K-9 LifeSavers

It's always fun to have a dog with a full bag of tricks to impress the neighbors, and one of the classics is shaking hands. If your K-9 doesn't know this trick, here's how to teach him:

Step 1: With your dog siting before you, hide a treat in your hand, low to the ground.  Encourage your dog to paw at it by saying "shake." Reward your dog with the treat the moment his left paw comes off the ground.

Step 2: Gradually raise the height of your hand, until he is lifting his paw to chest height.

Step 3: Transition to using a hand signal.  Stand up and hold the treat in your left hand, behind your back, and extend your right hand while cuing "shake." When your dog paws your extended hand, support his paw in the air while your reward him with the treat from behind your back.

Step 4: Repeat these steps on the opposite site using "paw" in place of "shake." Or really knock people out by teaching your dog the commands with "right" and "left."

Tips: If your dog is nosing at your hand instead of pawing at it, bop his nose a little bit to discourage this.  He may try barking, nuzzling, or doing nothing.  Be patient and keep encouraging him.  If he does not lift his paw on his own, tap it or barely lift it for him and then reward him.

Remember training should be a positive experience for your dog, so have lots of patience and end on a positive note, even if it means going back to an easy command like "sit."  Practice often with rewards and once your dog had the "aha!" moment, start reducing the number of treats he gets for performing tricks to an occasional reward.

If you've ever had aspiration of your K-9 becoming a movie-star, try out this trick and see how easily it comes. Movie dogs use this skill to stop on a mark, usually with a double command, such as "target-sit."

The goal is for your dog to cross the room and touch an object identified; this trick has also has applications in dog sports.  Your dog should have a grasp of "stay" before starting this trick.

1. Set up in a fairly empty space so there is not a lot of distractions for your dog, and use a good size target such as a safety cone, plunger, or other object that is large enough to be recognizable and your dog won't be tempted pick it up with his mouth.
2. Put your dog in a stay a short distance from the target, walk to the target and get his attention so that he sees you put a treat on the target. (You can also stay with your dog and have a partner place the treat on the target)
3. Return to your dog, point to the target and release him by saying "target!" Allow him to run the the target and get the treat.
4. After a few successful runs, send your dog to the target without setting the treat on it.  As soon as he touches the target (with his nose or paw), praise him with "good target" and give him a treat from your hand.
5. As your dog is successfully reaching the target start working to both increase your distance from the target, and to make the target smaller.  If he's going to make it as a movie dog, eventually he'll need to work off of a target the size of a post it!

With a name like Oprah, you know this girl is going to be a star! But just like Ms. Winfrey, Oprah's had a tough start to life.  She was found in a shelter very thin and extremely timid, she's already put on some weight and her confidence is climbing every day. She will likely remain on the quiet side, but loves to give kisses and would be a loyal companion to someone that will love her. If you think Oprah could be one of your favorite things, we can't wait to hear from you!

If you've always been in awe of Michael Jackson's moonwalk, but never managed to master it yourself, you can now live vicariously through your dog by teaching him some super smooth moves!

To teach your dog the moonwalk, first make sure he's comfortable being in a "down" position and he knows how to back up. The idea is that he will scoot backward while in a bow position.

• Put your dog in a down position and face him, either kneeling or crouching.  In the same way you taught him to back up, push your knee toward him while giving him the "scoot" cue. He will most likely try to stand up, so keep your hand on his shoulder blades to keep him down.  Reward even a small a scoot backward.
• Start to stand up straighter and minimize your knee action, but continue to hover your hand over his shoulder to keep him low, pushing him down every time he rises.  Begin working in a hand signal you plan to use as a cue.
• Stand in place while giving the hand signal and the verbal cue.  If your dog rises, tell him "down" and "scoot." You may have to use their cues alternately.
  * Don't use the cue "down" until you are fairly far along in your practice and your dog understands the motion.  To most dogs, "down" means lay down and keep still, and this command could confuse him when you are trying to teach him to move backward.

Sometimes you need a little help around the house and express delivery by K-9 Mail fits the bill.  Teach your dog to deliver notes, or small packages, around the house to specific people!

Just like we do, dogs learn names through repetition, so to succeed at this trick, clearly use the names of family members in front of your dog, and he will soon be able to identify everyone by name - even other animals!

• Have a member of the household stand on the across side of a fairly empty space with treats in their pocket.  Hand your dog a note, instruct him to "take it".  Point toward your intended recipient and tell your dog his or her name.  You can repeat the whole command while pointing, "take it to Pam."
• The recipient should encourage your dog to come.  Once close enough the mail recipient should instruct your dog to "give" and trade a treat for the note.
• Once your dog is accomplishing this task well while everyone can see each other, have the recipient move out of sight, so that the dog must go seek the person out. 
  * If your dog shows up without the note, encourage them to go back and "find it."  You may also want to fold the note so that your dog can pick it up easily if dropped.
• If you progress to advanced version of this trick where your dog delivers an unexpected note around the house, you may want to put the note, or object in a small back with a treat inside, so that your recipient can reward the dog when the package is delivered.

With so many puppies around for spring, we thought a refresher in some basic obedience commands might come in handy and there is hardly a command as useful as "down."

This command is generally easiest taught from a "sit" position, though you will often find that your K-9 is either a "down" dog or a "sit" dog, meaning they have one position that is more comfortable for them.  Though they should know both commands, using the one most comfortable for your dog will save you both a lot of stress.

• Put your dog in a "sit" position and stand or kneel in front of them.  Hold a treat slightly under his nose, and lower it slowly to the floor.  Ideally your dog will follow the treat to the ground and lie down, if so give him the treat and praise him.
• If your dog is not responding to the food lure, try putting slight pressure on their shoulder blade, pushing down and to the side.  Praise your dog when he drops down. 
  * Laying down is a submissive position, and if your dog feels pressured into it they could resist, making this an unhappy command for them.  If your dog responds badly to pressure on his shoulder, do not force him down.  Instead try placing a treat down on the ground that he cannot get until he lays down.  He may stare out it for a while, but chances are if you are patient enough he will eventually lie down. Praise him profusely when he does.
• Once your dog is consistently laying down, delay the release of the treat.  With your dog lying down tell him "wait", then "good" when you release the treat.  If you dog ever pops up before you are ready for him, do not reward him, put him back in his down.

*Tip: Hard floors can be uncomfortable for short haired dogs, pay attention to where your dogs like to rest as that may help your training.

Since boxers are known for their intelligence, we have no doubt that Alicia will pick up any command you teach her in a flash.  We're doubly sure that this girl's bubbly personality and fun loving nature will make any home a little brighter.  Alicia is only a couple months old, so she has a lot of learning and growing to do, and is looking for a loving home to do it in.  Will it be yours?

Teaching your dog to back up has many uses, not only is it a core move if you have any aspirations of doggy dancing, but it can also be an important command to use around the house when your K-9 is getting a little too close to something he shouldn't be into.

• Ideally you want to teach your dog to move in a straight line backward, so teach this trick in a hallway that will help guide him in a straight line.
• Stand facing your dog holding a treat in a fist directly in front of his nose. Press gently on his nose while walking toward him giving him the verbal cue "back up." As your dog takes a few steps backward, praise him and give him the treat.
  * If your dog twists away from you instead of moving straight backward, use your body to narrow the space, or create more of a narrow tunnel to work in.
• Once your dog starts to understand what you are asking of him, decrease the amount you push on his nose, but exaggerate your walk toward him, allowing your knees to gently bump into his chest while using your hand to signal him to move backward.
• Over time take smaller steps forward, without touching your dog, and eventually keep stationary while your dog moves backward.  Once he has managed to move away from you, toss him the treat, instead of calling him back to you to give him the reward.

*Tip: Make sure to hold the treat just as your dog's nose level - going to low or too high could cause him to sit or bow.

Meet Mr. Bear! This beautiful guy was covered in four inches on mud when he was found near an abandoned trailer, but when the mud washed away he found a gorgeous coat and sparkling personality! Bear loves to play, and but he also loves snuggling up for a nap! If you think a big, fuzzy ball of happiness would make your home a little bit brighter, allow us to introduce you to Bear!

We all need a little love sometimes, and if you have ever wanted to be kissed on command, then this trick should fill your heart with joy! The objective to teach your dog to give kisses to you, or another person, when asked.

There are a couple of ways to teach this trick, depending on where you want the kisses to land.  It was originally designed to have your dog lick your lips, but as many people aren't fans of being quite so up and personal with their K-9 pals, you can modify it to have your dog kiss your cheek.

• For those wishing for full doggie love: Sit at dog level and place a dog treat gently between your teeth, point to your lips and give the command "kisses." Allow your dog to take the treat and as he's chewing stay "good kisses."
• For those wanting a little less romance: Place a small amount of peanut on your cheek, sit at dog level, point to your cheek and give the command "kisses." Allow your dog to lick the peanut butter of your face and say "good kisses" as he is doing so.
• Next hold the treat behind your back, point to your lips or cheek and say "kisses," if he licks or noses you, reward him with the treat and say "good kisses."
• Once your dog is smooching away on command, bring in a helper.  Ask them to put a small amount of peanut butter on their cheek, point to the keep, and cue your dog "kisses." When he licks your helper reward him and say "good kisses."
• Gradually phase out the peanut butter and ask your helper to stand farther away.  Have your helper hold the treat, so that you dog can be rewarded immediately when your dog delivers his kisses!

What to expect:

• Many dogs love to give kisses and so your dog may have this trick down in a matter of days.
• Shyer dogs may take a little longer to catch on and require a bit more coaxing, especially if you are teaching the dog to lick your lips.  This is because is a pack, dogs will lick the lips of a more dominant dog as a way of showing subservience.  Your dog also may feel in danger or being bitten by being so near your mouth; if this is the case either go slowly and allow him to come in his own time, or just teach the trick on the cheek. 

Many dogs are bred to be working dogs, and while they make excellent pets, you might be surprised at how helpful they can be with little tasks.  With patience and rewards you can teach your dog to fetch your slippers and carry your purse, but start out with something easy - getting their leash for a walk.

To be successful at this, you'll need to find a regular spot to keep your leash and ensure that it always gets returned there.  Where ever your spot is, it must be accessible to your dog, both an appropriate height and out in the open (no closets), and easily to pull off. 

1. Start out by introducing the word "leash" to your dog by using it each time you put the leash on him.  Toss the leash playfully and tell him to "fetch leash."
2. Let you dog see where the regular spot for the leash is, point to it and encourage your dog to "get your leash!" Reward your dog immediately by buckling on his leash and taking him for a walk. In this trick, the walk is a reward, not a treat, so there aren't any long practice sessions.
3. The next time you are ready to go for a walk, get your dog excited, then have him get his leash. 

Don't be surprised if soon your dog is actually encouraging your by a walk by bringing you his leash without being asked.  Try to reward his skill and good manners with a walk if you can!

A dog with a full trick repertoire is always impressive and playing dead is always a favorite, but it can be a little tricky.  Before starting out on this trick, make sure your dog is comfortable with both stay and rolling over. What you are trying to accomplish is for your dog to roll onto his back with his legs in the air.  He should remain "dead" until you cue him to miraculously rise from beyond!

1. Start with your dog in a "down" kneeling in front of him.  Just like you did for "roll over," hold a treat to the side of his head and move it backward toward his shoulder blade, so his whole body shifts back and to the side.
2. Continue to roll him on his back, guiding him with your hand gently on his stomach.  Stop him once he's on his back and reward him with a treat while saying "good bang."
3. Progress to using the verbal cue "bang," but be on hand to stop him on his back, and reward him in the position you want him to hold. 
4. As he improves as this, you can move farther away from him, and cue him only with the verbal signal "bang," while starting to work in a hand signal akin to shooting him with a gun.
5. Keep practicing until your dog drops once he is "shot."

Tips:

• Your dog may be expecting roll over and will want to go all the way over (even after he learns the trick, but is just excited to please you).  While learning stop him from going all the way over with your hand on his chest and hold him in the position you want.  After he has learned the trick, but he still goes all the way over, only reward him for the trick you've asked for so that he learns to listen and wait for your commands.
• If you have a wagging tail on a "dead" dog, trying to keep things calm, and practive using a low voice and a hold on this position.  Otherwise have fun and proclaim that "It's a miracle!"
• You dog might take a few "bullets" to go down, since this is all about acting, you're going to have to improvise him and join the show about how dramatic your dog is!

Sometimes you just want to celebrate and need your dog to join in the action, so teach them to jump for joy! The idea is for your dog to jump straight up and land in the same spot.  You're going to need all of your enthusiasm for this one!

• Stand in front of your dog holding a toy or food high in the air, shaking it to tease him a bit.  Encourage him to jump up by jumping with him. Reward even the smallest of jumps at first.
• Once he starts to understand what you are asking for, tone down your jumping motion so that you are crouching down and standing up, while telling him to "jump".
• Eventually your dog will be able to jump for job on cue without you, though your enthusiasm will be the key (and it's always fun to jump with him!).

Tips:

• It's good to start out when your dog is in a playful mood and try to keep the energy up throughout your training session. 
• You want to hold the toy high enough that you dog jumps up, not on you.
• Try training on grass or carpet where your dog can gain traction and won't slip.
• Some dogs will pick this up much easier than others, but the motivation you give them will make the difference between success and failure in this trick.

Chili is a beautiful gal and is as playful as she can be! Like most labs, she's a happy go lucky lug who loves everyone she meets.  She would probably do great in a home with other dogs or children who can be her playmates. If you and your family jump for joy at the thought of bringing Chili home, give us a shout!