Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to bond with them, keep them mentally stimulated, and even help them to be better behaved. Tricks can also be a lot of fun to learn and perform.
To teach your dog a trick, start by breaking it down into small steps. For example, if you want to teach your dog to shake, start by teaching them to sit and stay.
To teach your dog to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it up and over their head. As they follow the treat with their nose, their bottom should naturally go down into a sitting position.
Once your dog knows how to sit, you can start teaching them to stay. To do this, have them sit and then hold up your hand in a "stop" gesture. Say "stay" and then take a few steps back.
To teach your dog to shake, hold out your hand and say "shake." As your dog reaches out to sniff your hand, gently close your fingers around their paw and shake it once or twice.
To teach your dog to roll over, have them lie down on their side. Hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it across their body and behind their head.
Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to bond with them, keep them mentally stimulated, and even help them to be better behaved.