Tricks to teach your dog

Trick training is a fun way to bond with your furry friends. Here are a few of Mermaid Vets favourite tricks to teach your pet. We will add more photos as soon as we can to help train your pet.

Shake

Step 1: Have some yummy snacks your dog will enjoy. For beginners it is important to practice in a quiet distraction free area. Give your dog a treat to make sure they are interested in the training games

Step 2: Place a treat in your hand and enclose it in your fist. Place the first near your dog’s nose. It is important not to hold the treat too high, otherwise this might make your dog jump.

Step 3: Your dog should place a paw on your fist to try and get the treat out. Every dog is different, some might do this straight away others might need a little more time.

Step 4: Once your dog puts his or her paw onto your fist, Say the cue word (‘Paw’ or ‘shake’) and open your fist and let your dog have the treat. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Wave

This trick is a little harder and it is important that your dog already knows how to shake before teaching this trick.

Step 2: Encourage your dog to lift his or her paw by placing your open palm towards them. It is important NOT to say ‘Shake’ or ‘Paw’. Make sure your hand is far enough away from your dog so they cannot reach it. We are just asking our dog to lift one of their paws and place it back to the ground. Reward if your dog lifts his or her paw, but make sure their paw does not touch your hand.

Step 3: Once your dog is getting better at placing his or her paw in the air, start adding a cue word (‘Wave’) and instead of holding your palm out like we would be asking for a ‘Shake’ or ‘Paw’ start waving at your dog. If he or she waves back give a treat. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

High Ten

Step 2: Put a treat into both hands and enclose it in your fist. Let your dog sniff your fists so they smell the treats.

Step 3: Place your fists a little bit above your dogs head, too high and your dog may not be able to reach. Your dog should lift its paws and place them on your fists.

Step 4: Once your dog has placed their paws onto your fists, open your palms and give the treat. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Step 5: Start saying “High Ten” and remove the treats from your fists and start offering both your open palms.

Crawling

This trick is a little harder and it is important that your dog already knows how to lay down before teaching this trick.

Step 2: Ask your dog to lie down, once lying down show your dog the treat. It is important to keep the treat low to the ground or your dog may stand up. Slowly drag the treat away from the dog. Your dog should start to crawl on the ground, trying to reach the treat. If your dog crawls – even just a few steps – give him or her the treat.

Step 3: Start saying your “Crawl” cue and increase the amount of distance you are asking your dog to crawl. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Roll Over

This trick is a little harder and it is important that your dog already knows how to lay down before teaching this trick. Some dogs do have a preference of which way they may want to roll. If you aren’t having any success try the opposite direction. Some dogs may not like to roll over if they are skinny and their boney spine touches the floor.

Step 2: Ask your to lie down, once lying down show your dog the treat. Move your hand from his or her nose toward the shoulder. This will cause your dog to roll onto the side. Continue to move the treat over your dogs chest and towards his or her back. This should cause them to roll over to the other side. This may take a few goes to get the dog to roll over in one fluid motion. Once your dog rolls over give him or her the treat.

Step 3: Start adding in the “Roll Over” cue word and start to no longer use the treat but just your finger or your hand to encourage the dog to Roll. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Play Dead or Bang!

This trick is a little harder and it is important that your dog already knows how to lay down before teaching this trick. Some dogs do have a preference of which side they might want to lie down on, If you aren’t having any success try the opposite direction.

Step 2: Ask your dog to lie down, once lying down show your dog the treat. Move your hand from his or her nose toward the shoulder. This will cause your dog to roll onto the side. Reward once your dog is lying on his or her side.

Step 3: Start adding the “Bang” or “Play Dead” Cue as well as creating a ‘gun’ with your fingers. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Spin

Some dogs do have a preference of which way they like to spin, If you aren’t having any success try the opposite direction.

Step 1: Have some yummy snacks your dog will enjoy. For beginners it is important to practice in a quiet quiet distraction free area. Give your dog a treat to make sure they are interested in the training games

Step 2: Hold a treat and put it near your dogs nose. We want your dog to be able to smell this treat but not actually eat it. If you hold the treat too high your dog may want to jump

Step 3: Slowly move your hand around your dogs body, once your have done a full circle give your dog the treat. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Step 4: Start to add the “Spin” cue to the trick and slowly bring your hand higher above your dog until you are no longer needing to use the treat to ask your dog to spin. If

Bow

Step 1: Have some yummy snacks your dog will enjoy. For beginners it is important to practice in a quiet distracting free area. Give your dog a treat to make sure they are interested in the training games

Step 2: Start with your dog standing and hold a treat near your dogs nose. Your dog should be able to smell or even lick the treat but not eat it. Move it down slow, holding the treat close to your dogs body.

Step 3: When your dog has his or her elbows on the floor but the rear still up, reward. Don’t forget to tell them how well they did and that they are such a good dog!

Step 4: Start to add the “Bow” cue and slowly take away the treats that you are using to get your dog into position and start to reward your dog for completing the behaviour with just the cue.

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