Some Tricks for your pooch!

Teach your dog to beg:

1: With your dog in front of you hold the target stick (or food lure) just above your dog's head. Any movement up towards the stick by your dog should be met with a "click and treat".

2: Now get your dog to reach up a little higher to touch the target stick. (Be patient and let your dog work in small steps and be generous with your rewards)

3: Continue to do the same but delay the "click" for a second or two. From this step you require your dog to be seated and raise it’s front legs (in a good beg position).

4: It is now time to add the verbal cue word. Say the cue word a just before presenting the target stick/lure to your dog. Repetitions this will build an association in your dog's mind between you saying "Beg" and the act of getting into the beg position.

5: Then you reduce your reliance on the target stick by "fading" it. We do this by taking it in and out quicker (instead of leaving it there for your dog to touch) and also by gradually shortening the stick until it eventually disappears into your hand. This step can take a while so keep practising until the target stick is not needed - you can still guide or lure your dog with your hand if need be.

6: The aim is to rely solely on our verbal "Beg" cue/hand signal to get into the "Beg" or "Sit-Up" position.

Trouble shooting

Many dogs try to stand up on their back legs instead of rocking back on their haunches when learning the Beg dog trick. If this happens to you simply lower the target stick or food lure and also ensure that your dog starts from a sitting position rather than standing on all fours.

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Teach your dog to Spin:

1: With your dog in front of you, hold the target/ lure at your dog's eye level. Move the stick just to the left of your dog's nose. When your dog makes a movement towards the target stick you should immediately click and treat your dog.

2: Move the target stick from your dog's nose around to the side of his/her body. Your dog should follow the target/lure 90 degees to the side at which time you click and treat.

3: As with point 2 but now take the target stick from your dog's nose right around 180 degrees (half a full spin).

4: Now guide your target stick around a full 360 degree rotation

5: Now ask for 2 or 3 spins and only click and treat faster, tighter spins. Withhold your click and treat for slower spins.

6: Add your cue word or label for the behavior.

7: Phase out the use of the target stick (see "Beg" trick for example).

Trouble shooting

If your dog tries to back away rather than spin when you first start out, you can move your training session into the corner of the room or against a wall.

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Teach your dog to Shake:

1: Try to get the dog to move it’s paw by lightly tapping his leg or patting the floor in front of it. Even a slight movement of the paw is worthy of a click and treat at this stage. You should "click" as your dog's paw begins to show any sign of movement. Work in small steps until your dogs foot is at the required height!

2: Add the cue word to it.

3: Fade the clicker and the treats.

Trouble shooting

If your dog is not lifting it's leg –

With your willing dog sitting in front of you from the top of the shoulder “tickle” gently down the dogs legs, as you approach the foot the leg should raise, click and treat. (Don't grab your dog's foot - it should raise by itself).

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The next step from the Shake - the Wave:

1.Start with the shake steps above, then hold off on the click, this should encourage your dog to lift it’s leg higher (you should shape the height by taking the raise in small steps). Don't expect your dog to get the full wave height in one go!
2. You guessed it - add the cue!

Trouble shooting:

If your dog doesn’t hold it's leg up: try for smaller steps in the shaping (remember: patience and generosity!)