Tricks To Teach A Puppy

[*kirty*]

Our gorgeous new clinic dog (Aussie Shepherd) is now 10 weeks old and is the smartest puppy in the world. :) In the last week I have taught him sit, drop, shake hands and high five. He has almost got roll over too. :) I'm looking for ideas on what I can teach him next. I'm a complete beginner at training dogs but he makes it so easy! He is very food driven and as soon as I grab the treats, he starts offering up behaviours. :) So what can we try next?

[fuzzy82]

Even though teaching new tricks is fun, I wouldn't get too hung up on them. The most important thing for a young puppy is socialisation and basic manners. I would spend less time teaching him tricks, and spend more time out in the real world exposing him to many different environments and people, and spend a lot of time teaching him things that are useful. Such as impulse control (search for "it's yer choice" on youtube), leash walking, settling on his bed/crate. I would also establish good rewards so that he's easier to train later on, it's particularly important to maintain their interest in toys and tugging with you. Many people give their dogs treats because it's so quick and easy, and neglect playing with them, and as a result the dog loses interest in playing as it grows up.

Of course there's nothing wrong with teaching a puppy tricks, but there's always going to be time to work on tricks, but there's only so much time to get the most out of socialisation.

If you're going to do sports with him, I would teach tricks which also teach him body awareness and balance, such as backing up, backing up onto something, backing up on the wall so he has two back feet on the wall, targeting with individual paws (particularly the back paws), pivoting, sit pretty etc.

But don't neglect the boring stuff, which is the basic stuff like sit and down. These aren't just behaviours that are finished in 5 minutes. When the dog knows the behaviour, you can push their understanding further by building duration and distractions, and I like to introduce impulse control to every behaviour my dogs know. Such as holding a position while I throw treats at them or drop treats on the floor around them. Have the dog sit pretty while you lower the treat to the floor. Have the dog change position when this means moving away from a reward (such as if the dog is lying down with treats on the floor in front of him, ask him to sit. Sitting means moving his head further from the treats). Recalls past a food bowl. Etc.

[Alkhe]

Hmm, bang? Ie, drop down dead?

Spin around?

Rock solid recalls! Never too young!

Have a look at YouTube.com/kikopup, she had amazing tricks and awesome videos :)

God it's really hard to think of tricks. I'm waiting at the airport, it's way too early and I should get off dol. God.

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[Pretty Miss Emma]

Spin (both directions).

Wave

Hi-10

Touch

Target a disc

Beg (short bursts)

Go get/bring (whatever thing you like)

Speak

Look left, look right

Bow

Front feet on a step, back feet on a step

Rear-end awareness so that the pup can stay beside you and turn circles with you in both directions

Perching on a box

Carry a basket

Put toys away

Nod your head

Distance work of basic obedience behaviours

Go around a post/stool/whatever!

Paws up on something

I might be able to come up with some more if I think!!! Now that I've written that list I probably should get started helping Hamish learn some of these!!!

ETA - sleepy (which is lie on your side very still)

Everything I teach my dogs I teach them to do with both paws, boths sides, whatever if it is only utilising one paw/side!

Edited January 26, 2013 by Pretty Miss Emma

[Teebs]

yeah go with shooting him and playing dead. OH who isnt a dog lover and tells me he wont train kaos at all and dogs need to be outside etc etc is often caught getting kaos to play dead. He thinks its great :laugh:

[julesluvscavs]

I remember years ago, I taught one of my dogs (German x Heeler) to do some tricks. Thought it was cute and funny until I start doing dog obedience trials with him. If I moved a part of my body a certain way he would think it was a cue to do one of his tricks! One time on a drop stay, I think i must have did a cue with my hands or something (was to long ago for me to remember the details) but it was enough to make him start belly crawling towards me , one of the first cute things he learnt which I used to always reward him for. Everyone thought it was funny after, but it so was embarrassing ! lol and of course we didn't pass Its difficult to undo it all later ;-) I might teach my new puppy some tricks when she comes, but Im going to compete with her in any obedience trials later .

Edited January 26, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs

[*kirty*]

Fuzzy82, he isn't my puppy. He belongs to my boss (vet) and comes to work every day to hang out at the clinic. He gets LOTS of socialisation hehe and he is already crate trained. I have been doing some leash work with him but I don't get much of a chance. Basically we get five minutes here and there so I've been using that time to train him. He won't be doing dog sports unfortunately. At this point he gets rewarded every time. Usually its with treats but sometimes with a toy. Don't worry, with five nurses to dote on him and an endless stream of clients, he is always being played with. He also knows when he goes back in his crate that its time to rest.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. He is so smart and he loves to learn. I've been limiting the sessions to 5 minutes but he often wants to keep going! I still end them though because I'd rather finish on a high. I love the playing dead trick! And I think crawl and spin will be easy for him to pick up too. :)

Pretty Miss Emma, you will have to pop in and meet him one day! I think you'll like him. :)

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Pretty Miss Emma, you will have to pop in and meet him one day! I think you'll like him. :)

I think on a Hamish work day we both might have to have a visit!!!!! Hamish loves Aussies (well lets be honest, he loves everyone and every dog!)!