Teaching your dog tricks is not only fun but a great way to strengthen your bond.

Below I’ve put together 2 easy tricks that you can teach your dog.

Here’s what to do:

To teach your dog tricks, even easy ones, you need to have some small reward treats, be in a quiet suitable place and keep the training sessions to 10 – 15 minutes or your dog will start to get board.

Remember when they get something right give them lots of praise and a treat, just be careful not to get them over excited or they will lose concentration! 

Getting your dog to give you their paw

First get your dog to sit, then as you say the word ‘paw’ take your dogs paw in your hand and give them a treat and then repeat.

 

 

 

 

 After a few times do not take their paw so quickly, say the word, count to one then take it and give them a treat. You’ll notice they soon start to bring their paw up as you say the word (if they don’t go back to saying ‘paw’ and taking their paw at the same time).

Do this for a few more times then gradually increase the time you take their paw after you say the word ‘paw’.

After 2 or 3 sessions most dogs pick this one up quite happily.

The high five

The high five is a progression of the paw trick.

Hold a treat in your fingers and raise your hand slightly higher than you would for the paw trick.

 

 

 

 

Your dog will think you want to do the paw trick and will reach for the treat with their paw, as they reach up you say “high five” and give them the treat.

Once your dog has mastered the paw trick this one should be very easy for them to learn and with just a few sessions they will be doing it on a hand signal as well as a command.

Have fun and let me know in the comments below how you get on 🙂