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A fun part of training is teaching your dog new tricks. People love teaching their dog new tricks to show how smart their dog is and dogs love learning new things. Training your dog is a great way to bond with your dog too. But understanding your dog’s capabilities before you teach your dog a trick is very important.
All dogs can be taught tricks, but some breeds have a special aptitude in that direction. At the head of the list of trick dogs is the border collie, as he takes to the performance of tricks as if it was second nature. He is the main reliance of all showmen dogs. Of course, many various purebreds and mixed breed dogs can be taught all sorts of cool dog tricks.
Things To Consider Before Teaching Your Dog Tricks
1.Make Sure Your Dog Is Physically Capable Of Doing The Trick
In selecting the tricks that are to be taught to a dog, the owner must show some discretion and no attempt should be made to teach dogs tricks that are not within their powers. For example, a big St. Bernard or Great Dane is sadly out of place attempting to sit up, walk on his hind legs or dance.
These dog breeds are physically incapable of doing such tricks and persistent attempts to train them could cause an injury. They can, however, with appropriate guidance and training, be taught to fetch, carry, jump, shake hands or speak.
2. Teach The Foundations First
The earlier you start teaching your dog the better. Always start out with basic obedience. If your dog doesn’t have the foundation training such as sit, down, stand, stay, watch me, etc, it will be harder to teach him tricks.
Yes, it’s more exciting to teach your dog how to roll over or sit pretty but without your dog having his foundation work, this becomes much more challenging. This can result in both you and your dog becoming frustrated.
3. Know Your Breeds Special Traits
The majority of dog breeds were bred with a purpose or for a job that they help us with. For example, golden retrievers were bred to retrieve so most of them are very easy to teach to fetch. By knowing what your dog was bred to do, you can hone in on that natural instinct to teach them some awesome dog tricks.
Keep in mind that you should never force your dog to do a trick. If you have to force your dog to do the trick it will not be an enjoyable training session for either of you. The best way to teach your dog a new trick is to take things slowly and lure him with a treat when necessary. Make it into a game and he will be more enthusiastic to learn.
Don’t forget to praise your dog when he does well. Lots of praise will make him excited for his next training session. To start off you will want to use verbal praise along with rewarding him with some of his favorite dog treats. Eventually, you can decrease the treats and mainly use verbal praise.
The most important part of teaching your dog a new trick is that it has to be fun. If a trick is too difficult for your dog to master, try something that he can do first and gradually work your way to harder tricks. Always keep your dog’s safety in mind though. Never ask your dog to perform a trick that he is just not physically capable of doing.
