When someone wants to show you the fun new trick they taught their dog, most of you will think “cute, but not a good use of time.” But you would be wrong! Yes, tricks are fun. Of course, they are! Who doesn’t love seeing a pup do an army crawl or puppy pushups? But, there is more to tricks than just cute and fun.
Teaching a dog tricks has multiple benefits.
Did you know dogs suffer from a canine version of Alzheimer’s? It is called Canine Cognitive Dementia (CCD). Just like brain games help humans, all types of learning (including tricks) helps delay the onset of CCD in dogs. There is an infinite number of tricks you can teach your pup. You might run out of behaviors to teach, but a creative person will never run out of tricks.
Tricks promote bonding. Pup guardians aren’t feeling pressure to accomplish a behavior (sit, stay, heel) so trick training is all fun. How can you not bond with your canine companion when you are both having fun? And bonding reduces the risk of canine rehoming. You and your dog have developed a bond that will serve you well in the event a behavior issue does occur in the future.
Children often find training boring. Sit is not usually fun or funny. But your dog spinning left and right? Sitting pretty? Army crawling? Your child will find that fun and want to engage and bond with your dog.
Certain tricks are akin to human yoga. Think downward dog when you are teaching bow. Or a really good spine lengthening exercise when you are teaching paws up. A good backstretch when you are teaching spin left and right. Sit pretty and similar exercises strengthen the core and promote back end awareness. By teaching your pup tricks, you are promoting physical wellness.
Training Promotes Communication
Training your dog promotes communication. And a dog that is in good communication with his guardians is engaged and actively listening. Dogs like to learn. They like feedback and engagement. So why not teach them something you can show off to friends and family?
Training is a mental exercise. Think reading a college textbook. Were you tired after a day of learning? Your pup will be too. A bored dog is a destructive dog. A dog who spent 20 minutes learning something new is usually a calm dog. All training stimulates the mind and provides enrichment. Why not make that training something that is fun to show off?
I have seen many families who attended our Canine Good Citizen (CGC) classes and later enrolled in Trick class. The difference in how those families interacted with their dog was nothing short of amazing. Gone was the pressure to pass the CGC test. It was replaced by laughter, fun, and bonding. Isn’t that the kind of relationship you want with your canine companion?
Contact Furry Fundamentals for more information about trick training!