Trick training has SO much value beyond just impressing your friends. It builds relationships, builds confidence, builds skills and is certainly just plain fun! Here is how to teach your pup to "Army Crawl!"
Trick of the Day: Teach "Army Crawl!"
Prerequisite: "Down"
Ok, to start this trick, ask your dog for a "down." Once he is fully in the position, take a treat between your fingers and wiggle them in front of him, moving the treat forward on the floor.. You are basically trying to tease him into pawing for the treat..
***Tip*** Don't move the treat forward too quickly, or he'll end up getting up! You're trying to keep it "wiggling" but close to his front paws...
When you get even the smallest motion forward, mark it with a verbal marker ("YES!!") or a click. (Personally, I love the clicker, but I use both a verbal and a clicker - not at the same time! - depending on the scenario.) After you mark, you must in fact GIVE him the treat :)
Once he's getting the hang of it, and ONLY when he's getting the hang of it, add your verbal cue "Crawl!"
Repeat the process, at first rewarding only the smallest movements forward and progressing to an actual distance crawl! The way to properly build on this as he gets better is to ask him for the down, and then hold the treat about a foot in front of him and ask him to crawl TO it. Then you hold it two feet away and ask him to crawl to it, etc. etc.
Get it? :) It's a really fun, cute, impress-your-friends type of trick! Tricks for treats, the day after Halloween! Enjoy yourselves, feel free to share and ask questions here on Higher Expectations Dog Training & Behavior Modification's facebook page. Also, check out our actual website at www.hexdogs.com. We LOVE pictures, too!
-Cassie-Leigh Stock, owner, HEX Dog Training
Trick of the Day: Teach "Army Crawl!"
Prerequisite: "Down"
Ok, to start this trick, ask your dog for a "down." Once he is fully in the position, take a treat between your fingers and wiggle them in front of him, moving the treat forward on the floor.. You are basically trying to tease him into pawing for the treat..
***Tip*** Don't move the treat forward too quickly, or he'll end up getting up! You're trying to keep it "wiggling" but close to his front paws...
When you get even the smallest motion forward, mark it with a verbal marker ("YES!!") or a click. (Personally, I love the clicker, but I use both a verbal and a clicker - not at the same time! - depending on the scenario.) After you mark, you must in fact GIVE him the treat :)
Once he's getting the hang of it, and ONLY when he's getting the hang of it, add your verbal cue "Crawl!"
Repeat the process, at first rewarding only the smallest movements forward and progressing to an actual distance crawl! The way to properly build on this as he gets better is to ask him for the down, and then hold the treat about a foot in front of him and ask him to crawl TO it. Then you hold it two feet away and ask him to crawl to it, etc. etc.
Get it? :) It's a really fun, cute, impress-your-friends type of trick! Tricks for treats, the day after Halloween! Enjoy yourselves, feel free to share and ask questions here on Higher Expectations Dog Training & Behavior Modification's facebook page. Also, check out our actual website at www.hexdogs.com. We LOVE pictures, too!
-Cassie-Leigh Stock, owner, HEX Dog Training
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