Easy Steps to Teach BACK UP

Uses:  Teaches dog to be aware of his rear legs and movement; can be used in multiple tricks.

1. With your dog in front of you, wait for him to take a step backwards then Click and Treat, this is shaping the behavior.  If your dog won’t step backwards you can step into him then Cick and Treat when he moves back.

2. Slowly raise the criteria of number of steps backwards before you Click and Treat.

3. When you are pleased with the number of steps your dog will move back add a voice cue such as “Back”. You may also want to add a hand signal.

4. Begin to fade moving your body into the dog if you have been doing so.  The goal is to be able to have the dog back up without you moving into him at all.

Realted behaviors/tricks/variations:  Back up between your legs or a backwards figure eight between your legs and heeling backwards (a requirement in some Rally Obedience competition).

Easy Steps to Teach SHAKE

Uses:  Shake is the classic dog trick.  It can also be helpful in getting your dog to tolerate you touching his feet.

1. Begin with your dog sitting in front of you with you kneeling or sitting on the floor.

2. Hold a treat tightly in your hand so your dog can smell it but cannot get to it.  Hold the treat in front of your dog’s nose.  If your dog lifts his foot up while attempting to get the food, Click and Treat.  Some dogs use their paws a lot and will start off touching your hand with their foot.  Other dogs need more patience.  With dogs who don’t naturally use their feet to try to get what they want you will need to Click and Treat for even slight foot movement at first.

3. Slowly raise the criteria until your dog has to put his foot on your hand before you Click and Treat. Start holding food in the opposite hand so the dog is no longer looking for food in your “shaking hand”.

4. Add a voice command such as Shake, Paw, Foot. Say "Hi" once your dog is consistently shaking.

Related behaviors/tricks/variations:  Once your dog is shaking with one paw follow these steps and teach him to shake with the other one as well (be sure you pick a different voice command name).  Also, you may want to teach your dog to Wave, High Five, ring a bell to go outside, March or foot targeting (touch with the foot instead of the nose).

Easy Steps to Teach BEG (Sit Up)

Uses:  Beg is another classic trick.  This trick can help your dog develop great balance!  Note:  Dogs who suffer hip or back problems should NOT be asked to perform this trick.

1. Start with your dog sitting in front of you.  Hold a treat over his nose so that he has to stretch his head up to sniff it.  If your dog lifts his front legs off the ground at all, Click and Treat.  Most dogs require at least a week to develop the balance needed to lift their feet all the way up.

2. Once your dog’s paws are coming off the ground at least a little, begin asking for a little more.  You will now Click and Treat only for higher paw lifts.

3. Continue fine tuning your dog’s Beg until he is able to bring his front feet all the way off the ground and balance on his back legs.

4. Add a voice command such as Sit Up, Beg or Pretty