Cool tricks?

[LewisKimball]

In our dog training classes they are having a contest this week for the best trick that we can teach our dog. I feel this might be the one time that Lewis might be able to outperform his classmates (he might get most improved now that he isn't just trying to play the entire time).

He picks up on tricks very fast, so if anyone has a good trick that boxers like to do, I would really like to show all of the other owners that Lewis really is the smartest dog in the class.

Thanks for the help!

 

[gtntuf]

We taught Brutus to play dead. Let me know if you want details on how. I know some other people have taught their boxers to hold a treat on their nose until they tell them to take it. So far, I've been unable to master this one.

 

[bea'smum]

I haven't been able to get Bea to do the treat on the nose trick either! Bea can also play dead, though. People often find it funny because rather than saying "play dead", we trained her to respond to the cue "bang". We make a gun hand gesture and say "bang" and she acts like she was shot. Some of the tricks we found easiest to train were "say please" (speak), "lick your chops", and "back up". We have trained almost all of her tricks with a clicker. Le me know if you want any details on how.

 

[jbbtlr]

We are still teaching Koda tricks. We'd like him to shake but he just isn't responding to that. But he doesn't have a dominant paw either, I heard that makes things a little more difficult.

Anyway, I'd like to hear how you taught your dog to play dead. That would be a neat one! :D

Thanks!
Jeanette

 

[bea'smum]

This is how we taught Bea to play dead. First, we had her lie down on her tummy. Then we basically rolled her over on her side and said "bang", clicked and gave her a treat. We probably had to physically move her several times before she did it on her own. In the beginning, we could get her to lie on her side but she would keep her head lifted, so we started placing the treat very close to the floor right in front of her nose (once she was on her side) to lure her head to the floor. When she put her head to the floor, we would of course click and give her the treat. Another way that I think might work would be to catch your dog already lying in that position, say the command, and give him a treat. We've taught Bea tricks that way as well - it worked particularly well with "speak"

 

[gtntuf]

Brutus doesn't have a dominant paw either so it took him a little longer to catch on. Just be persistent and he will get it. To teach him to play dead, we would put him in a down. Then we would take a treat in front of his nose and kind of bring it around his back behind his shoulder until he would lie on his side. (Like you teach them to roll over, but you stop when he's on his side) We did this until he got used to being on his side. Once he got used to that, we inserted the hand cue of the "gun" and said "bang". After a few times, he caught on. Sometimes it takes three shots, but he usually plays dead for the right treat.

Brutus was sitting and speaking at eight weeks of age, but sometimes he still acts like he doesn't have a clue. We taught him the stand command, but he doesn't know back yet. I wish we could get him to stay better. He does pretty well with wait, but stay doesn't last for long after I'm out of his eyesight. Guess it all comes with time and patience.

 

[mygirlrosie]

I have no idea how I taught my dog to play dead. Seriously. No idea AT ALL. She just does it. I say "bang", she hits the floor. It's the funniest thing.

I taught her to roll over, though. I started with her in the down position, issued the "roll over" command, and used a treat to lead her in the right direction. She needed a bit of prodding at first...I had to actually help her roll...but it only took about seven repetitions for her to understand what I was looking for. Now she does it without the prodding (as long as there's a treat in it for her!)

I taught her to "shake" by having her sit and saying "paw". When I said paw I swiped her paw off the floor and shook it. Tons of praising while I shook her paw, and then when I let it go, she got a treat. That took longer than rolling over.

She says "please", too...I'd catch her while she was barking and say "Say please!" When she barked again I'd praise and give a treat. We're still working on this one as it's not quite all the way there yet...and I'm really questioning my intelligence on this, if you must know, LOL! I mean, do I really want her thinking she'll get a cookie every time she barks?

It's funny...I am always impressed when she picks up a new "fun" trick but friends are always more impressed by the fact that she won't jump on them if I tell her not to and that she stays when I tell her to. Go figure.

 

[lillys7]

We taught Guinness "high five" that was easy. Once he got "paw" or "shake" we just moved our hand up and told him to "high five". He got it right away. I'm going to try play dead next for sure!!!! sounds like fun!!!