3 simple dog skills to teach

3 Simple dog skills to teach

Teach your dog the fundamentals by keeping some small incentive treats on hand, holding training sessions for no more than 10 to 15 minutes, and remembering to give him lots of praise and a reward treat when he does something correctly. Just watch out that he doesn't become overly excited and lose focus.

1. Enticing your dog to extend his paw

First, teach your dog to sit. Then take your dog's paw in your palm and give it a treat while you utter the word "paw.". Repeat this a few times, say the word, count to one, and then take it. If your dog doesn't raise his paw as you say the word, repeat the process a few more times and then slow down your response. After two or three sessions, most dogs are happy to take this one up.

2. The high five

Like many tricks, the high five starts with a preceding trick—in this instance, the paw trick. With your hand raised a little higher than while doing the paw trick, hold a reward between your fingers. Your dog will think you're about to do the paw trick and will reach up, as we trained him, to grab the treat with his paw. You give him a "high five" and give him the gift. After a few practice sessions, your dog should be able to do this trick using hand signals instead of vocal commands after he has mastered the paw trick.

3. Getting your canine to jump through hoops

I want to caution you before you start to be careful and not hold the hoop too high since you don't want your dog to hurt himself while doing the trick. Your dog may try to go around or under the hoopla hoop at first, but he will soon realize that doing so will not get him the treat, so he will eventually start going through it. Say "hoopla" when he does, then give him the goodie. Sit your dog on one side of the hoopla hoop, get his attention on your hand on the other side of the hoop, and give the command to release him from the sit. Before long, he will be jumping through the hoops at the sound of a hoopla.

When I initially began doing this technique, I used a medium-sized Labrador as my dog, so I lifted the hoop gradually to waist height, starting with about 6 inches off the ground. Should you have a little dog, it could be a good idea to begin with the hoop touching the ground, allowing the dog to simply go through it. Gradually increase it after the dog becomes used to the trick.