Find some fun for the four-legged and two-legged members of the family by teaching your dogs some new tricks! Listed below are three tricks your family can teach your favorite pooch and have some family fun at the same time. I have also included a bonus game that the whole family, and the dog, of course, can play together.
Before I start, there are two things that you need to teach your dog these tricks, lots of treats and lots of patience.
1. Shake - With a treat in your closed hand, put your hand down by your dog's paw and say "Shake." Your dog should instinctively put their paw on top of your hand. Once their paw is on top of your hand, praise your dog and give them the treat. It may take them a few tries to put their paw on your hand but just keep trying and don't give them the treat unless they put the paw up.
2. Army Crawl - Get your dog into a laydown on the floor. Put the treat right in front of their nose (but don't let them have the treat) and pull the treat away from the dog on the floor while the dog follows the treat staying on their stomach. As they move, praise them and give them the treat. Each time they should move further and further across the floor. At first, give them the treat even if they move an inch, and then just keep doing it over and over again, going further each time. If your dog stands up just get them back down into the laydown and try again.
3. Take a Bow - With your dog standing and with a treat in your hand reach down and put the treat down between your dogs front legs while saying "Take a bow." Your dog's nose should follow the treat and go into a bow with their bottom up in the air and their front legs stretched out. Once they do that, praise them and give them the treat. Your dog may try to walk backwards instead of going into the bow, just pull the treat back and try again. Putting them in front of a wall will help to keep them from moving backward.
Bonus Game - This is a really fun game for both the dog and kids and is also a great way to work on the "come" command with your dog. A little doggie hide and seek! Either put your dog into a sit/stay or have someone hold them while another person (with treats) goes and hides. Once they are hidden, they should call out to the dog saying your dog's name and "Come." Your dog should then start running towards the person hiding, having to use all their senses to find them. Once your dog gets to the hidden person, be sure to praise them and give them a treat or two. Keep playing as long as you would like. This is also a fun game outside.
