Hi,I have a 2 years old shih tzu and I would like to teach her tricks.She can follow the basic command like sit,stay .....but i would like her to learn to do more.Her name is
Emmalie.She is very sweet and loves to do whatever Doggie(our 3 years old shih tzu mix)is doing.Emmalie seems to be not interested in playing with toys and Doggie
loves to chase the ball around our garden.Can anyone please help me with some tips to get Emmalie to start playing and do more tricks?
I am not an expert when it comes to dog tricks, but I would just like to share a few tricks which I have found relatively easy to teach.
First rule to keep in mind is that the reward has to be good. For my dog, food works really well. His favourite is "Seduction" treats. So you have to try out a few treats and find out what his favourite is. And use that to reward the dog whenever he comes near to succeeding at first and gradually change to only when he manage to perform the trick. If you are using food as a reward, do it when the dog is hungry. Meaning feed the dog after the training session only. Keep the session short that is 10 to 15 minutes only.
Another pointer is that you have to be really patient. You dont want to show any hostile behaviour to the dog while you are trying to teach him tricks as any negative indication to the dog might make him dislike the trick and hence refuse to perform it.
PAW - I thought Scruffy paw by making him sit first. Then I said "PAW" and took his paw and placed it in my hands then treat. I repeat this every time before he is fed. It took 1 week for him to learn this trick.
HI FIVE - I raise my right hand slightly higher than the paw command and held a piece of treat in my finger. He will try to reach for the food with his paw. When he does that I said Hi-Five and then treat. He got this within 4 repetitions. Basically with this trick, the hand signal works better than the verbal.
HOOP - This trick is to make your dog jump through the Hoola Hoop. Make your dog stand on one side of the hoop and lure him with food on the other side. At first he will try to go under the hoop. Correct by swingging your hand(The hand that is holding the treat) through the hoop. He will soon get the idea. When he jumps through the hoop say "Hoop" and treat. Scruffy got this within 2 sessions of teaching. But always keep in mind to not make your dog jump too high on the first few tries as it might injure the dog.
The above are th few tricks which I found really easy to teach.
Hi basti, janthk hs given some very good tips 2 start u off. U can also use toys instead of treats, but u need 2 find out Emmalie's fav toy/treat as teaching tricks bcomes easier once u hv deir attention.
Can aslo try some dance moves eg. spin clockwise n counterclockwise, weaving thru ur leags as u step forward. C thread below on 'Socialising, playtime, tricks...' 4 some fun tricks 2 teach ur Stzu. __________________________________________________
Emmalie does not want to play.I try to use food as reward and all she did is follow the direction of my hand with the food.She is a little lazy.hehehe...but i will try longer.But now,she seems stress so better dont force it.Ö
I dont think she is being lazy. I think she does not know what you want her to do that why she is not doing anything.
Following your hand with the food is a good sign. It means that you have her attention. Use that to your advantage. Use it to do do this trick first.
Sit down on the floor with your legs crossed. Then hold the food with your thumb pressed against your palm. Point your finger and circle it around your body. Your dog will follow the direction of your hand (with the food inside) and walk around your body. Once he has done that, say "Around" as the command. Repeat this 6 times and your dog should understand that around means walk around your body. And there you go. You have thought him a trick. Try to switch sometimes with food in hand and sometimes without. But always reward him after he has walked around you. When he is better at this, you can do it while standing up. Then you can better the act by having him sitting first at your feet facing you and when you say around walk around you ending with him back at the original position which is sitting at your feet facing you.
Always remember that the key to teaching tricks to your dog is patience. If you are starting to feel frustrated, stop immediately and try again later. Never raise your voice with your dog or he will take it as you are repremanding him. Always use happy sing song voice while teaching your dog. Also ensure that you are consistant with your hand signals and command. You do not want to confuse your dog.
Good Luck! Let me know if you are successful this time.
I am actually in the midst of teaching him this trick. He can go around me when I am seated on the floor but when I stand, he keeps jumping instead of walking. How to make him walk instead of jumping?
Emmalie does the trick but only when I have the food in my hand.Can this be considered as successful?She is only interested in food.But at least she goes around me.I will try more.
I am actually in the midst of teaching him this trick. He can go around me when I am seated on the floor but when I stand, he keeps jumping instead of walking. How to make him walk instead of jumping?
He must love his treats . He mayb jumping bcoz u r holding d treat at a higherl level ven standing. Bend n lead him with treat in hand 2 walk round u, remember 2 give a hand signal n command b4 dat. Only treat ven he's walked properly around u.
...or he mayb too excited with d treat in ur hand. Try placing d treat in pocket or on table n treat only ven he has performed d move. __________________________________________________
Emmalie does the trick but only when I have the food in my hand.Can this be considered as successful?She is only interested in food.But at least she goes around me.I will try more.
All tricks hv 2 start somewhere, n most of dem begin with leading ur dog with treats or toys in ur hand...so dats a very good start already. Keep practicing with a consistent hand signal n voice command, d idea is 2 get ur dog 2 perform d trick based on a short n simple signal.
After awhile he'll get d hang out it n will perform d move based on ur hand signal (eg. sweeping ur palm 2 d left or right of ur thigh) n voice command (eg. 'Round'). Some dogs can even perform based on a single hand signal or just d voice command alone. __________________________________________________
Hey I was just wondering if you are gonna attend the Dogathon on 7th August. And if you are then are you entering Groovy in the tricks competition. Cant wait to see all his tricks
Nice 2 meet u guys on Sun. As I mentioned, there will b more dogs attempting d tricks comp at d Dogathon den u wld normally c elsewhere. Some r pretty good at wat dey do. V managed some consolation prize last yr 4 a few twirls n catching d frisbee n missing a couple as well . As long as ur dog is capable of performing in front of people in a small field, den ur dog hs a chance n shld join just 4 d fun of it. Yar v ‘ll b taking part n hope 2 nail his moves, really depends on d weather n his mood 4 d day.
So r u training 4 d dogathon itself? Dey hv nice prizes 4 d top 10 male n 10 female handlers. Good luck. __________________________________________________
Nice to meet you guys too. I was just fooling around with Scruffy on Sunday trying to get him to perform some of his tricks in an open area with people around. Normally I train him at home where there are no distractions so he performs well. However, when there are people around he gets distracted easily and I find it difficult to get his attention. Any advice on how to correct this?
I have never taken part in a tricks competition before neither have I seen one before. So I am not sure to enter Scruffy or not? Everytime I try to picture the competition, I see Scruffy running out of the ring to go make friends with some other doggy. Scary!!! Most of his tricks have to be done off leash.
Do you know of any web sites where they have videos of tricks competition? Watching the video might give me a better idea.
Good to hear that you will be taking part. CAnt wait to see the tricks you have up your sleeves Scruffy and I will be rooting for you. Good Luck!
Getting d dog 2 stay focused at public places can b tricky. No special advise, except 2 keep bringing ur dog out 2 different kind of environments 2 socialise n condition him so dat he’ll b at ease in most situations. Either dat or find a really irresistible treat/ toy dat he cant take his eyes off.
Tricks on comp day can range from simple 2 elaborate eg. off leash jumps over hurdles on command n returning 2 owner ven finished, short n effective balancing a biscuit on d nose trick. Yar most tricks hv 2 b done off leash n dey do get easily distracted by all d sounds n movements dats going on on d day. Dunno any tricky websites, d only reference point I know of is ‘Pet Star’, d Animal Planet program on tv…very cool tricks .
No need 2 get too excited over groovy’s moves…2 some people, it seems like a mad dog running circles around d owner . __________________________________________________
For the trick competition, is the dog allowed to perform 1 trick only or is it alright for the dog to perform a combination of tricks? When I read the form it says best trick. So does that mean pick 1 trick which the dog does best or can a combination of tricks be accepted as long as it is within the 1 minute time limit given?
Sorry lah. No experience at all so need your advice.
Dey r not too fuss bout d no. of tricks. Scruffy can perform 1 trick or a combo as long as it’s within d 1 minute time limit. D emphasis is on having a good time. __________________________________________________
Will try some twists n turns...but like I said, to some it may just seem like a dog out of control n running circles around its owner . __________________________________________________
Oh ya now dat u’ve mentioned it, will try some jumps as well.
If u r gonna take part, best 2 condition Scruffy at a small grassy field with some noise n people moving around coz d dogathon venue will b similar. __________________________________________________
Thanks for the tips. However, it is the doggies around there that I am worried about and not the people(human). Scruffy tends to ignore people but he is all friendly and curious and distracted when it comes to other doggies.
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U can also use toys instead of treats, but u need 2 find out Emmalie's fav toy/treat as teaching tricks bcomes easier once u hv deir attention. 
She is only interested in food.But at least she goes around me.I will try more. 
. He mayb jumping bcoz u r holding d treat at a higherl level ven standing. Bend n lead him with treat in hand 2 walk round u, remember 2 give a hand signal n command b4 dat. Only treat ven he's walked properly around u. 
All tricks hv 2 start somewhere, n most of dem begin with leading ur dog with treats or toys in ur hand...so dats a very good start already. Keep practicing with a consistent hand signal n voice command, d idea is 2 get ur dog 2 perform d trick based on a short n simple signal. 
. As long as ur dog is capable of performing in front of people in a small field, den ur dog hs a chance n shld join just 4 d fun of it. Yar v ‘ll b taking part n hope 2 nail his moves, really depends on d weather n his mood 4 d day. 
Scruffy and I will be rooting for you. Good Luck! 
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