his nails easier. Teaching him to spin in a circle on a doormat will dry his paws before coming inside. Teaching him to fetch the TV remote control will allow you to sit back & relax

Teaching tricks, you will have to use all your knowledge of training, as well as careful planning of each trick. From the start, whether by capturing a natural behaviour, luring to start the behaviour or targeting, to the end result of getting the behaviour on a visual or verbal cue, or both, or multiple cues. This requires patience, timing of your bridge and watching your dog carefully as you may miss something you could have bridged.

Here is a small list of tricks, you may already have an idea of what you want teach your dog or your dog may already know a few. You are only limited by your imagination and your dog's physical limitations, which must be considered prior to starting for example, you wouldn't teach a Great Dane to walk on its hind legs. The words in bold are ideas for cues/commands you can use or you may wish to use another cue/command or a body cue or copy behaviour (more on this later).

Some Tips before you get started.

The best place to teach a in an environment that is familiar to your dog and in which he won't become easily distracted. The ideal place is usually at home. Before you begin your training session remove any potential distractions from the area such as other dogs, people, toys etc.
Visualise the complete trick in your mind before you get started. E.g. Your dog rolling over. Break this trick down into small steps. Be confident that your dog understands and can perform these small steps before moving on to the next part of the trick.
Once you have the desired behaviour, practice performing it in different places and gradually introduce new distractions E.g. When he can roll over in the house try teaching roll over in the park, near other dogs, kids, etc.
Most importantly have FUN, FUN, FUN!

Tricks

Shake (hands) Dog lifts paw
High five/ ten Dog lifts paw higher or both paws
Wave (Same as high five) Visual Cue: You wave your hand and your dog does (Copy Behaviour)
Crawl (From drop dog crawls)
Bow (A drop with the backside up)
Curtsey (Bow) (like a horse, with front leg folded under)
Roll over (try to get this both ways)
Round (Turn to the left)
Circle (Turn to the right)
Up or High (dog standing on back legs)
March or Kick (in place/ sitting, with dog lifting paw) (Copy behaviour)
Prance (Marching on the move) (Copy behaviour)
Over (legs, arms, hoops, jumps, anything)
Through (through your legs whilst walking)
Weave (through agility weaving poles)
Fetch - Retrieve (eggs, beer can, credit card, keys)
Post the mail (Retrieve & deposit)
Clean up your mess (Retrieve your toys and put them away)
High (Stay)(dog standing on back legs and Staying)
Beg (Get the beg right the try Beg stay)
Back ( dog walks backwards)
Heel (everyone knows this one)
Right (heeling on right side of you)
Walk the plank
Hit a mark or Send away
Tug (Put playing tug on cue, may be useful some other time) (Dog pulls at the base of your pants)
Scratch (Catch your dog scratching and put it on cue, copy behaviour can be applied here)
Pee or Cock your leg (Again catch a behaviour and put it on cue, just hope nothing come out when doing a demo or you'll have wet shoes)
Dig (cue says it all)
Sing (a dog howling)
Boxing ( a tough one, a behaviour chain, dog standing on his back legs wearing boxing gloves and throwing punches)
Speak (One bark only please)
Yawn (catch this one if you can)
Head Down or Sad on drop (drop position with head in between paws) " Head up or Look up (opposite of above) (Copy behaviour)
Find (Seek Back?)(Cue for Tracking)
Say Prayers (Dog with paws up on table, with head under table top, need right size dog for this one or maybe do it on your arms!)
Dead Dog (Dog lying on its side, could be bed time too)
Bang (Dog rolls onto back with legs up in air and doesn't move, also has visual cue)
Spin (turn half way left & half way right)
Yes (Nod your head, can use body cue or copy behaviour)
No (Shake your head, can use body cue or copy behaviour)
Do Dishes (needs to be conditioned to having a sponge over its paw)
Shut up, Be Quiet, Shush! (No barking, whimpering or sooking)
Skateboard (Teach you dog to ride one, who says the kids should have all the fun)
Open the door/ Drawer / Cupboard/ (push or pulling, targeting)
Paint or Palette (Just a wave, need to condition dog to hold a paint brush in between toes)
Do The Dishes (Similar to above but with a wet sponge over paw)
Achoo! (The dog fetches a tissue when you sneeze)
VROOM! (Dog wipes its feet like male dogs do after they pee!)
Behind (Dog walks behind your back) (Just like the seals at Seaworld)

Teach your dog how to:

Rodney Gooch –
Head Trainer and Team Leader for the new Pedigree Superdogs Team