Sometimes the weather is a little unpredictable and the last thing you want to do is head outside…but we still want to make sure our dogs are entertained and kept busy. Spending time indoors is a great opportunity to teach your dog some new tricks and spend some more quality time with them.
Read on for some easy tricks to teach your furry friend from the comfort of you home and why it benefits you and them.
The benefits of training your dog to do tricks can be seen both mentally and physically. Plus, it can make your bond with them even stronger.
When it comes to training your dog, it’s important to remember that training should be reward based. When you reward them with treats, they’ll start to get used to the routine of doing the tricks if they know they get a treat after.
Learning new things doesn’t come easy – as we humans understand too. So, patience and consistency are both key. It’s also helpful to teach them in quiet places without any distractions to ensure they’re focused on just you.
When the training is over, remember to always end it on a positive. By this we mean, lots of playtime and having fun!
So, here’s 2 fun, easy tricks to teach your dog at home to get you started.
- Whilst you dog is in standing position, hold a treat to their nose.
- Keeping the treat near to your dog’s nose, move your hand in an arc over their head.
- As the dog raises their head to follow the treat, their bottom will go on the floor. The instant they sit, praise them and give them the treat.
- Practice this a number of times in short, regular sessions.
- After a number of times, you’ll soon find that your dog sits for longer. You can now add a cue word ‘sit’ as they go to sit.
- Keep practicing in short, regular sessions.
- Be sure to give an ‘okay’ cue to let them know when the training has ended.
- Ask your dog to lay down.
- Give your dog a hand signal – for example a ‘stop’ sign with the palm of your hand facing your dog.
- Wait a few seconds, say ‘stay’ and then reward your dog with a treat. It’s important to reward your dog while they are still lying down and not if they have got back up.
- Practice this routine many times in short but regular sessions, gradually increasing the length of time your dog stays in the down position.
- Next, you can start to increase the distance between you and your dog. Start by taking just one step back before giving them the reward and then slowly increase the distance.
As the saying goes ‘practice makes perfect,’ so make to continue repeating each trick with your dog. Practice in lots of different places too, such as around the house or in the park!
We hope the above is helpful and you enjoy having fun teaching your dog these new tricks.
Pets are so much more than a housemate, they are family. Keep them protected with Pets in a Pickle, so you have peace of mind, and they can carry on doing their brilliantly quirky thing! Find out more here.
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