Tips on Teaching a Dog Tricks

Dogs can make fabulous pets, and they are even better pets when they are well-trained. For this reason, you want to teach your dog tricks. This can be a challenging process, but by following tips and being consistent, you should be able to teach your dog different tricks.

  1. Use a Treat

    • The first tips for teaching dogs tricks are very basic. You need to find a reward that works for your dog. It should be a small treat and something it really enjoys. The treat does not need to be any bigger than a morsel, as long as it tastes good and is a special reward. Use this treat whenever your dog obeys a command. With time and repetition, the dog will associate good behavior with a tasty reward and this will aid in the training process.

    Be Consistent

    • A major key in dog training is being consistent. The commands should be practiced regularly, and you should always use the same command words. Additionally, the positive marker word ("good boy!" or "yes!" or whatever you use) should always be the same word. If you change your commands, you will only confuse your dog. Remember that dogs do not speak your language, so it needs to be a command they can recognize and always associate with the same behavior.

    Be Patient

    • When training a dog, you need to be patient. Training takes time. It is a matter of the dog learning a behavior and associating it with a word, and sometimes this can take lots of practice. Don't give up hope. Your dog will get it, and it's important that you are willing to practice with it until it does. Focus on one new command per week so that your dog doesn't get confused and overwhelmed.

    Verbal and Nonverbal Cues

    • When assigning a behavior to your dog, you should also have a verbal and a nonverbal cue to go with the trick. For example, if you are teaching your dog to sit, the verbal cue might be "Sit," and the nonverbal cue might be holding up your right hand like a stop sign. Your dog will recognize both as commands and will eventually associate both cues, verbal and nonverbal, with the trick. It is also extremely important to provide both verbal and nonverbal praise when a command is obeyed. Praise your dog with your positive marker and reward it with a treat or some attention.