One of the categories in the dog competition I want to take Stanley to is best tricks. So far we have.. - paw - hi 5 - spin (both ways) - then usual - sit, lie down, touch etc I'm trying to teach him roll over and play dead but he's having absolutely none of it has anyone got any tips? Or any more tricks that we can learn so we can win
Peekaboo is seriously cute - get him to walk between your legs and then sit for a treat, quite easy to do. If you can get him to spin, then also a 'round legs' is easy to do, walking round the outside of your legs both ways and sitting at your side. Also a bow? (though with lazy Monts this also turns into lie down sometimes) Also if you can get him walking through one of your legs, just by a lure, you can quite quickly turn this into a weave (though in our case, at snail speed) and only about 4-5 before he gets bored. Just loads of chicken or your treat of choice! With all of this, your own body position helps - if you are looking for quick results, then if you don't want him to walk through your legs, don't give him space to, and vice versa.... you can refine it and make it harder for him in time.... Combine with a few sit stays and you have a routine
Ah, just thought of another crowd pleaser - teach him to read! Pick 2-3 cues he is strongest at - sit, lie, etc. Create some big flashcards with the cue written on - but if possible, make them appear different from each other as much as you can - font, size, etc. Then when you next give him the cue, hold the flashcard up. If you introduce just a couple, and reinforce a lot, he will quite soon associate the flashcard with the verbal and hand signal,and then, on its own. Hey presto, you've taught Stanley to read!!! (NB, I got a bit bored of this and only did 4, but for effect it's fab!)
I've taught Ripple all of these apart from the reading, and also a paw lift - where I lift my foot and Ripple lifts the corresponding paw. I was originally trying to teach him to walk with a high step (I'd seen it as part of a routine at crufts) but this is as far as we've got, but my daughter finds it quite impressive . I like teaching tricks as Ripple seems to learn quite quickly, shame I can't teach him to behave himself as easily .
I think Jac @drjs@5 taught Lilly how to play dead, I haven't got a clue, sorry. I taught Charlie to roll over but that was it. Thomas my son has taught Charlie to ding a bell, you know the old fashioned shop bells on counters or receptions. He clicker trained it first and then added a 'ding' cue - it's so cute x
I taught Harley: Beg Figure of 8 through my legs Crawl Back Spin High 5 Touch my palm - moving where it is Play shy - cover an eye with a paw We love tricks too
I taught Ella to roll over. Put them in a drop then use a treat to lure their nose back towards their body. As soon as they make the first move (usually it's dropping the hips out to the side to start the roll) you mark and reward. Slowly increase the lure to get them all the way into a roll, then you can put it on cue when they're doing it reliably. You will notice that they're more flexible turning one way so pick that side! We also did "sit pretty" where they start in a sit and then lift both front paws off the floor while their bum is still on the floor. This one is quite tricky as it actually takes quite a lot of muscle strength (I know a lot of the agility people at training will use this trick to help build muscle strength) so you can only do a few at a time to begin with. Put them in a sit, then lure their nose back/up until their front paws leave the ground. Make sure you only reward when their bum is on the ground though, otherwise you'll end up with them standing on their back legs instead.
I taught Lucky to walk to heel between my legs, he does forwards and backwards - it looks very cute - might be good for a competition and only took a couple of days to teach. Here's the video I used with ideas for training it: It took me ages to teach Lucky play dead and roll over, I think he felt a bit uncomfortable/unsure having to lie on his side, maybe it's the same for Stanley! Have fun and good luck with the competition!!
Sky will play dead. She learnt it quickly years ago. She will lie on her side, head flat to the floor. She always wags her tail up and down as if to say 'I might look dead but I am only playing'. Always makes me smile . DH taught her during their daily playtimes and I think he just encouraged her to lie down on her side.
