Teaching a tricks is the least important part of teaching a trick...

Thank you for posting that. :smile2:

Silvia's approach to pre agility/foundation training has revolutionised the way I train my dogs.
I had never taught a dog a 'trick' before Epic, no shake paw, roll over nothing as I had focussed exclusivly on the serious excersises and felt had no time to spare on frivolities. Now I'm the exact opposite and really buy into everything being a trick. Epic does pretty much all the puppy foundation ones and I've built on that into other things such as drumming and his repotoire of hoop skills. I'm in 100% agreement that the end goal is not the trick itself but giving the dog confidence in learning. Epic has benefitted hugely as being so fearful around other dogs having tricks to do gives him something to focus on in stressful situations. Because he's being rewarded and sucessful it seems to generate a positive mindset for him in the presence of other dogs.

I think tricks are as beneficial for owners as for dogs. They are fun to teach for a start and there isn't the pressure of getting it right that there is with learning the formal stuff. There's also a different philosophy when you leave behind the concept of obedience. With shaping especically the owner loses the role of 'teacher' and effectivly turns into an artist so there is less liklihood of frustration as you become absorbed in the learning process rather than trying to dictate it. Owners relationships with their dogs will be strengthened by learning tricks.

I've always struggled with teaching the on leg heel position with shelties using established methods but Silvia's pivot trick means Epic does it brilliantly and with such enthusiasm - I'm hugely grateful for that one. :biggrin2: All hands off, no pushing and pulling the dog around that he would so resent. That's actually one of our queuing tricks. I tend not to do any paw tricks at shows because for some reason feet=barking but we do beg, spin etc.

I'm doing a dog training instructor's course and we have to submit a project. Mine is the value of trick training in companion (pet) dog classes. Pretty radical for someone who two years ago dismissed tricks as silly! :o
 
Seashel:

WOW!!!!!! I LOVE this quote (but I'm sure not for the reason that some folks might think).

seashel said:
...I had never taught a dog a 'trick' before Epic, no shake paw, roll over nothing as I had focussed exclusivly on the serious excersises and felt had no time to spare on frivolities. Now I'm the exact opposite and really buy into everything being a trick.
Click to expand...

I don't love the quote because I know anything about "Silvia's approach to pre agility/foundation training", because I don't. I don't love this quote because I know something about Agility (I'm learning by reading and researching), but I really don't know Agility, even though I hope to be one day involved. I love the quote because it speaks to growth.

I find dog folks are among some of the most single minded, intractable folks I have ever met. (Before anyone takes offense at that, let me say a). that doesn't mean they are always wrong; and b). I count myself in those ranks from time to time). I say "intractable and single minded" because our conversations are replete with references about dog world rights vs. wrongs or goods vs. bads. People who do this/that with there dogs are not good dog owners (or idiot or morons). People who train their dogs this way or that way are bad trainers. We are a pretty opinionated group and we don't often seem to change our opinions.

Seashel's comment says, "I used to think this, but because of opening my mind (and I suspect a change in focus), I now think that". I don't know about anyone else, but that is like a ray of sunshine for me.
 
I found the formal exercises really boring and thankfully ended up doing a lot of tricks instead (especially with Romeo). They are so much more fun! And I get less frustrated during our training sessions (no need to be "perfect" with tricks!) which I think helped how they felt working with me.

It's the tricks that get my dogs through any stressful moments now. Previously, before entering a ring I would fret and that made Juliet in particular nervous and she would shut down when we were in the ring. Now I've incorporated tricks into our pre-ring regime - lots of hand touches, spins, bows and as I go into the ring, we heel for a bit, some spins then I get her to walk between my legs on my feet and set her up in front of a jump. I leave her feeling happy as I lead out!
 
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