Epic's tricks
- Thread starter seashel
- Start date
Thanks for all the lovely comments! 
March is one of my favourites. For those who don't know, Labgirl had a great idea last year for us to teach a trick a month and to share our progress. It was a lot of fun (at the time I didn't know how to get my videos compatible so couldn't post anything then) and 'marching' was the first one we did. I was surprised how quickly Epic got the idea as I hadn't ever taught 'tricks' before. We haven't practiced this one too much as Epic went through a phase of getting very excited and barking, but he seems to be getting over that hopefully now as I'm increasing the difficulty.
The 'beg' is a real favourite and the hardest one to teach, it's taken about 8 months to get duration and put this on cue.
'Back' I taught over the winter in our long, narrow kitchen (perfect for this but rubbish for cooking). I used a treat lure to push him back, only one tiny step to start with and actually he learned this very fast. Another way of teaching it is to walk forward pushing the dog back but I didn't want him to become dependent on this cue. Before I taught him this he couldn't go backwards (unlike Yogi who will back naturally) but he often backs up in 'life' situations now, which is handy. All these tricks were trained 'hands-off' using a clicker mostly to free-shape although a few, like back, did need a lure initially. I had not really done any free shaping before Epic but I think that figuring things out for himself has made the the most trainable of all my shelties.
We have quite a few more in prorgress now. The hard part is finding the time!
March is one of my favourites. For those who don't know, Labgirl had a great idea last year for us to teach a trick a month and to share our progress. It was a lot of fun (at the time I didn't know how to get my videos compatible so couldn't post anything then) and 'marching' was the first one we did. I was surprised how quickly Epic got the idea as I hadn't ever taught 'tricks' before. We haven't practiced this one too much as Epic went through a phase of getting very excited and barking, but he seems to be getting over that hopefully now as I'm increasing the difficulty.
The 'beg' is a real favourite and the hardest one to teach, it's taken about 8 months to get duration and put this on cue.
'Back' I taught over the winter in our long, narrow kitchen (perfect for this but rubbish for cooking). I used a treat lure to push him back, only one tiny step to start with and actually he learned this very fast. Another way of teaching it is to walk forward pushing the dog back but I didn't want him to become dependent on this cue. Before I taught him this he couldn't go backwards (unlike Yogi who will back naturally) but he often backs up in 'life' situations now, which is handy. All these tricks were trained 'hands-off' using a clicker mostly to free-shape although a few, like back, did need a lure initially. I had not really done any free shaping before Epic but I think that figuring things out for himself has made the the most trainable of all my shelties.
We have quite a few more in prorgress now. The hard part is finding the time!
Tabitha
Forums Enthusiast
That dose sound like fun! I think I try that. I don't think so with Jody right now though. I'm too bussy teaching him agility
.SammysDaddy
Forums Regular
Epic is beautiful, nice coat. 
I tried the ball trick with Sammy earlier, but it was a little hard for a puppy, we're now working on side stepping.
I tried the ball trick with Sammy earlier, but it was a little hard for a puppy, we're now working on side stepping.