Your Favourite Trick

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

I have to admit I have never really taught any of my labs any 'dog tricks' like roll over or crawl things. I found just teaching them things was more fun.

For example. I talk to my dogs, a lot. From when I first bring them home as pups, everything has a name. People, rooms, items, toys... You feel like a moron for the first year if anyone else is around! This is the living room, we are in the living room, YEAH!!!. This is the blue ball, this is the red ball... This moves into getting names items, Where is the blue ball? GOOD GIRL! You got the blue ball! This is your blue ball! YEAH!!! Then it moves into linking commands. Get the blue ball and bring it to this person. It moves on to three commands" Go in this room, get this item and bring it to this person.

As they grasp the concept of labels, or names of things, you can take them somewhere they have never been and label things. You have to have really understanding friends when you go to visit though! LOL! At first you will feel like such a nut for walking a dog around talking to it, telling it what everything is called!!! And you will get looks back from some, like.. Do you REALLY think she understands what you are saying?? I will walk Sunshine around a new place and label things: This is the living room, this is the kitchen, these are the stairs, NO going upstairs here!! As well as name items in the house. Then, you can ask her to go into a certain room and get a certain item.

At the same time work on verbal as well as hand sign directions: Left, Right, Closer, Hold, Right there, Just a bit more... You can guide them this way also. "Keep going, keep going, HOLD, right there. To your left, your other left...

I hate to put it like this, but it is like having a remote controlled device after they catch on. A Non-battery operated toy so to speak.

Yes, it takes time and persistence but for me is always worth it. I am happy because my lab knows what I ask her to do. She is happy because she has a mission and understands what I am asking. People are amazed that your lab actually appears to understand what you are telling it to do. (I find most people do not believe a dog can do more then come, sit, stay.) For me, it makes a great strong bond between us. You can keep them happy and busy on those rainy days or when your knees are preventing you from going for a long jaunt. And, it comes in mighty handy at times too! "Sunshine, where the heck are my car keys?"...ZOOM ... "Did you look in the bedroom?" ... ZOOM... "Maybe the hall, did you check the hall table?"

Labs are amazing animals. Yes, gross and disgusting at times too, but that is why we love them! Admit it now. When your buddy comes back all muddy and nasty, with the happiest look and body language... You might be a bit upset, but still can't help but smile at just how happy they are!

I do not believe there is really a limit to what they are capable of doing, if given the opportunity.

[Halcyon]

Woodrow_Woodchuck,I love your stories about Sunshine! Such a clever girl. I don't mind "feeling like a moron" anymore. I think my neighbours already think I'm nuts anyway beginning when I celebrated Bobby peeing outside like I'd just won the lottery, repetitively told him "no bite" and "no hump" with varying pitches in my tone, my constant pleas of "you can't eat that," "no! drop it!" and when I walked up and down the same street for half an hour everyday training him not to pull. You really get to know your neighbours that way!

When the garage opens, we ask him, "Who's that?!" and he'll immediately run out the backyard to check out the garage and do his patrol. We can tell him to "Go to [insert name here]" and he will but I don't trust him yet to hand things over without negative consequences. We ask him to "Go check your Kong!" for any food and to "clean up" or vacuum the ground from crumbs and slobber. We use "turn" all the time and "go, go, go" to get him to stay on track. We haven't yet reached the stage you have yet with the directions though but when the time comes, I'm sure I'll love it. Looking back after reading your post, we use a lot of casual commands we have never trained as we would with a lure, clicker, etc that he must of grasped as a puppy.

[Georgie]

Love this thread- I need to get motivated again and also need some more ideas. The bow command was the easiest command because my lab does it naturally all the time, especially in the morning, so training for it was not a problem.

The latest has been bring me my socks and shoes.

Doubledip, I like your command to run to your side and sit between them- this will be my next one, definitely, as I think it could be quite useful in social sittings, and better than just a come and sit.

[Halcyon]

I forgot about this one. Another favourite of ours is "salute." Gives visitors a kick when Private Bobby is saluting to them. To be honest, our visitors are already impressed that Bobby isn't yapping his head off or trying to bite a chunk out of them!

[doubledip1]

Love this thread- I need to get motivated again and also need some more ideas. The bow command was the easiest command because my lab does it naturally all the time, especially in the morning, so training for it was not a problem.

The latest has been bring me my socks and shoes.

Doubledip, I like your command to run to your side and sit between them- this will be my next one, definitely, as I think it could be quite useful in social sittings, and better than just a come and sit.

Definitely handy! Especially at the farmer's market and when everything is crazy around you! She'll walk between my legs too, that comes in very handy in very tight aisles :-)

[emma_Dad]

Our favorite is feet. She comes between my legs and she puts her front paws on my feet and we walk. We have forward mastered, now we're working on backwards and side to side.

[xracer4844]

Hahaha! I thought the "MochaWhip" referred to his tail what a surprise I got when I watched it.



Interesting, I found the "bow" easy to teach and get him to hold. The biggest obstacle when teaching it was luring into a bow and not a "down" as he often did. The "beg" or "sit up" command was a lot harder. To this day, we're still working on getting him to hold it. By the way, what's a "show block"?

MightyThor, that's funny! When we jokingly tease Bobby, he has a tendency to bark back.

BaconsMom, I remember the "touch" video on Instagram. Very impressive. When I put my hand up high, Bobby debates whether to jump or not since I don't encourage it. Although, I wish he'd show more hesitance when it comes to visitors. I like the "bring to ___" command. Sounds very useful.

A block about waist high - we use them during shows for a lot of different things, but they are most popularly used for the team dogs meeting people and children. Keeps them eye level with people who approach. Puts them taller than children etc. I believe the superdogs use them as well.

[Tanya]

For those looking for tips and motivation to do tricks, I have been following Kira Sundance's group "spark" on facebook. it's a bit of marking as well as she does the Trick Dog Program (you pay for the certificate) but you can be part of the group for free. I got side-trakced by rally-o but hope to get penny her novicie title soon.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/BoxerGirlSparkTeam/
Do More With Your Dog!

Definitely handy! Especially at the farmer's market and when everything is crazy around you! She'll walk between my legs too, that comes in very handy in very tight aisles :-)

Very interesting to have a use for this trick! what a great point. We call this one peek-a-boo. will work to get her to walk with me and such in that position.

[Halcyon]

And I taught her to run around my right leg and sit between them, it comes in very handy for situations like the farmer's market.

Interesting. I think I'm going to have to work on this. Did you have problems with her breaking the stay and jumping on people when they got too close? We also call the walking between legs "peekaboo."

A block about waist high - we use them during shows for a lot of different things, but they are most popularly used for the team dogs meeting people and children. Keeps them eye level with people who approach. Puts them taller than children etc. I believe the superdogs use them as well.

I see. Just to clarify, it's kind of a wooden box which the dog stands on (I'm thinking the box Penny is on in Tanya's signature)? I tried googling it and could only find standing blocks.

Keep the ideas coming!

[doubledip1]

Interesting. I think I'm going to have to work on this. Did you have problems with her breaking the stay and jumping on people when they got too close? We also call the walking between legs "peekaboo."

Nope, in the beginning I held a treat above her head and she just stared up at it until I released her. But she would cut off her own leg if it meant she could get a treat.