Dogs and Tricks?

[midori1999]

Does any teach/has anyone taught their dogs any 'tricks'?

I am going to start teaching our 'foster' pup, Buster (no longer really a foster, he is staying put... ) some tricks. It's soemthing I haven't done before as my other dogs have only been taught good manners/basic obedience, but Buster is quite intelligent and has started to 'offer' behaviours during his everyday training, so I thought it would be fun to teach him some stuff.

Has anyone done this with their dog? Any tips/ideas for what tricks to teach?

Thanks.

I've taught my dogs lots of tricks although not taught the current ones so much.

My spaniel used to 'die' when you pointed 2 fingers or a toy gun at him. He would flop dramatically on the floor then roll onto his back with his legs in the air. This was easy to teach him as he often slept on his back like this.
He also rolled over in both directions, harder to teach
Walked backwards
lifted his front legs individually
I miss him

I love teaching them tricks. My first dog would balance a biscuit on his nose and then flick it up and catch it on command. he would also fetch a toy by name.

My collie will bark on command and roll over, other than that she just does general obedience stuff.

always wanted to teach one to limp but haven't managed yet!

Look at you dog and see what they do naturally and then develop into a trick.

One of mine naturally walks backwards so I developed that. He walks backwards around me in a circle.

If the dog is clicker trained even easier - one of mine was rubbing his eye with his paw a few clicks later he know does this as his party trick.

Roll over
Lift each leg in turn
Open cupbards - (a basic tug needs to be taught)
Shut doors - (a basic push command)
Fetch the remote control
Get the phone when it rings
Walk backwards
Bow
Weave through your legs
Put toys away in a basket
Turn on the light (Push command)
Get a hanky out of your pocket when you sneeze.(tug command)
Shake either their paw or their whle body when the shake to get dry.
to go left
to go right
Paw touch - this one can be developed to do loads of things eg press a switch, press a buzzer to go out for a wee etc.
easy ones like paw, and high five, spin.

Most of the above are based on three things
a retrieve, a touch, and tug.

Tricks are great to keep the dogs thinking and working.

Another way again if clicker trained is to do freetime. Just get an object and see what behaviour they offer you and click. Eg put a washing up bowl on the floor and see what the dog does, some sit in it, some run around it, some tip it over. Click the behaviour and then you can develop it.

Have fun. I try to teach mine new tricks most weeks keeps them and me out of mischief

PS glad your "foster" is staying put. I have one that I am fostering and have done for 5 years