Dog's Help

If you think that your dog is past the age where it can learn tricks, you just may be incorrect. Even old dogs can learn new tricks. Of course, it is easier to start teaching your dog tricks when it is young. However, you can still teach even your older dog. You may require being a lot more patient though.

Teaching a dog to perform tricks is fun. You and your dog will enjoy the experience. It would be a good idea to make sure that your dog is in good shape. For this, you must visit a vet before you start the training. Now that your dog is all set to acquire the new set of skills, you are required to pay attention to the following things:

* Get a good collar and a leash before you start training your dog.
* Start with easy tricks and then move on to more sophisticated ones.
* You can also look up and study material on how to train your dog for tricks.
* You can alternatively consult or hire a professional trainer.  

With all these important points in mind, you may start to teach your dog to SIT UP or beg. This is one trick you should not be teaching a dog that is younger than eight months of age. Before the age of eight months, the dog's back muscles are not fully developed and so it must not be made to sit.

The next trick that comes in the row is to teach your dog to SHAKE hands. Just hold out your hand and take his foreleg, say the command 'shake' and shake its leg. Give it a treat. Do this a couple of times and the dog will begin to lift its foreleg. At that moment shake the foreleg, say shake and do not forget to give it a treat. The dog will know that it will get a treat every time it extends its foreleg.

Next, teach your dog to SPIN. When you say spin the dog would spin in a circle at the spot he is standing. Hold out a dog treat in your hand and in such a way that your dog may not be able to have it. Now move your hand in a circular motion and say spin while you do this. After you do it a few more of times, your dog would know that it is expected to spin when you say out that command.

Apart from these tricks, you could also teach your dog to Hide, Go to your spot, Give your paw, wave, sit high and bow. You may go about these tricks gradually and step by step. Once your dog has learnt all these, it is going to be great fun!