DOG TRICKS: UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOGS
CAPABILITIES BEFORE YOU TEACH BUDDY NEW TRICKS
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary
part of a dog’s education, is an accomplishment that offer dog owners and his
friends a great deal of amusement and adds materially to the value of a dog.
All dogs can be taught tricks, but some breeds have a special aptitude in that
direction. At the head of the list of trick dogs is the poodle, as he takes to
the performance of tricks as if it was second nature, and he is the main
reliance of all showmen dogs.
Newfoundland's, St. Bernard's and Great Danes learn without difficulty, while
the collies and spaniels are very intelligent; the terriers are quick learners
and among the toy dog breed, the Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier and Toy
Poodle are highly spoken of and can pick up tricks almost effortlessly.
In selecting the tricks that are to be taught a dog, the owner must show some
discretion and no attempt should be made to teach dogs tricks that are not
within their powers. For example, a big St. Bernard or Great Dane is sadly out
of place or rather almost unachievable attempting to sit up, walk on his hind
legs or dance.
These dog breeds are physically incapable of doing such tricks and persistent
attempts to train them are really toying with their dignity. They can, however,
with appropriate guidance and training taught to fetch and carry, jump, shake
hands or speak. Talking about specialty, it is interesting to note that dog
breed such as spaniels are particularly apt at fetching and carrying, collies
can learn to count and speak readily, and the terriers have a wide sphere of
possibilities.
Dogs which are to be taught tricks must have their education begun early in
life, so that the playfulness of puppy hood can be taken advantage of, for as
dogs mature they take on a sedateness and seriousness that increases the
difficulty of teaching them to assume unnatural positions, whereas, with a puppy
a trick can be made more or less a matter of play and he will enjoy going
through with it.
In the general education and training tricks to a
puppy, very little punishment should be given and in trick puppy training no
punishment at all. A dog can be forced to do certain things, but if forced he
generally acts so slow and sulky that it detracts from his performance, whereas,
if he is coaxed into doing them and performs because he likes to, he will go
through with his act with an enthusiasm and spontaneous that is most attractive
and fun loving.
For these reasons you must not get overly excited while training your young dog
nor speak loud, nor cuff and whip him, but should by frequent good-natured
repetition of the same performance persuade and coax him to assume certain
attitudes or do certain things, and when he has done so, praise him; he will
then know that you appreciate what he has done. It is also most desirable to
reward him with plentiful of praise and treats.
To end, remember not all dogs can perform every single dog tricks, as some
breeds do have some physical limitations. Even so, enjoy teaching your dog
“achievable” new tricks, and most importantly have fun along the way!
