Your Dog’s expert trainer, Tony Cruse (TC), discusses simple preparation and techniques to help us teach our dogs the odd trick or two!
Presented by James Buzzel (JB).
JB: Can all dogs do tricks? And what dog age is best to start doing trick training? TC: Trick training is a funny definition, because, as my colleague says, all dogs do tricks; all training is tricks. If I ask a dog to sit, technically, you could say that’s a trick. It’s kind of an enhancement to what we already teach them.
Regarding age, start as soon as possible. Providing their limbs are strong enough and they’re healthy. There’s, there’s no age limit for tricks and that’s the beauty of them.
JB: Why do we teach dogs ‘tricks’ beyond the standard training such as a sit? Is it good for the dog or is it just for our own entertainment? TC: I’ve been trying to get a definition of trick training, and the closest I could come to was that it’s a trained action or a behaviour, which tends to be fun. Normally used for entertainment or amusement – so it’s not always practical. It can be, but it’s more fun.
In addition to amusing us, the owner, trick training is a good way to strengthen your bond with your dog and to give your dog some mental stimulation. A dog that’s mentally stimulated is going to be more tired than a dog that’s running around an empty field with not much else to do. Mental stimulation is very important to fulfil the dog’s needs. When you’re working with a dog and training your dog with these tricks, then you’re giving the dog what they should be getting.
JB: Which is the best environment to teach tricks? TC: The best place to start any form of training is somewhere with low distraction. If I stood in the middle of a field trying to train my dog, with other dogs running around, it would be difficult to teach my dog a new trick. However, if I was in the kitchen where there’s less distractions and it’s an area that he already knows, then it’s going to be a lot easier to get the basics. Once you’ve got the basics, let’s say you’re teaching a hand touch – once my dog’s touching my hand reliably, I’ll then go outside into a field with less distractions and try to get the same behaviour. It is something that you can teach very easily at home and then take outside with you.
JB: How can we motivate our dogs to learn, and how long should these teaching sessions last for? TC: In any training, the dog needs to be rewarded, otherwise they aren’t going to want to perform. They
