Teach Your Dog Tricks
by Zahid N. Sindhu
Every child when they get their first dog wants to teach them tricks. Parents delight as they watch their child trying to teach their dog how to sit, jump, and fetch. What is even more delightful is the look on your child’s face the first time the dog does what they say! This article is going to look at several tricks you can teach your dog whether they are a puppy or an older dog. You will find that your dog can be very helpful as well as fun.
When teaching your dog tricks you should use positive reinforcement when they perform the right behavior such as teaching them how to turn the light off/on, shake hands, or roll over. Tricks are not only fun but also they can improve agility in your dog such as teaching them to jump through a hoop, balancing a biscuit and catching it. Dogs love to learn tricks. They keep your dog alert and energetic and give you and your dog a chance to have fun as well as get some things done around the house. You can train your dog to bring you the remote control, find your keys, or bring you the dirty clothes. If your hands are full you can train them to open the door (this can be any door or drawer) for you on command (you do not want your dog to go wandering around outside alone). If you are thirsty, you can combine a trick of opening a door and bringing an item to train your dog to go to the refrigerator and bring you a soda!
Before you teach tricks to your dog, it is important that they have the basics down such as, sit, stay, heel. Once your dog has mastered these you can delight and entertain friends by having your dog take a bow, or sit up pretty. Remember when you are training your dog always to use positive reinforcement and lots of praise and hugs. Do not forget the special treats that they love the most! When teaching your dog new tricks do so in short intervals. You do not want to your dog to become bored and uninterested. A little bit throughout the day is good. They will learn the trick and to your delight will perform it without being asked (for the treat and loves of course).
If your dog loves to carry things in their mouth, you can very easily train them to carry a basket. When you are expecting company over you can put something special in a basket and give your dog a command to carry the basket to your friends! Make sure the basket is weight appropriate. Young children love to move around, as do dogs, so put on some music, and teach your dog how to dance and crawl. Their will be giggles and laughter throughout your house. You can amaze your friends and family by having your dog touch anything you want with their nose as well. Dancing is a great trick to teach dogs that love to jump on everything and everyone!
Teaching your dog basic commands is important because a well-behaved dog is a safe and happy dog. When you teach them new tricks you use primarily the same methods you do when teaching them basic commands. Make the command words simple one or two words at the most and make it fun with lots of praise and special treats. Make sure the treats are small you do not want to over feed your dog. A treat does not need to be an entire dog cookie. Break it into very small pieces and reward him with these smaller treats.
About The Author: Zahid N. Sindhu is a dog enthusiast who, after noticing the lack of an online resource for dog lovers in Pakistan, decided to launch http://www.dogs.pk The site features a comprehensive list of dog breeds, dog breeders, veterinarians and online classifieds. The site also has a forum where people meet to discuss their canine friends.
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