Magic

Parti

 Poodles
Home Nursery Parents Expecting Placed Pups Guestbook
About Us Pricing Guarantee Shipping Information Contact Us

 

 

 

 

 

 
Training Main House Training Puppy Chewing Whining Puppy Basic Poodle Training
Poodles & Children New Puppy Tips Male vs. Female Pet Travel Tips Calling by Name
  Training Tips-Small Dogs Dogs & New Babies 13 Easy to Teach Tricks  

13 Easy to Teach Tricks

 

 

 

 

The best way to teach your dog tricks is to make it fun and rewarding for him. Use praise and small treats to reward your dog.
 

Practice new tricks only a few minutes at a time. You never want your dog to get bored when learning tricks.
 

Shake Hands
 
Start by having your dog sit. Say, "Shake hands," and take his paw with your hand. Hold his paw and say, "Good dog!" Let go of his paw. Do this a few times every day.
 
TIP:
 
After a while, say, "Shake hands," but don't take his paw. See if he raises his paw by himself. If not, keep showing him what to do by saying, "Shake hands," and taking his paw with your hand. Your dog is not slow; he is just learning!
 
Turn Around
 
Start by having your dog stand up facing you. Let your dog see a treat in your hand. Stand still and say, "Turn around." Lead the dog's nose around with the treat so he walks in a circle. When he comes back to where he's facing you again, say, "Good dog!" and give him the treat.
 
TIP:
 
After some practice, hold the treat in front of you so your dog can see it and say, "Turn around," but don't lead his nose. See if he is ready to turn around by himself and get the treat. Pretty soon, he will twirl around faster than you can say 'Lassie!"
 
Lie Down
 

Have your dog sit.
 
Let your dog sniff a treat you are holding, but don't let him have it.  Lower the treat to the floor, and as you are doing that, your dog should follow it down.
 
Be sure to say "lay down" as your dog begins to lower himself.   Your dog should lower himself all the way to the floor.   Only give him the treat once he is on the floor. Repeat the words "lay down" many times: 
 
Say, "Good boy, lay down. Lay down you good boy."
 
You're laying down!"
 
Practice this several times during the day and over several days.
 
TIP:
 
After your dog has learned the command to 'lay down', you can practice it with 'stay'. It's okay to let your dog down and stay for 15 or 20 minutes.
 
It is okay if he falls asleep! Once in a while it is helpful when he needs to calm down.
 
Only give your dog the treat while he is lying down, not after he gets up. When he gets up, give him lots of hugs and kisses!
 
Crawl
 
Start by having your dog lay down. Hold a treat just in front of his nose and say, "Crawl."
 
If he starts to stand up, say, "No, down...crawl."
 
Pull the treat away, keeping it low, near the ground and say, "Craaawl."
When your dog moves even an inch or two without standing up, praise him and say, "Good dog! Craaawl."
 
TIP:

Your dog must know 'Down' ' before he can learn this trick.
 
Speak
 
Choose a game that your dog loves to play, like catch with a ball, or hide and seek with a toy. Then get him excited by saying, "Let's play! Want to play?" and show him the ball or toy. Jump and act silly so he barks and then say, "Good dog, speak!" Then play the game as his reward for learning "Speak".
 
TIP:
 
You can't make a dog bark, but you can get him happy and excited so he wants to bark. After a while, your dog will bark when you say, "Speak."
 
Play Dead or Take a Nap!
 
Have your dog lay down on his tummy. As you gently roll him over on his side, say, "Take a nap." While he is laying on his side, keeping his head on the floor, say, "Take a nap," and give him a small treat. Encourage him to stay there for a couple of seconds. Then say, "Wake up!" and let him stand up.
 
TIP:
 
Don't give your a dog a reward for standing up. Only give a treat while he is laying down with his head on the floor.
 
TIP:
 
This is a hard trick for most dogs. Wait a little longer each time before giving the treat, but be careful not to let your dog fall over on his back. You are helping your dog develop his balance. Be kind and only do this a couple of times.
 
Beg

Have your dog sit, facing you. Hold his favorite treat just above his head and tell him, "Say please." Your dog will probably lift his front feet off the ground to reach the treat. As soon as the feet are lifted, even a little bit, give him the treat.
 
Kiss
 
Here's an easy one: Every time your dog licks your face, say, "Give me a kiss. Good boy! Give me a kiss." If he isn't a licker, put a little peanut butter on your cheek and say, "Give me a kiss." When he licks it off say, "Give me a kiss," again.
 
TIP:
 
Tricks like this work because you put words with something your dog does. Pretty soon your dog hears "Give me a kiss," and thinks about licking your face. Then you give him a hug, rub his ears and say, "Good boy!" Dogs love that.
 
Roll-Over
 
Start by having your dog lay down on his belly. Kneel down beside him and gently roll him over on his side. While you talk sweetly to him and say, "Roll over," lift his legs so his tummy shows. Carefully keep using your hands to roll him over the rest of the way, saying his name and, "Roll over." Then say, "Good boy!"
 
TIP:
 
Only roll your dog on soft surfaces like carpet or grass so he doesn't hurt his back. Some dogs don't like to roll over. It can be a little scary for them to put their belly up. Try it a few times and but if it's not fun for your dog, choose another trick.
 
TIP:
 
After your dog has figured out what he has to do to get a treat, start throwing the ball two times in a row without giving him the treat. What you are trying to do is give him the treats less and less often so someday he won't need the treats in the ball to fetch it.
 
Fetch
 
If your dog doesn't fetch naturally, have an adult cut a slit in a tennis ball (a smaller, rubber ball if that is too big). Put some treats inside the tennis ball. Show your dog that there are treats in there, and give her one. Then, throw the ball. In the beginning, run with her and get the ball; then give her the treat. Soon you will be able to throw the ball and she will go get it (because she wants the treat!).
 
Say Hello
 
Start by sitting on a chair. While holding a treat, put your hand between your knees and encourage your dog to get it. As soon as your dog's chin touches your leg, say "Say Hello!". Then say "Release" or "OK" and give him the treat after he lifts his head.
 
TIP:
 
Only give your dog the treat after you have released him. Increase the time his chin is touching your leg, so eventually your dog will keep it there while you pet him. Then release him and reward him. Your dog will soon charm your friends with this trick! 
 
Say Go Back
 
This is an easy one! Stand facing your dog and as you walk toward him, say "Go Back". He will want to get out of the way and will automatically walk backwards!
 
TIP:
 
After your dog is walking backward with you, try walking toward him only a step or two. Eventually, you will be able to stand still and say "Go Back".  
 
Take a Bow
 
When you see your dog take a big stretch, with his head down low, say, "Take a bow." Every time he wakes up and stretches, say, "Take a bow." Someday you will say, "Take a bow." and your dog will take a big stretch, but it will look like he is bowing. If you reward your dog with a treat, be sure to put the treat in his mouth while he is in the 'bow' position. His head should be way down by the ground. See below:

 
TIP:
 
Tricks like this work because you put words with something your dog does. It may take some dogs much longer than others to figure this one out. Some dogs learn it in a week and some take years...yes, years! But one day your dog will do a great trick and then you will say, "Take a bow," and maybe, just maybe, your dog will take a bow.