Dahlia learns her first "trick"

[crysania4]

So far all I've really taught Dahlia are the standard obedience things, the really important ones: like sit, down, stay, wait, and come. But I'm always jealous of people's dogs who knows silly tricks. So last night I decided to start teaching Dahlia to give me her paw on cue. And already she's doing it. She's still in that offer up the behavior all the time in the hopes of getting a treat, but she's also doing it on command. It's adorable and I'm so thrilled she learned it that fast.

Now I just have to figure out what else I can teach her.

Comments

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

Dahlia already gives her paw all the time, pre-command teaching or anything. She LOVES to put her paws on people. I still think it's one of the thing that saved her life at the shelter. She sits on the ground, puts one paw on you, balances herself, and then puts the other on you too. Adorable.

How do you build up their core muscles (I was wondering about that -- it seems like they'd have to be pretty strong to sit like that!). Is it just through "sitting pretty" for increasingly longer times?

I really need to start with clicker training. We've never used them, though I have a couple. I think that would really help but I've been too lazy to load it and too uncoordinated to use it. LOL

[petulant.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's how my last one was. Darce is more, erm, violent with his paw-giving, which is why I said to be careful. hahaha! But if she'll lean both paws on your lap, you can teach "saying your prayers" to her. Hold something yummy between her paws so her head goes down there. Praise and treat, then hold out for longer periods of time. That's a really cute one and I bet Dahlia is calm enough for it.
But really, I think you should see what Millan has to say on the subject. I believe putting her paws on you is a sign of dominance. You better watch out with her! :P

I just practiced sitting pretty (I say "ask nicely") for two-three times a day for about five minutes, always ending on something he knew really well so he didn't get frustrated. Now he can hold it for a good ehhh, three-five seconds. That doesn't seem like long, but he's getting better all the time and I just ask for it more and more. He also started off by slapping my hand with his paw (because we play "which hand?" with treats) but now knows what I'm asking with the hand signal.
That's how I did it, anyway. Maybe there are more efficient ways you could check out on youtube? I think it's just like when we build our abs, though - practice, practice, practice.

You should! I just recently started (well, beginning of this year) and it's seriously been awesome. And I'm not usually one to jump on one bandwagon or another - I kind of pick and choose from each - but it's been great. It's helped tremendously with his leash reactivity, which I know is something you're working on, too.
Anyway, get one with a wrist strap (I have one like this (http://www.clickertraining.com/store/?item=traininggear)) and it helps a lot. I have my leash in one hand, my clicker around my other wrist, and treats in my pocket - I always wear a hoodie or some kind of shirt with pockets when I'm training because I get clumsy with a pouch. I don't have one that dispenses the treats for me, because I'd probably drop all of them at once!