The benefits of teaching dogs tricks

Teaching your dog tricks can be an integral part of the bonding process and, most importantly of all, with the right investment of your time and energy, it can be extremely enjoyable and rewarding for you both.

It could be argued that teaching your canine tricks isn’t as important as obedience training; however, it can in fact have the same benefits. Teaching tricks allow you and your dog to get to know each other, just as you would do when spending time with any of your companions, and you gradually learn to communicate and become more in-tune with each other.

If your dog is shy, trick training can help bring him out of his shell; while on the other hand, it is also perfect for confident dogs who simply love being playful and showing-off. In addition, teaching your pooch tricks is a great way to burn off some of his excess energy if he is prone to getting himself into mischief and has the added benefit of being constructive and enjoyable. Dog tricks are a great tool to use for troublesome dogs when they are behaving badly. For example, a simple “play dead” trick can come in handy if your pooch tends to pester new visitors to your home upon entry by redirecting his behaviour.

So, you may be asking yourself “How do I teach my dog new tricks?” A great place to start is by investing in a clicker – sometimes referred to as a “conditioned reinforcer”. This is probably the only essential tool you will ever need and it works by making a clicking sound when you want to draw attention to a particular point in your dog’s behaviour. It can help communicate that he has done a good job and deserves a treat, for example. Treats are a great tool for teaching your dog tricks and when using the clicker, can be used as positive reinforcement for your dog, which will hopefully keep him repeating his good behaviour. In addition, target sticks are handy for guiding your dog into the positions you want him to be in – this process is called targeting.

Through the dog trick training process, owners become the best of friends with their pets and this special development should be protected. Be sure to keep your loveable friend healthy and waggy-tailed by looking after him properly and taking out one of the cheap dog insurance quotes from Pets at Home to safeguard your dog in the event of accidents and illness.