February is Dog Training Education Month! Dogs are very smart, and more than a bit mischievous, so it’s important to teach them good petiquette. However, once your pooch has mastered basic obedience commands, like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down, there’s no reason you can’t show him some fun tricks. Here, a London, ON vet discusses tricks you can teach Fido.
Classic Tricks
We learned long ago that dogs doing tricks are utterly adorable, and endlessly entertaining. Roll Over is a classic that will never stop making us smile. It’s also heartwarming when Fido knows how to Shake, Beg, Sing, or Gimme Five on command.
Useful Tricks
Teaching your pet to be extra-adorable on command can be both fun and entertaining. However, you may also want to teach your canine buddy something useful. The Leave It command definitely falls into this category. Since dogs tend to investigate things with their mouths, they are always in danger of picking up something that’s dangerous, like that chicken leg someone dropped at the park. The Drop It command is also helpful, especially for times when you didn’t see Fido pick up the chicken leg. Shake Paw can also come in handy. Teaching your pup that he’ll get a yummy snack for giving you his furry foot is a great way to get him to accept having his claws clipped!
Silly Tricks
One of the many things dogs are great at is just making us laugh. Consider teaching your furry pal Don’t Look. This is when Fido lays down and puts his paws over his eyes. Shark—a hilarious doggy grin—is another one that will keep you laughing. Play Dead is another cute classic.
Advanced Training
Some dogs really love learning things. If Fido soaks up new tricks and commands, consider teaching him to fetch your slippers or remote, turn a light off and on, or pick up his toys.
Self-Taught Tricks
Believe it or not, dogs can also teach themselves a few tricks. Fido may instinctively run and hide when he hears the word Bath, or jump for joy when he suspects a walk or car ride is imminent. Of course, pooches all over the world have also learned to come running when they hear a cheese wrapper opening!
Please reach out to us, your London, ON vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!
