What’s a lot of fun, practical, and builds your training chops? Tricks, that’s what!
Many people teach their dogs to shake hands and maybe rollover. But how about play the piano or close the cupboard door? Jump over hoops, crawl through tunnels, and fetch your keys?
The options are endless for “tricks” that are actually useful skills as well as fun to show off to friends.
You don’t have to formally compete or earn titles with your dog of course, but doing so can bring official recognition to your achievement!
With this series of tricks, my 6-year-old Chihuahua recently earned his Intermediate Tricks Dog title, through the organization Do More With Your Dog. Congratulations, Mojo!
Do More With Your Dog (DMWYD) has LOTS of tricks titles, but the basics are Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is another venue, with the basics, plus Performer and Elite Performer titles. DMWYD has virtual evaluations via video, and AKC has both video and in-person evaluations.
Whether you do it just for yourself or work toward titles, this kind of fun, positive training deepens your friendship with your dog while also giving her or him much appreciated attention and body and brain exercise.
Contact Way To Behave! for private lessons for Tricks and lots more — including beginning-to-advanced obedience skills training and behavior modification for serious issues related to aggression, fear and anxiety.