Trick Training - Spin

"Spin" is another fairly easy trick to teach your dog. It is fun on its own, in a combination of tricks, and is also handy to learn if you hope to do Doggie Dancing.

To begin, stand (or sit if you have a small breed) with your dog in front of you. Hold a treat in front of the dogs nose. Slowly guide the dog in a circle, and when he completes the circuit, click and reward. When you repeat this, make sure you use the same direction every time, so as not to confuse the dog. Continue to repeat this until the dog gets the hang of it. You can then introduce the verbal command. When your dog is doing it reliably, remove the lure, but continue to use the wide sweeping motion with your arm. With plenty of practise, you will be able to reduce the physical cue to a simple spinning motion with your finger. But remember to only use ONE direction.

You can use the above process to teach the dog to spin in the other direction. You must remember to use a different command though. I use "spin" for anti-clockwise, and "twist" for clockwise, but you can use whatever words you want, as long as there is a distinct difference. 

I told you that was an easy one! I have incorporated this into a doggie dancing routine, where Lunik spins around a walking cane, (or whatever I am using as a prop.) However, although I use the same hand gestures, I use a different verbal command, so she is associating the verbal command with the cane.

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Trick Training - Paw

Giving the paw is one of the most popular tricks to teach a dog. It is also one of the easiest.

Generally, most dogs will automatically lift their paw up when you hold out your hand. If your dog does this, all you have to do is click and reward, repeat until the dog is doing it reliably, then introduce the verbal command before you click, repeating until the dog has learnt the command.

However, some people may find that their dog is a bit reluctant to do this. If this is the case with your dog, try the following.

Have your dog sit in front of you. Put a treat in your hand and show it to your dog. Close your hand around it. Initially, your dog will try to pry your hand open with its nose. Keep your fist closed. Eventually, the dog will use its paw to try and get the treat. As soon as it touches your hand with its paw, click and reward. DO NOT introduce the verbal command yet. When the dog is using its paw every time, remove the treat, and instead offer your open hand. When the dog touches it with its paw, (it may take a few tries before it realises what it is suppose to be doing,) click and reward. Continue to practise this until the dog reliably lifts its paw everytime.

You can then introduce the verbal command BEFORE the click. Repeat until the dog has learnt the verbal command.

If you desire, you can use the same technique to teach the dog to give both paws. However, if you do this, remember to use a different command for each paw. I use "paw" and "other one", but you could use "left" and "right" or whatever you wish, as long as there is a distinct difference, so as not to confuse the dog.

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