Sensible tricks to teach

R

Rebels

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 June 2009
Messages
1,070
Visit site
Working super hard on asbo dogs training and want some ideas of tricks i can teach. So far in 10days we have worked on the sit and down. Paw took 10minutes to teach as did roll over and we are working on touching a cane with left or right paw as asked. He got that in 3 goes. Can do a high 5 but i don't really want him jumping up much. Any ideas?
 
Wait/drop (distance control)/leave it - these are not just fun tricks to learn but could save your dog's life.
Speak-quiet.
A formal heel (dog's shoulder to your left knee) and a walk on a loose line (steady/follow) command.
A 'free/release' command.

Recall, recall and more recall!
 
Thanks, sounds like plan. Working on the recall but he likes to come back and do something. First terrier so really surprised how fast he learns the little things compared to a spaniel!
How's best to introduce distance? He likes to be very very close which Im trying to improve but distance and focus are strongly linked atm.
 
Potted version, I taught the positions first (sit/stand/down) and then linked them to a marker (something not too intrusive, visual or annoying to carry, like a floor mat or similar so say the dog would to the positions on the floor mat) then randomly moved the marker, slowly, further away, then just dispensed with the marker completely.
 
Backing up, I think if my dogs ever came across an adder and went to sniff it and I said leave it they could still be within striking distance as they turned. By teaching back they reverse away from danger, it might seem a bit extreme but it has proved useful in door ways etc.
 
Twist (spinning 360 degrees in one direction), spin (spinning in the other direction) and 'through' (getting them to run through your legs!) aren't sensible as such, but they are a lot of fun - and on a more helpful note, chucking these in when walking on the lead can help get a distracted dog to focus back onto you.

'Crawl' is handy for getting them to go under things like stiles, if you don't want them to jump (if they are too high, for instance, or drop off on one side). You may already have taught the dog a down using your leg as a tunnel to lure them under - as in get onto one knee, stick a leg out and use something nice to lure them under your leg. The crawl is an extension of this - once they are happy doing a down, gradually draw the treat away from them so they have to crawl under, then add the command as they do so. If you aren't feeling too limber, you could use a low bit of furniture instead! Or do as I do and comandeer your partners legs:D
 
'Through' can also make for total hilarity when you trip over the dog and fall flat on your face :p

The dog will listen a lot better when he has to think and doesn't know or expect what the next command will be, as mentioned!
 
Why do tricks have to be sensible????? :)

Spin
Go round a pole either left or right- extension of teaching them to touch
Crawl
Biscuits in various self control requiring places- end of paws when in a down, on nose etc
Weave through legs
Leave it
Drop
Beg (sit up on back legs/ raise both paws)


Have a look at Kikopups you tube channel...............
 
CaveCanem said:
'Through' can also make for total hilarity when you trip over the dog and fall flat on your face :p

The dog will listen a lot better when he has to think and doesn't know or expect what the next command will be, as mentioned!
Click to expand...

That has never happened to me, honest guv. But the bloke did nearly run into me when I was performing this with him walking behind me as it does break your stride pattern up somewhat. So of course it also got his focus back onto me as well as it did for Henry:D:D:D

Exactly that though, if you are just meandering along then some dogs will find their own fun things to do (generally speaking, this will be something you do not want them to do!), but if you just occasionally chuck some different stuff in, it keeps them guessing and gets their little brains ticking over nicely. You don't have to leap about the place like a performing seal the whole time, but it is another little trick to have up your sleeve if you need it.:)
 
I've tied a rope to the handle of one of the kitchen cupboards and am about halfway through teaching them to tug it open and fetch me a bag of crisps. :o

Next stop, the beer fridge!
 
Oh yes, good point BC, I have taught Henry to open doors on command, assistance dog style, with a ropey pull. Very handy if you happen to have full hands! There is a YouTube channel devoted to helping people train their own dogs to be assistance dogs, think it's Rhode Island something or other (:o) and it breaks it all down nicely.

He still can't use a corkscrew though:mad: He spills the wine everywhere.
 
CaveCanem said:
Potted version, I taught the positions first (sit/stand/down) and then linked them to a marker (something not too intrusive, visual or annoying to carry, like a floor mat or similar so say the dog would to the positions on the floor mat) then randomly moved the marker, slowly, further away, then just dispensed with the marker completely.
Click to expand...

I made the mistake of first rewarding Ricoh for touching the marker with his front paws. Very useful for sending him away to a fixed point, however... When I tried to introduce the concept of sitting or lying down on it it blew his furry little brains - he would desperately do his 'touch' - slamming up and down with front paws, scrabbling at it, leaping up and down on the spot, barking at the target - and got so wound up I had to stop. :rolleyes:
 
Spudlet said:
He still can't use a corkscrew though:mad: He spills the wine everywhere.
Click to expand...

:D

Our efforts have been hampered by R trying to eat the crisps so I've left that one to D. R's new trick is the *bang* -> *dead dog* routine, to which he has voluntarily added a realistic little shriek as he drops. :p
 
Lol - I managed to talk my OH into the breed of my choice by finding a YouTube vid of one going from its owner outside on a sunlounger, into the house, opening the fridge, fetching a beer and bringing it back! Perfect - but don't tell him its all in te training not the breed ;)
 
Spudlet said:
Oh yes, good point BC, I have taught Henry to open doors on command, assistance dog style, with a ropey pull. Very handy if you happen to have full hands! There is a YouTube channel devoted to helping people train their own dogs to be assistance dogs, think it's Rhode Island something or other (:o) and it breaks it all down nicely.

He still can't use a corkscrew though:mad: He spills the wine everywhere.
Click to expand...

Mine shuts the door if someone leaves it open / the cats open it... It's amazing how lazy you can get if you have a well trained dog :D
 
This is going to be great. Might have to tweak his diet as he is treat focussed but he so wants to learn. Our spaniel is 12 now and really was dim so this whole intelligent dog thing is a revelation :-)
 
blackcob said:
I made the mistake of first rewarding Ricoh for touching the marker with his front paws. Very useful for sending him away to a fixed point, however... When I tried to introduce the concept of sitting or lying down on it it blew his furry little brains - he would desperately do his 'touch' - slamming up and down with front paws, scrabbling at it, leaping up and down on the spot, barking at the target - and got so wound up I had to stop. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yeah, mine will just stand and bark in frustration or try to eat things/throw them around when he does not understand so we teach everything in small elements and then put them together! Makes sense though, when I was told to break down the simple retrieve on the flat into elements, I figured out there are about 10-12 parts to simply throwing something and asking the dog to bring it back, which we expect the dog to understand all in one go!!
 
I am perhaps expecting too much of him. D can grasp things in much bigger chunks at a time so I forget, get frustrated with him and write him off as being a bit fick. :o

It's as if he only has room in his head for "I touch the fing, I touch it, LOOK MUM I'M TOUCHING IT!!" Whereas if I didn't reward D for the touch, she'd try doing something else to see if that triggered a response.

If she was even a fraction as food motivated as he was she'd be dangerous. :p
 
Why dont you try some of the basic Heelwork to Music moves. Firstly there are the 8 heelwork positions then once these are mastered on a voice cue you can add the linking moves such as spins, weaves, twists etc
 
So Eight Below is on Netflix now... between bouts of snot-bubble weeping I have vowed to teach at least one of my dogs to bring me a rope to save me from drowning in icy arctic waters. :o
 
blackcob said:
So Eight Below is on Netflix now... between bouts of snot-bubble weeping I have vowed to teach at least one of my dogs to bring me a rope to save me from drowning in icy arctic waters. :o
Click to expand...

OMG - turn over turn over.................. horrendous film!! :(
 
Im not actually sure i could watch it again- definitely not in any sort of refined company- the tears, the snot, the howling....................
 
Friend told me to teach my dog left and right so I could move her around when on my horse. Might just be the hand signals but my dog seems to be getting it. Useful for when we meet other dogs and I want my horse in between. I appreciate people putting their dogs on leads or holding them when we hack past and also appreciate that a free range Stafford bouncing upto another dog on a lead is unfair.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top