Tricks & Games – A to Z Dog Training

6 Tips to Gaining Your Dog’s Attention

If you find yourself saying ‘I just wish my dog would pay attention to me more’ try these simple tips to help. Bonus, keep in mind #6 when you OR your dog are learning anything new. Engage with your dog Your dog knows when you are not paying attention. I will often tell students, “if you are not engaging with your dog, why in the world would your dog engage with you?” What do I mean by engage with your dog? Talk to your dog on your walks or when you are out and about. Yep, be that crazy dog owner who tells your dog about your day, praise your dog for walking next to you and paying attention to you. Make your walks unpredictable to keep your dog guessing where your next move will be. For example, if I am walking a dog, I will randomly turn to the

Tammy Nunes June 1, 2021 No Comments

The Shell Game

A positive push that has happened for me this year was to see how I could stimulate both dogs and owners during Stay at Home Orders due to COVID. I’ve done this by having fun getting out of my routine and implementing brain games into my behavior repertoire. I have often told owners that mental exercise such as training, allowing your dogs to smell, and brain games can tire dogs out. I have seen and gotten reports back from students how this is true. Students who have joined me in my Games class reported that they were spending more time with their dogs and their dogs took a nice long nap after class due to the fun mentally stimulating activities. In this post I want to share a simple, fun, interactive game for both you, your dog, and family, The Shell Game. Let me know if by adding The Shell

Jen Chapman September 29, 2020 No Comments

Beyond Fetch: Games To Play With Your Dog

A game is a great way to exercise your dog’s body and mind, and spend a little quality time together. What’s in your repertoire? Here’s a selection of games you can play indoors or outside: Homegrown agility. If your house is big enough, create a makeshift obstacle course for your dog from rolled-up towels, cardboard boxes, blankets hung between chairs, etc. Or, if the weather is good and you have a yard, build your course outside. Hide-and-seek. Grab a handful of yummy treats or your dog’s favorite toy. Ask your dog to sit and stay, then you go hide in another room. Call your dog and when he finds you, reward him with a treat or a play session with his toy. Repeat until you have had enough—your dog likely won’t get bored anytime soon. The name game. Get two of your dog’s favorite toys and remove all other toys

Jen Chapman March 3, 2015 No Comments

Put Your Toys Away

Put Your Toys Away Criteria– Your dog fetches their toys and puts them away. Verbal Que- ‘Put your toys away’ Visual Que- Point to their toy Steps Teach your dog to fetch Stand behind their toy box or the desired object you want them to learn to put their toys in. Toss the toy for your dog, as they are coming back with their toy say ‘put your toy away’. When your dog comes to you trade them a treat for dropping the toy in the toy box Repeat above steps 10 times. When your dog succeeds with the above steps 10 times in a row move to step 6. Place a toy 2 feet away from the toy box. Stand behind the toy box. Point to the toy and say ‘put your toy away’. Reward your dog for putting the toy in the toy box. Repeat step 7, slowly

Jen Chapman September 2, 2013 No Comments

Fetch Your Leash

“Fetch Your Leash” Purpose: Fun way to interact and communicate with your dog. The more your dog knows the more they will look to you for direction in all situations. Prerequisite: ‘Fetch’ Criteria: Your dog will get their leash from a hook on the wall and bring it to you. Que: Verbal: ‘Fetch your leash’ Visual: Point in the direction their leash is hanging. What you’ll need: leash and hook or straight peg on wall. Steps: Play fetch with your dogs’ leash. You may want to tie the leash in a loose knot to make it more desirable to fetch or attach the buckle end of the leash to the hand loop to prevent the buckle from hitting your dog in the head. When tossing out the leash say ‘fetch your leash’. When your dog brings back their leash to you either play ‘fetch your leash’ again or take them

Jen Chapman July 6, 2013 No Comments

Agility – Jump

Verbal Cue: Jump Visual Cue: Hand and body moving in the direction of the jump Criteria: Dog clears the jump Behavior Pyramid: Lay your jump bar on the ground between poles that will eventually hold the bar. Walk over the jump bar with your dog and say ‘jump’ as your dog jumps over the bar. Repeat 5 times with your dog on your right side and on your left side. Keep bar on the ground. Walk with your dog toward the jump. This time you remain on the outside of the poles while your dog steps over the bar. Repeat 5 times on your right side and on your left side. Raise the bar to 4 inches. Repeat step 5. Slowly increase the bar to your dogs jump height. Review http://www.affordableagility.com/misc/heights.htm to determine your dogs jump height. Note: Jump heights are regulated for your dogs’ physical safety. Your dog might

Jen Chapman February 1, 2013 No Comments

Spin

Spin [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BbbAJEYk-4&feature=youtu.be] Behavior- Dog spins in a tight circle counterclockwise. Criteria- Dog is on your left side. As you give your cue your dog should spin in a tight circle next you to you on your left side. Verbal Cue- ‘Spin’ Visual Cue- With your left index finger out slowly move it counterclockwise. Behavior Pyramid- Dog should be standing on your left side facing forward. With a treat in your left slowly move the treat counterclockwise. Click and reward ¼ turn. Repeat step 2, 5 times. Increase your expectations by clicking and rewarding ½ turn. Repeat step 4, 5 times. Increase your expectations by clicking and rewarding ¾ turn. Repeat step 6, 5 times. Increase your expectations by clicking and rewarding a full counterclockwise circle. Tips Help! My dog wants to sit and spin. If this is happening to you click and reward your dog for standing while following the

Jen Chapman September 30, 2012 No Comments

Back Up

Back Up Purpose: This behavior can be used as a neat trick to impress your friends by showing them how your dog can back away from you. Or it can be a useful behavior for the dog that likes to crowd you when you walk through the door. Criteria: Your dog backs away from you walking backwards in a straight line (as straight as possible). Visual Que: With your hands at waist level flick your fingers towards your dog. Verbal que: ‘Back’. Behavior Pyramid: Many times you can capture this behavior if you know when your dog is going to do it. For example, I know my dog backs away from me if they are behind me and I turn to leave the bedroom. When your dog starts to back up you can click, treat, and say ‘back’. As they are reliably backing up from you add your hand signal.

Jen Chapman July 30, 2012 No Comments

Praying Dog

Praying Dog Purpose: With training any behavior it will encourage a well-behaved dog, stimulate your dogs mind, and build a stronger relationship between you and your dog. Training should be for a lifetime! Criteria: Dog places their front 2 paws up on your leg or chair while standing on their hind quarters. Then brings their head between their front paws. Que: Visual: Place your 2 hands together in a pray position. Verbal: Options: ‘Say your prayers’, ‘go pray’, ‘pray’. Pyramid (for paws on your leg): Sit in a chair. Lure your dog to place their front paws on your leg. Reward. If you are having a hard time place your dogs front paws on your leg or lower your leg. Reward. Reinforce this position 10 times before moving to step 3. With your dogs paws on your leg bring a treat between their front legs to lure their

Jen Chapman June 2, 2012 No Comments

How to train ‘fetch’

Purpose: Playing fetch can be a wonderful way to exercise your dog and engage with your dog. It can prevent problem behaviors that are related to lack of exercise such as jumping, digging, and chewing. Criteria: Toss a toy, your dog runs to the toy and brings it back to you and puts it in your hand. Que: Verbal: Options ‘fetch’, ‘go get it’, ‘retrieve’, ‘get your toy’ Visual: Tossing the toy Behavior Pyramid: Find a toy your dog enjoys. Roll or toss the toy in front of your dog 1 foot. As your dog eagerly goes to get the toy say your verbal que such as ‘fetch’. Only say the word if you know your dog is running to ‘fetch’ the toy. Enthusiastically encourage your dog to bring the toy back to you. If your dog is running slowly back to you or looks like they might get distracted.

Jen Chapman March 9, 2012 No Comments

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