Teach Your Dog To Take Someone's Socks Off

[whatevah]

Uses

Fun trick, and you can get your dog to take someones smelly socks off and perhaps put them in the wash.

Equipment Needed

Dog, thick sock, willing volunteer, Clicker, Food,

Prerequisite

Dog must know how to retrieve, and be happy to retrieve socks. If the dog knows how to move backwards this may help as he will need this move to pull the sock off.

To learn backing go here http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=7634

Method

Step 1Go to http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html and follow all steps, take your time and don't rush the dog, make sure you meet the criteria for a step before moving to the next step. Instead of a dumbell you are going to use a sock. Now if you have done this before with a dumbell, it should go a lot quicker. If your dog is like mine, where I simply just looked at the sock and he went and picked it up and brought it to my hand then you may be able to cut out some of the steps in the clicker retrieve.

Step 2

You now are going to place the lead on the ground, when he brings it back and places it into your hand you click and treat. Do this for about 5 repetitions placing the lead at various distances.

Step 3

You are now going to place the sock near a person who is sitting down. Do about 5 reps.

Step 4

Now you are going to get your "volunteer" to place the sock on just slightly on their foot, so that most of the sock is hanging off. Then send your dog from different angles, and different distances. When the dog is confident at this step get your volunteer to gradually move the sock further onto the foot, about 5cm after every 5 repetitions.

Trouble Shooting

Dog doesn't want to pull the sock off? Reward c/t for the dog mouthing the sock, then c/t for stronger and harder pulls.

This trick took us one session, then a couple of sessions to polish off, and then I took it outside.

Here is the video link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSbZqCDIFw

Edited August 24, 2007 by Troy

[BittyMooPeeb]

I taught Blossom how to do this when she was a pup (but without the retrieve bit - she just takes my sock off then goes to play with it). Only problem is that when we visit people who have carpet and therefore are prone to walk around the house shoe-less, they are likely to feel some sharp, pointy teeth trying to wrench their sock off as soon as they stop moving!

It's a great game though - we do this every night in winter. Once Bloss has taken my sock off she is allowed to get on the bed and play tug with it (with me). After tug we go to sleep, and she usually has her head on the sock.

Edited July 26, 2007 by BittyMooPeeb

[Cody]

That's a very cute trick!