Tricks and Commands

If you live in an apartment and are thinking of bringing a furry friend into your life, you might be concerned about what apartment living with a dog will be like, especially if you live in a hectic New York-like city. You will also want to know how to make your home into a pet-friendly…

If you’re considering bringing a puppy into your apartment, you’ll wonder about the best steps to puppy-proof the place. We all know puppies are cute, but they can be a terror when left to themselves and the furniture. They don’t think ahead; they just chew and inspect and pull things to pieces. Consequences aren’t a…

These instructions focus on training a dog to perform tricks mainly for fun, but in principle, you can use the same basic ideas for training a dog for obedience

Trick training is limited only to what you want to teach your dog. What would you and your dog enjoy doing?

The SAY HI command is a great tool for canine socialization since it encourages your dog to trust you.

Handling your dog through puppyhood and adolescence is one of the best ways to feel assured that they will become a friendly and confident adult.  

Games are a good way to teach dog behaviors or practice them in a fun way.

A minimum of 15 minutes each day of practicing dog commands will improve your dog’s reliability and behavior

Teaching your puppy to ring a bell to go outside is a great trick and very helpful for housetraining a puppy.

Commands are fundamental when dog training, but so are structure, guidance, and leadership 

Teaching obedience commands is a great way to improve your relationship with your dog. Obedience will teach your dog focus and self-restraint while making him better behaved.  Obedience is also a great way to stimulate your dog mentally. The command gives your dog something to think about rather than a previously typical knee-jerk reaction.  They…

If you’re an avid book reader, this trick is for you.  Now you can curl up on the couch and BOTH settle in on reading a book.

Teach your dog to “get my slippers” in time for Father’s Day. This trick is a combination of Fetch and Drop. When you tell your dog to get your slippers, he will “fetch” them and drop them right into your hand. Here’s how.

The recall can be one of the hardest commands in which to establish a reliable response.  Your dog must see you as his leader and want to come to you.

The duty to pay taxes can bring a headache to even the most prepared person.  Why not teach your dog a trick that is sure to give a laugh.

You can teach your dog to get their leash either upon command or whenever he wants to go for a walk. The reward is a walk instead of a treat.

Classical conditioning can teach your canine companion to love almost any Halloween outfit. Learn how to teach them to love their costumes.

  By Laura Pakis, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Blogger You probably seen a dog in the movies fetching their owner’s slippers or getting the newspaper and thought, “when I own a dog, I’m going to teach them that.”  This type of trick is called a sequence since there are several steps to it.  The…

by Laura Pakis, certified dog trainer and professional blogger Your dog may already countersurf or look for crumbs under the table, but teaching him the dog trick beg can make the whole process more enjoyable.  It’s not hard, just follow these few steps.  A plus to this command is that the act of “begging” will…

When it comes to potty training, you can teach a dog to eliminate when given the word. All it takes is 10 days of consistent training.

This dog trick includes the combination of GET and DROP. It’s relatively easy but does require a good deal of repetition.

As we approach the holiday season there is so much to be thankful for.  Why not teach your dog a trick that shows they are grateful in saying their prayers.

There is nothing silly about teaching your dog tricks.  The more tricks a dog knows, the more stimulated his mind, and the more fun it has in life.   Here’s an easy trick to teach your pup. This trick requires your dog to know SHAKE.  You can also teach your dog to scratch the cup as…

There is nothing silly about teaching your dog tricks.  The more tricks a dog knows, the more stimulated his mind, and the more fun it has in life.

Dogs are like kids – they get every toy they have and spread them around the house until they get bored and move on to something else.  Teaching your dog to clean up their toys not only straightens up your home but it is a good mental exercise for your dog.

So where do you start with dog training? By Laura Pakis, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Blogger, Having a trained dog isn’t the same as having a well mannered dog, but if your dog knows a few basic commands, it can be helpful when tackling bad behaviors. You could take a class, work one on…

Dog trainers all too often hear this phrase, “but my dog looks sad.”  This is a misinterpretation of the dog’s body language 

Does Your Dog Pull On Leash? Most dogs learn very quickly how to walk politely on a leash when they are shown how to do so.

Obedience will teach your dog focus and self-restraint while making him better behaved. It is also a great way to stimulate your dog mentally.

By Guest Dog Blogger, Spike Hi all, Spike here Today I thought I’d teach you an easy trick which can be the foundation for a variety of other tricks.  It’s called give paw or shake.  I like it because there’s food involved (and it can be fun). To start the trick your dog will need…

Most dogs are born with a natural instinct to retrieve or fetch. Playing fetch with your dog helps release pent-up energy your dog may have.  Here’s how to do it.

Having the ability to walk with your dog unleashed at your side is probably one of the more fulfilling aspects of dog ownership.