Turning Tricks

I like tricks. Some of them I taught Max just for the sake of something to do, something to keep him busy and out of trouble for some time while we worked on it. I put giving his paws on command so that I could get him to stop doing it all the time. I wanted to teach him something else, but all he kept doing was giving me his paws. So, I decided to put it on command so that I could make him stop doing it all the time. Once he realized he wasn't getting anything for it unless I asked for it, he stopped doing it all the time, and I was able to get on with teaching him other things. Now it's become something very useful, because I was able to teach him to do his own nails.
I don't think spin is any less valuable than other things. I've found use for it too. If I throw something for him, and he can't find it, I can tell him to turn around to look for it.

Yes, my agility instructor really took me by surprise when she said disdainfully "I don't teach tricks".
 
I don't see what's different between "shake a paw" and "lay down". They are both behaviors that we teach our dog to do on command, and they help strengthen the teaching/communication between owner and dog. "Tricks" give me one more thing I can ask the dog to do in exchange for dinner, petting, and belly rubs.

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

"Tricks" give me one more thing I can ask the dog to do in exchange for dinner, petting, and belly rubs.

 
And getting the dog to work for good things makes you a leader, does it not.....  weird how a few people are so dead set against tricks but are very determined to be the boss (and I don't just mean here).  Obviously not realising that the "tricks" they disdain can help them achieve their goal.... they are missing a trick there.  Boom boom.

Wait, running over an A-frame isn't a trick? Jumping isn't a trick? What's up with that?

Tri-ing will "wave" on the agility table when it's a sit.  It's fun to hear the judge start to giggle while they are counting. 
 
Tricks are fun to teach and they do come in handy while we're doing our therapy visits.  In fact, there are several people that have started requesting the boyz do their tricks. 

There are so many reasons I train tricks, but I'll try to keep this short. []  Mostly, its for mental stimulation.  Both dogs learned the basics (sit, down, come) long ago.  They would be SO bored if we just kept drilling those commands, so I'm constantly on the lookout for new things to teach them.  It wasn't as much of an issue when I only had Cuma, whose favorite thing to do is nap next to me.  Blitz however, likes to run, and work.  Those are the two things that make him the happiest.  Tricks are just a form of work for him.   
 
Many of our tricks evolved from our agility warm ups: bow, wave, beg, crawl, spin, bend (touch your nose to your butt).  These are all great ways to get a dog limbered up to help avoid injury.  We do these tricks throughout class as well, to keep him focused on me, and to keep him warmed up in between runs.
 
Our most special trick application:  I take the boys to the Alzheimer's unit at my Grandmother's nursing home.  Blitz loooooves to visit with all people, including the atients of this unit, but is a little whiney-butt in new places.  Last time we were there, he was pacing around my Grandmother's room, whining, clearly not knowing what to do with himself.  I put him through his full repertoire of tricks.  My Grandmother, who is severely afflicted by this awful disease, hasn't been able to communicate with us verbally for years.  Watching Blitz spin around and touch his butt actually had her laughing! []  Afterwards, Blitz was much more calm, having "worked" a bit, and could visit with his Granny in a more calm fashion.  Hurray for tricks!

"what the hell is this woman teaching her dogs???...there are better ways to come up with extra cash"

That really brightened my morning!

OK - there's one reason to teach tricks that I'm sure no else has admitted to, but I will:

I teach tricks to SHOW OFF!

C'mon, admit it... We also feel a proud of our dogs AND ourselves when others get that look of envy after seeing our dogs do something they have no idea how to do.

I think tricks are an integral part of training.  I find that a lot of people get tense and/or upset when teaching formal OB commands because its something that their dogs have to know [or should know].  Tricks seems to take the pressure off - both the handler and dog relax when its time to show off tricks instead of heeling perfect figure 8's!
I like training tricks because its as enjoyable for my dog as it is for me - it's very high-reward! I also tend to teach tricks that come naturally for Dodger, so they are in fact easier for him to do and learn on command (because he offers the "trick" behaviour naturally). There is no pressure in learning a trick, so each dog can go at his own pace.  I truly believe that it does improve the working relationship you have with your dog - it gives you a chance to learn what makes them tick, teaches you patience and to be creative.  With trick training, the only limits are those you place on youself, your dog and your imagination.  Finally, dogs that do not excel at formal OB or who have a "bad" reputation for not being obedient, can often excel at tricks. There's no barriers on trick training, all dogs are more than capable and tend to really enjoy tricks because it involves lots of treats and bonding time!
I am also very suprised when I hear people scorn tricks... I think they are far from useless, although that seems to be the main complaint about tricks.  I think that most tricks can and do have a purpose if you really think about it. "Giving a paw" or "playing dead" are huge ice breaker for "anti-dog" children/people; "waving a paw" can lead to more complex behaviours like opening/closing doors; "sit pretty" is great for building muscle control; "bow" can be used for training contacts in agility or as a calming signal around dogs etc.... I seriously doubt that there are totally useless tricks out there!

OK - there's one reason to teach tricks that I'm sure no else has admitted to, but I will:

I teach tricks to SHOW OFF!

Oh, I totally freely admit that! I don't even have to have that many tricks in the repetoire to show off since so many people seem to think hounds are untrainable. Just a simple "spin" and "hug" and everyone is oohing and awing over my crazy genius coonhound! If I had a border collie everyone would be yawning, but hounds have such low expectations placed upon them (they're like the misunderstood special ed kids of the dog world) that if they do anything out of the ordinary everyone is totally impressed!

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

I teach tricks to SHOW OFF!

C'mon, admit it... We also feel a proud of our dogs AND ourselves when others get that look of envy after seeing our dogs do something they have no idea how to do.

Guilty! 

ORIGINAL: jetty

I think tricks are an integral part of training.  I find that a lot of people get tense and/or upset when teaching formal OB commands because its something that their dogs have to know [or should know].  Tricks seems to take the pressure off -.................... I truly believe that it does improve the working relationship you have with your dog - it gives you a chance to learn what makes them tick, teaches you patience and to be creative.  With trick training, the only limits are those you place on youself, your dog and your imagination.  Finally, dogs that do not excel at formal OB or who have a "bad" reputation for not being obedient, can often excel at tricks. There's no barriers on trick training, all dogs are more than capable and tend to really enjoy tricks because it involves lots of treats and bonding time!
I am also very suprised when I hear people scorn tricks... I think they are far from useless, although that seems to be the main complaint about tricks.  I think that most tricks can and do have a purpose if you really think about it. "Giving a paw" or "playing dead" are huge ice breaker for "anti-dog" children/people; "waving a paw" can lead to more complex behaviours like opening/closing doors; "sit pretty" is great for building muscle control; "bow" can be used for training contacts in agility or as a calming signal around dogs etc.... I seriously doubt that there are totally useless tricks out there!

And jetty, I so so so agree with these sentiments.  (cut a bit by me to emphasise the bits that most made me go Wow, thats exactly what I think!)