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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

ideas for quick and EASY doggy trick please

29 replies

Dieu · 20/10/2015 22:41

Hello. Puppy has his final puppy training class tomorrow, and we have been asked to prepare a trick for it (something at home, without the trainer's involvement).
Children, pup and I have just got back from a few days away over the (Scottish) half-term break, and I had completely forgotten about this homework ... until now.
Our pup is gorgeous and we adore him but he's ahem not the brightest spark. Does anyone know of a very simple trick (something fun and frivolous, not a command) that I could teach him by tomorrow evening?! He's very food motivated, which should hopefully help.
I remember as a teenager YEARS ago teaching our Staffy to leave something ('Stolen') and then take it ('Paid for'), and she got it after about 3 attempts.
I am having no such luck with our wee Shih Tzu (5 months).
Thank you!

OP posts:

nmg85 · 20/10/2015 23:02

High 5 or shake a paw?

Original poster

Dieu · 20/10/2015 23:53

He just doesn't get the 'paw' thing at all. Sigh. Thanks anyway though

OP posts:

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 21/10/2015 06:49

Spin - easy to lure round with a treat - even the dimmest dog could get that!

LilCamper · 21/10/2015 08:07

Teaching a 'high 5' is easy. Hold a super tasty reward in a closed fist, knuckles up, fingers down. With the dog in a sit, hold your fist at about chest height, don't say anything, let your dog experiment and try different things. As soon as a paw comes up and makes contact with your hand, release the reward. Do this a few times before you introduce the cue 'High Five'.

maitaimojito · 21/10/2015 08:22

Roll over was really easy with our pup and she won a prize for the best trick.

If he knows 'down' already, get him to lie down with the treat in your hand in front of him, then move the treat over his shoulder and whilst saying 'roll over' and he should follow the treat.

Our trainer did say that a lot of dogs don't like to roll over however as its a vulnerable position so might not be as easy with every dog.

Original poster

Dieu · 21/10/2015 09:48

Great, I shall get on the case and try these out. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks!

OP posts:

ThreeRuddyTubs · 21/10/2015 09:55

If he knows how to lie down you can teach "head down". Just put him in a down and use the treat to lure him to put his head on the floor. Eventually you can add head up as well

AnotherDame · 21/10/2015 09:59

If you put a treat in your fist and put the fist in front of him he gets the treat for touching his nose to your fist. Try it a few times with "good boy" or whatever you use for praise when he gets it right and release the treat to him and then start pre-empting it with "touch" before putting your fist in front of him. Then progress to having an empty fist and treating from your other hand etc. It shouldn't take long for a food orientated dog to get the idea :) .

Shriek · 22/10/2015 00:28

i think rollover is a great one, and is vital for regular checks so something dog should learn to trust people to do anyway for their own wellbeing, especially for tummy rubs!

the paw one, i always discourage because it easily becomes a habit for everytime someone has a treat to get it out of their hand and then its been taught a bad habit.

Not into your trainer really. teaching dogs to do stupid things for the hell of it when its more important they have nailed their basics for their own safety and yours.

LilCamper · 22/10/2015 08:35

Trick training is not teaching dogs stupid things for the hell of it.

It is great for the owner/dog bond and teaches a dog impulse control and body awareness.

High 5, once learned, you don't need a reward in your hand to ask for the cue.

tinymeteor · 22/10/2015 09:44

A 'beg' is cute and easy to teach. From a sit, hold the treat near the nose and then move it directly upwards. They will instinctively get up on hind legs to follow it, so introducing the word cue is straightforward

Original poster

Dieu · 22/10/2015 10:23

Absolutely LilCamper, but it is allowed to be fun too ...

OP posts:

Original poster

Dieu · 22/10/2015 10:35

And you're right LC in saying that trick training is good for their impulse control. The stolen/paid for trick that I did is basically leave/take it, in a slightly more novel way. And we demonstrated our tricks at the end of the class/course, as a final bit of fun, only after the basics learnt had been nailed

OP posts:

Original poster

Dieu · 22/10/2015 10:35

Oh, and thanks again everyone. Will look forward to trying out your ideas over time.

OP posts:

Shriek · 22/10/2015 16:36

doesn't have to be a 'trick' to train impulse control, so irrelevant.

I hear that some like teaching dogs tricks. I'm just not into making dogs, real animals who dote on us being treated like puppets/toys and made to do stupid things. Its my view, and i know that people like to teach their dogs to do stupid things (like high 5 - which ends up with the dog being told off for scratching a little kids eye! amongst other things).

I thought we'd moved on from 'performing animals' - all very degrading for our devoted best friends.

There is absolutely loads of impulse control training without doing 'tricks' so thats not an argument for making your dog do these things... dogs are dogs they are not humans that do 'high 5's' just to amuse us.

making a dog 'beg'??? would you do this to your DC? Then think again perhaps?

I am of the treat a dog like the loyal devoted animal it is camp; train it for its own safety and everyone else's and make it a responsible part of a community so that it can be accepted and happy. Its not a dancing bear, or here for our entertainment to be laughed at, or just for xmas, and so on.

I'm not saying this to get on anyone's case, i just don't agree with teaching dogs tricks that could strain their backs, cause bad habits, or, equally important just make them look stoopid. I'd rather they have instant recall, and acceptable socially,, this is what makes them happy relaxed doggies and happy relaxed owners.

Cheerfulmarybrown · 22/10/2015 17:13

Shriek dogs love to learn tricks. After all most training in their eyes is a trick. They would not naturally walk to heel - this is just a trick, asking them to sit in the dogs eyes is a trick.

The bonus of teaching dogs tricks in a positive way is the bond you get between you and the dog. You also get a stimulated dog that is mentally and physically satisfied.

I clicker train all my dogs to learn new behaviours - the minute I pick up the clicker all the dogs will be around me desperate to be the ones that are going to do the training. This is with a mixture of 5 month old to 15 year old dogs.

Making a dog beg or sit pretty is an excellent way of building a sporting dogs core strength so I teach behaviours that will benefit my dogs.

Teaching a dog to walk backward is also great for core strength and rear end awareness again excellent for any sporting dog or dogs that you want to keep fit and healthy.

Teaching a dog to do a left or right spin is fantastic for teaching gun dogs or agility directionals or even when out walking your own dog.

Tricks or new behaviours do have a place in dogs training.

Shriek · 22/10/2015 17:20

I think i was clear when i said its about how you make an animal 'perform' for human entertainment and laughter at them.

Dogs have no idea these are 'tricks' or any training for that matter, and i think i was also very clear that i support 'training' that benefits dogs, i think i was clear what i was saying and I'm not having a 'go' at you or your training methods marybrown . i think you are mxing the word 'trick' in what i'm saying here.

Cheerfulmarybrown · 22/10/2015 17:27

Sorry I misunderstood. Tricks are great for dogs on may levels I am glad we agree

Shriek · 22/10/2015 17:52

What I'm saying, and what i did say, so I'll say it again for clarity, is its the intent and purpose of the 'trick'. As a word 'trick' is quite emotive in this discussion, sound training is great, 'tricks' which have the connotation of being frippery are not. you will put some of your sound training into the category of 'tricks', which puts it on dodgy gorund and seen to outsiders as making humour from dogs and not seriously beneficial 'training'.

So, no, thats not what i agreed to is it, clearly i think its pretty obvs what i've said and there is a serious line to be drawn over the treatment, and/or perhaps rather 'perception' put out there about a dogs 'use' to humans. and so vital to give the right message don't you think about how to be respectful to our best friends who don't have choice about how they are perceived?

Cheerfulmarybrown · 22/10/2015 18:00

Oh so we disagree?

You think teaching a dog to beg as frippery?

I see the same behaviour as an essential way to strengthen core muscles in an active dog.

Each to their own.

My dogs don't give a toss how other people perceive them - they love working for me and working with me - but them most are collies and they know they are superior to humans

Shriek · 22/10/2015 18:13

Marybrown

please? do i think dogs " ... give a toss how other people perceive them ( RUDE )

Nowhere have i said this, and i repeat yawn people's perception of dogs is all important, and the use of the word 'trick' is emotive in this discussion.

I have no idea why you mentioned they love working for me and working with me off topic as noone is calling you into question.

I thought we were talking about making dogs look stupid

I have no idea what you do and you don't have to try to convince me of how fantastic you are i think i've been clear this is not about you, but about using dogs inappropriately, nothing more i can say.

Shriek · 22/10/2015 18:14

I hope you are not seeking to see something in this that clearly isn't there.

Shriek · 22/10/2015 18:19

as for dogs needing 'core strength' exercises - well the more we make them do vertical positions (like a human) the more they will need core strength - they are not human, clearly - they have four legs and are built very differently, core strength relates to supporting a vertical frame effectively, and is not associated to a dog's needs anatomically; with normal daily routines/exercise its all covered.

Cheerfulmarybrown · 22/10/2015 18:23

Blimey you have totally read my posts in the wrong way. I have nothing to prove and not seeking to see something that clearly isn't there. - I don't really understand that point

I didn't want people who may read this thread to think teaching tricks are wrong. I just wanted to offer a different perspective. Tricks are fab for dogs.

I have no idea why you mentioned they love working for me and working with me off topic as noone is calling you into question. I mentioned it just to highlight how much dogs love learning tricks.

I think you are being a bit precious but I will hide thread as I don't really care that much about it - sorry you are having a bad day.

Shriek · 22/10/2015 18:34

just sounds that way Marybrown and thats really rude response.. you can hide the thread if you want.

making dogs into fools is wrong and creates very negative perception of very dear devoted friends who are so keen to please us.

'tricks' or 'serious beneficial training', dogs love learning anything, as we both agree (if its done right) - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be responsible about the effects of what we teach them, as i'm sure you agree
i'd rather not fall out about it honestly

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