| In addition to all the commands your dog has now | | | | with your energy-conscious dog! To prepare for the |
| mastered, you may want to teach him a few that | | | | trick, be sure your dog can reach the light switch on |
| will make him the entertainment In the neighborhood. | | | | his back legs. If not, you can train your dog to jump |
| He will be much easier to train for these commands | | | | on a table under the light switch to perform this feat. |
| now that he has mastered so many tricks. | | | | Hold a treat at the light switch, and command "Turn |
| 1. Dance. This trick may actually be helpful when your | | | | out the light!" When your dog jumps up to get the |
| dog has a hard time with the "Off" command when | | | | treat, make sure his paws touch the top of the |
| he's jumping on people. Sometimes dogs respond well | | | | switch so that when he comes down he turns off |
| to replacement behavior, and teaching him how to | | | | the light. Reward with the treat and verbal praise. |
| dance is a great way to put all that energy to work. | | | | Once he gets that down, stand away from the light |
| Each time your pet gets excited and is jumping | | | | switch and issue the command. Toss the treat |
| around you, command "Dance" while you gently take | | | | nearby when he jumps up and paws at switch. Be |
| and hold his front legs, forcing him to stand on his | | | | sure to give him lots of verbal praise. Eventually you |
| hind legs. Sway him from right to left a little. Praise | | | | won't need to give him a treat to perform the trick. |
| him, give him a treat, and gently put him back on the | | | | 5. Bow. This is a good trick to teach your dog when |
| floor. | | | | you're working on the "Down" command. Put your |
| 2. Pray. The object is to have your dog put his head | | | | dog in the "Stay" position, and put a treat in your |
| down between his paws on the command "Pray," or | | | | hand. Kneeling in front of your dog, move both your |
| "Say your prayers," and all of your friends and family | | | | hands toward his front paws while giving the "Bow" |
| to say, "Awwww! How cute!" | | | | command. Your dog will extend his head down to get |
| Begin by sitting in a chair with your dog in the "Sit | | | | the treat, putting him in the "bow" position. Work on |
| Stay" position in front of you. Put a treat on the | | | | his bow until you can command him to bow from |
| chair between your legs. Command your dog to | | | | across the room. |
| "Pray," then encourage him or place both of his paws | | | | 6. Counting: Your dog, with time and patience, can |
| on the chair while he remains in the "Sit" position. | | | | learn to count. Because this is a complicated |
| Use the "Leave it" or "Don't touch" command so he | | | | maneuver, there is a prerequisite - your dog must |
| doesn't eat the treat, and then give him the "Pray" | | | | know the "Speak" trick and be commanded to stop |
| command. Your dog should stick his nose down to | | | | with the release word, "OK." All you do at that point |
| the treat between his paws. Command the release, | | | | is plug in a number to the command, "What is six, |
| "Amen," then give your dog the treat and praise him. | | | | Laska?" When your dog counts to six, you command |
| For smaller dogs, or if your larger dog doesn't get | | | | him to stop with "OK." |
| the chair route, you may want to use a low table. | | | | There is a catch, however - timing is involved. If you |
| You can stand behind him to guide his paws to the | | | | don't combine the "What is" command with a subtle |
| table | | | | signal, your dog will start to bark before you say the |
| 3. Sneeze. You can train your dog to sneeze on | | | | number. When you start training him, make a |
| command. You'll do it with a hand signal, which is | | | | noticeable signal, like a deep nod of your head, when |
| cupping your hands around your nose and mouth and | | | | you give the "Speak" command. Nod your head |
| commanding, "Sneeze!" | | | | deeply when you give the "OK," release command, |
| Sit in a chair, and put your dog in the "Sit/Stay" | | | | too. |
| position. Cup your hands around his muzzle, say | | | | You'll need to practice the trick for some time until |
| sneeze and gently blow into his nostrils. Keeping | | | | your dog is trained to respond to the nods alone. |
| blowing until he sniffles or sneezes, then give him | | | | Once he has it down, slowly make your nodding |
| praise and a treat. Some dogs take quickly to this | | | | more subtle. Once your dog performs the trick with |
| trick, while others may take some time. | | | | just the most subtle of nods, you're ready for |
| 4. Turn out the light. Amaze your family and friends | | | | Broadway. |