When dogs are puppies, they usually start being trained to walk on a leash, go the bathroom outside and obey basic commands such as sit and lie down. It is important that dogs start with basic obedience training, learning how to listen to you. Once you have taught your dog basic obedience, you can move on to teaching her tricks, such as shaking hands, rolling over, dancing, playing dead, begging and fetching.
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Teaching Methods
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In a similar manner to other training, the best way to teach your dog to do tricks is to make it fun for her. Dogs respond to positive reinforcement, so give her a treat or a pat on the head to show that you approve of her doing the trick. Teaching your dog tricks can be a positive experience because it can reinforce your bond with her, but you should begin with more basic tricks such as rolling over and shaking hands. Although it is easier to teach tricks to a puppy, older dogs can learn them as well.
Start training your dog in a private environment, like your backyard. You can gradually move to public places like a dog park, but you will want to cut out distractions when you are first teaching her. Try to teach her one command a week or every two weeks, working with her each day. These sessions should end while your dog is still interested in the tricks, which can mean that they last five minutes or longer. When you have taught her new tricks, try working on all the tricks she knows along with the new trick. Use commands, such as "roll over," "shake," and "play dead." Use an authoritative voice, one that is more stern than usual, when saying these commands. When you are training a dog in basic tricks such as shaking hands, position her body in the way that it will need to be for doing the trick and consistently use the same commands for tricks. You can also add a hand signal with the voice commands.
Tricks
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For shaking hands, start by having your dog sit, a basic skill. After she is sitting down, say the command, which can anything you want, and then pick up her paw to mimic shaking hands. When her hand is in yours, give her positive reinforcement for her behavior.
For rolling over, start by having your dog lie down. Hold a treat to your dog's nose and move it around her body in such a way that she will lay on her side and roll over to try to get the treat. Gradually work in the command, so she associates the word with the gesture. Make sure to do the trick on grass or another soft surface. Some dogs may not like this trick because they may not want to expose their bellies. If your dog is reluctant to do it, move on to another trick.
Some dogs will fetch naturally, but to train ones that do not, take your dog to a fenced-in yard (an important safety feature); cut a hole in a tennis ball and put treats inside it. Show your dog the treats, give her one and then throw the ball. At first, run with her and retrieve the ball. Afterward, give her a treat, so she will eventually run after the ball in an effort to get a treat. Once your dog has mastered fetching the ball, try throwing the ball two or three times before rewarding her.
A more advanced trick that you can teach your dog is playing dead. Have her lie down. Next try to roll her onto her side and use a command such as "go to sleep" or "play dead." When she is on the floor, try to keep her from raising her head but be gentle when you are doing this. Get her to stay still for a few seconds before issuing another command, such as "wake up" or "get up." Give her a treat, but only after she has successfully played dead.
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