Tricks and Games to Teach Your Dog : How to Turn Your Well-loved Pet into an Accomplished Performer

355 Pages·2012·11.29 MB·English

by  Collins

TRICKS
AND GAMES

TO TEACH YOUR DOG
SOPHIE COLLINS
with SUELLEN DAINTY
Aim to put the fun back into your dog’s playtime by discovering a wealth
of safe, imaginative games and easy-to-teach tricks to enjoy with your
dog. Whatever the breed, age or temperament of your pet, you will find
tricks and games here to suit all levels of skill – from the simple to the
challenging, with plenty of options in between. Engage your dog in
activities he will enjoy and amaze and impress your family and friends as
well!
• Fun options to suit every dog, whatever his breed or age.
• Dozens of ideas to put the joy back into playtime.
• Step-by-step photos that break down tricks and games into easy-to-
follow stages.
• Positive, friendly training methods that help you bond with your canine
companion.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
Keep it Safe
Working With Your Dog
Saying What You Mean
Clicker Training/Refreshing the Basics
SIMPLE TRICKS
Return to Sender
Play it Again
High Five
Shake a Paw
Left Paw, Right Paw
Say Please
Stand Up
Walk Along
Standing Ten
Rollover
Spin Around
Off to Bed
Learning a ‘Stop’ Signal
Answer the Door
Buried Treasure
RAINY DAY TRICKS
Tin of Treats
Shy Dog
Are You Ashamed of Yourself?
Take It
Dinner Time
Lion Tamer
Hugs ’n’ Kisses
Play Dead
Take a Bow
Chasing Bubbles
Cross My Paws
Under the Bridge
Commando Crawl
Back Up
Squeak, Piggy, Squeak
JUST THE TWO OF YOU
Take My Arm
Catch the Owner
Walk Around
Walk ’n’ Weave
Come Find
Follow the Target
Look Left, Look Right and Cross the Road
Walk Yourself
Carry My Bag
Peekaboo
Fetch My Keys
Treat Trail
MIND GAMES
1, 2, 3, Treat!
Learn the Name
Fetch the …
Wind Around
Cone Ball
Caught a Cold
Pass the Parcel
How Many Fingers?
Mark It
Show Me
Night, Night
THE HARD STUFF
Touch the Spot
Shut the Door
Open the Door
Fetch Your Snack
Direct Delivery
Catch the Treat
‘Over’ – Hurdling
And ‘Under’ – Limbo
Laundry Service
Freeze
Push the Ball
Head the Ball
AGILITY CHALLENGE
Making a Garden Agility Course
Hurdles
Hoopla
Tunnelling Out
Race Against the Clock
Group Agility
Going Professional
EXERCISING WITH YOUR DOG
Walking Together
Running and Cycling
Hiking and Camping
Frisbee Fun
Tug of War
Doggy Volleyball
Doggy Rounders
Acknowledgements
Index
Introduction
H ow much does play matter to your dog? If he has good
food, plenty of exercise and somewhere comfortable to
rest during his downtime, do you really need to play with him,
too? Or spend your own downtime teaching him tricks? Well,
yes. Why? There’s a whole host of arguments for teaching your
pet lots of games and tricks, but here are just a few of them:
Dogs are one of the few species – humans are one of the
others – to enjoy play as adults. There are social, practical
reasons for this, as research suggests that dogs use play both
to learn things and to get rid of stress. Dogs are clever – some
very clever – and, just like people, they need to stretch their
minds as well as their bodies to stay healthy and avoid
boredom (and remember, a bored, bright dog may well be a
dog that gets himself into mischief). As social mammals, dogs
need plenty of interaction, too, whether that’s with you, their
honorary pack leader, or other dogs, and play is one of the
most enjoyable ways to interact.