I now have three dogs, and trick training is a huge part of our life together. My youngest, Sirius, began learning tricks the day she came home, flying through trick titles, earning her Champion Trick Dog Title right after her second birthday, and becoming only the second Newfoundland dog in the world to earn the highest trick dog title. I’m passionate about tricks, not only because they are a lot of fun, but even more so because of the capacity for trick training to really bring people and their dogs together in new ways.
Regardless of whether you have any interest in competing, trick training is something that every dog and guardian can get involved with. As we will discuss, trick training can and will strengthen the relationship you have with your dog.
Happy Trick Training!
Sassafras
February 2019
Art by Nicole J. Georges of Sassafras and her trick dogs.
Trick training is a great way to have fun with your dogs.
Photo credit: Kathleen Tepperies
Welcome to Tricks in the City! If you’re here, you probably have the best dog in the world and you’re looking for ways to have more fun with your pup, and maybe even teach them an impressive trick or two. Trick training is something that all dogs (and people) can have fun with together, and the best thing is, you don’t need any kind of expensive equipment, and you don’t have to travel anywhere to do it. Trick training can happen in your living room or on your daily walks. All you need is a little bit of time, and some treats!
I used to think that this training was just something fun to do with dogs, and it absolutely is, but I’ve also seen firsthand the way that trick training can literally transform a dog’s life. It also has the capacity to foster a stronger relationship between people and their dogs. Trick training can take you and your dogs in many directions—not only is it fun, it is also the foundation for the work that animal actors are doing when we see them in our favorite movies and on TV. Trick training is a tremendous amount of fun, and it’s something that everyone (even kids) can do with any dog, from the youngest puppy to the oldest senior pooch. Dogs are hardwired to want to work with us and please us, and I’m no biologist, but I believe that we’re pretty hardwired to want to work with dogs; we just don’t always know how to communicate with one another. If you are looking to find ways to spend more time with your dog, or if you and your dog already spend a lot of time training but you’re looking for something low-pressure to enjoy together, trick training is perfect for you!
Training should always be fun for you and, most importantly, for your dog. Dogs learn best when they are getting “paid,” so as we start to teach tricks, we are going to be using lots of treats and/or toys. Basically, whatever is most motivating to your dogs is what we are going to be using. As trick trainers, our goal is to make instructions to our dogs as clear as possible, and make training as fun as possible. Any kind of training that resorts to pain, intimidation, or fear (such as “alpha dynamics”) is not only cruel and inhumane, but has been scientifically proven to be ineffective and damaging to the relationship between dog and guardian. The same is true for prong collars and shock collars (or e-collars, as they are becoming commonly referred to).
Training your dog and spending time with your dog should be fun. We don’t want to do anything that will in any way hurt your relationship with one another, which is what pain-based or punitive training does.
Why Tricks?
Ann Cress’ Boerboel Tsavo loves learning and showing off!
Who doesn’t love seeing a dog do a cute trick? It brings a smile to our faces, it’s fun and stimulating for dogs, so it’s no wonder that trick training is one of the fastest-growing canine sports. Not only have tricks become a competitive dog sport, they have always been and remain an excellent way to bond with the dog you share your home and life with. Dogs love learning and they love spending quality time with us, where we put down our phones, stop watching movies, and turn all of our attention to them. Tricks are perfect for this. In just a few minutes of practice together every day, not only will you be positively investing in your relationship with your best friend, but your dog will also be on her way to learning an array of tricks.
Unlike a lot of other dog sports that require complicated, big, and usually expensive equipment, trick training is something you can do in the comfort of your own home. You don’t need to go out and find a professional trainer or sign up for classes; you can teach your dog tricks in your living room, in your backyard, and on your daily walks. But tricks go beyond just something fun to do with your dog (though they are certainly that too)—trick training can literally change your dog’s life. Learning tricks is confidence-boosting, especially for nervous, shy, or anxious dogs. Trick training can be extremely helpful for dogs who are reactive or struggling with anxiety, to help them to learn more about learning, and to gain confidence in new situations. That said, none of the trick training advice in this book can or should take the place of working directly with a positive-reinforcement-based trainer or animal behaviorist who is skilled and experienced with dogs who have reactivity, panic, or other anxiety-related behavioral conditions.
Trick training is so versatile, it can be done anytime anywhere, and you can gradually incorporate tricks your dog loves and is confident with into situations where they might be less sure of themself or their surroundings. I used to see trick training as something fun to do on occasion with my dogs, but I’ve come to understand it to be essential for supporting them in navigating our busy urban worlds. I now consider trick training to be a core part of socializing any puppy, or new adult dog entering my family—it’s that important! One of my favorite things about trick training is how mentally and physically good it is for dogs. Trick training is extremely mentally stimulating, which makes it a perfect activity to enjoy with your dogs if you live in an apartment and don’t have a big yard (and even if you do). Working with your dog can be significantly more enriching than a long off-leash run! I’m not kidding! If the weather is crummy and you don’t want to take your dog on a long walk, pull out some treats and start teaching tricks. You might be surprised at how mentally well-exercised your dog is at the end of the training session, and how that can lead to a dog who is much more likely to be ready to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with you at the end of the day. On the physical side of things, trick training can also promote great muscle tone and strength training for dogs of all ages. There are, of course, safety concerns, and you want to make sure that any tricks you are teaching your dogs aren’t going to be too physically demanding for them. In this book, I have primarily focused on low-impact tricks, and I have tried to highlight the tricks that are the highest impact and flag them as likely not appropriate for very young and very old dogs, as well as any dog who has any kind of ongoing health or orthopedic conditions. In general, if you ever have questions or concerns about the safety or appropriateness of a trick for your dog, contact your veterinarian before training.
Tricks for All
There is a very common old myth and figure of speech that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Honestly, I think this is one of the most dangerous pieces of misinformation permeating modern dog culture. Not that I think all dogs need to learn how to jump