The Power of Trick Training

Improved attention, a better relationship, and a bigger vocabulary for your dog.
​What other type of training can do all that? 

Tricks are not “extra”. 

They can be THE thing that separates training that sticks from training that follows society’s expectations. 

There are so many benefits to TRICK TRAINING. So often during my consults, I'll ask dog parents what cues or tricks their dogs know. They'll list off a bunch of cues like "sit, stay, leave it..." and then they will say "oh, I also taught him paw and roll over!" and I can see their faces light up when they mention those tricks, but they tend to dismiss them as "extras - just for fun". 

I say NO WAY! 💕 If it lights you up, it probably lights your dog up! ✨ 

Guess what the difference between "commands/cues/tricks" are? Our attitude about them - the way we approach them - our expectations around them. 

It's time to consider WHY we are choosing to ask our dogs the things we're asking them. Once you figure that out, you can approach the HOW. 
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But then, let's make the HOW more fun for our dogs AND for us, shall we? 

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 Improved Communication: 

Tricks are a great way to learn how to help your dog understand what you're asking. If your dog is confused about what you're asking, he's going to let you know. He might offer other behaviors that have been reinforced a lot in the past (like... barking or jumping). He will show you what frustrates him and what is or is not "in his wheelhouse" of behaviors he prefers. Some dogs love to use their legs in a bouncy way for everything, while others struggle to loosen up right away. 

A fun way to bond with your dog

Laughing with your dog is a great way to create a more playful relationship. When we can play with our dogs, we're going to get all the good endorphins flowing and there is nothing better for relationship building than all the feel-good hormones. ​

More offered attention from your dog

Your dog will learn that paying attention to you is fun and engaging so you'll be able to more easily get your dog's attention with the not-as-fun stuff. 
It's going to be really hard to get your dog to tune in when you're in competition with environmental distractions if you haven't first taught your dog to tune in under lower distractions.​

Training practice for you

It's a great low-pressure way for you to practice teaching and understanding how dogs learn. There is truly no better way to build up your training skills. You'll be able to practice your timing, what to do if your dog doesn't respond, how to know when to give breaks or break things down further - and so much more!​

Mental enrichment for you and your dog

Learning something new is a great way to work your dog's brain and enrich his mind! Whether you're stuck inside due to weather or you just need a way to tire your dog out without having to leave the house, this is a great option for tiring your dog out and having some fun in the process!​

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Not sure what tricks to teach or where to start? 

Here are some ideas to get you started. 
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If you'd like to learn more, come on over to my Support Club Membership, which includes tons of video lessons for tricks, manners, and behavior mod skills

What are some of your favorite tricks? 

Interested in learning and teaching more to your dog?
​Join the Virtual Membership today!