When you log onto Facebook there’s always a video somewhere on your newsfeed of a dog doing something interesting and entertaining. Whether they’re barking at dogs on the TV or doing flips across the living room, dogs can do a variety of wonderful things. Training your dog to do a neat trick can come in surprisingly handy. It’s a fantastic ice breaker if you’ve got unfamiliar guests around and it will keep the kids endlessly entertained.
Perhaps you’ve already gone to the effort of training him to balance a treat on his nose. If so, why not up the stakes and have him catch it too? Stimulating his brain in this way will also make teaching him the more mundane tasks easier too, from ‘wait’ to ‘go to your bed’. You’ll be one step closer to worldwide fame with your top performing canine pal!
As you can probably imagine, giving the obedience command to catch the treat is relatively straightforward. Communicating to him precisely what it is you want him to do is unfortunately not so simple. You will need to be patient as you gradually show him how to catch it from his nose. If he is a young and receptive puppy he should pick up the training in just a few days. If his days in the circus are long gone and he’s lost a marble or two upstairs then you may need to invest a week or two into training.
However long it takes, the results will make it all worthwhile. It’s a trick that never fails to put a smile on people’s faces and it’s also a great way to strengthen the bond between man and dog. It’s also a fantastic way to tire out energetic dogs, seeing to it he naps in the daytime rather than tear around your house.
Before the training campaign begins you will need to get several bits together. As you can probably imagine, a hefty supply of treats will be required. Alternatively, you can use his favorite food broken into small pieces.
You will also need a room or yard with space, you don’t want to risk breaking anything valuable as you and your canine friend are leaping through the air. Time will also be needed, so set aside 10 minutes a day, each day until training yields results.
Once you have the above you’re ready to get to work!