How to Train a Greyhound to Do Easy Dog Tricks

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How to Train a Greyhound to Do Easy Dog Tricks

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1-6 Weeks

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Introduction

Greyhounds are a special breed of dog, and they love to learn and use their brains. Teaching your dog some simple tricks is a great way to enhance playtime and tire her out. She'll never get bored when she's learning with you, and with each new trick she'll trust you even more and see you as a leader.

Whether it's 'shake', 'bow', 'high-five', or 'roll over', teaching your Greyhound easy tricks will take some patience. Remember to take your time and try not to push her too quickly. Be clear in your commands and gentle in your corrections. If it seems like she's getting bored or losing interest, stop the session and do something fun. With practice, your dog will be able to do a number of new tricks.

Defining Tasks

Before you begin teaching your Greyhound, you need to understand her limitations and needs. Long training sessions without playtime first just won't be successful. Greyhounds are bred to run and love to play, so long training times will never keep their attention. Be sure to run and play with your Greyhound to get her extra energy out. Then she will be ready to learn.

You'll also want to teach her basic commands first. Obedience training creates the foundation for responsiveness, good manners, and a willingness to learn. Teaching commands like 'come', 'sit', 'stay', and 'down' establish your bond and set your dog up for successful training later in life. If you have adopted a retired racing Greyhound, you may have a lot of work to do to get her ready to learn a few tricks. Make sure you know your dog well and what she needs before you move on.

Getting Started

After you've finished the groundwork, you're ready to move on to easy tricks. Make sure you have these items on hand to help you out and make training easier.

Training treats
A leash
A martingale collar your dog can't slip out of
A quiet place to learn

You can read directions to train three easy tricks below. Take your time and be sure you are training on your dog's schedule. With time, you'll add three fun tricks to her repertoire and have a fun time bonding together.

The Crawl Method

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Step

Set up the location

For this trick, make sure you're working on a carpet or rug. Make sure she has a soft place to work.

Step

Ask for a 'down'

Start by asking her to lay down and stay.

Step

Lure her with a treat

Show her a treat and slowly lure her forward by moving the treat just out of reach.

Step

Reward small movements

As soon as she starts to pull herself forward without standing up, tell her "good girl" and give her a treat.

Step

Introduce 'crawl'

When she's crawling a few paces, introduce the command "crawl" right before you give her a treat.

Step

Increase the distance

Slowly increase the distance you ask her to crawl before she gets her treat. If she stands up, ask her to lie down and start again, not going quite as far.

Step

Remove the treats

Once she's crawling a few feet consistently, slowly decrease the use of a treat as a lure and reward when you ask her to crawl.

The Shake Method

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Step

No distractions

Always start in a place with no distractions so she can focus on you.

Step

Ask for a 'sit'

Traditionally this trick is taught from a sit, but often retired Greyhounds don't sit comfortably due to training on the track. If your dog doesn't like to sit, you can try this from a standing position.

Step

Touch her leg

Touch the top of her leg to encourage her to lift her paw. As soon as she starts to lift it, give her a treat.

Step

Paw in hand

Touch her leg and hold out your hand. When her paw touches your hand, give her a treat.

Step

Teach her 'shake'

When she is consistently placing her paw in your hand, start to say "shake" before you give her a treat.

Step

Reduce the treats

She should start to offer her paw when you hold out your hand and say "shake". Gradually stop giving her treats until she's shaking consistently on command without them.

The Bow Method

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Step

Pick your spot

Find a quiet spot where she is less likely to be distracted from the lesson.

Step

Get in position

For this trick you'll want her to be standing but relaxed. She should be standing at attention with a loose leash.

Step

Guide her with a treat

Place a treat under her nose and slowly guide her head down between her legs. Give her the treat.

Step

Introduce the command

When she is consistently following the treat into a 'bow' position without moving, start to say "bow" before you give her the treat. Practice for several days to a week.

Step

Take away the treat

When she is consistently bowing, start to treat her less, while still using your command. Eventually, she should bow on command without the need of a treat.

Success Stories and Training Questions

Training Questions and Answers

Question

Chelsea

Greyhound

2 Years

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Chelsea

Greyhound

2 Years

I am trying to teach her to give paw. She will sit but not for a long period of time . She also has a very short attention span . From a standing position she loses balance when I try and lift her leg. Help ! How long should it take to teach her this ?

3 weeks, 4 days ago

Chelsea's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

494 Dog owners recommended

Hello Wesley, Generally, paw should be taught from the sitting position first. Try having her sit before beginning the training to get her to lift her paw. Wait until she knows the trick really well before you try to transition to doing it standing. How long the training takes depends on several factors. For example, it can depend on how many repetitions that dog or breed of dog generally takes to learn something new (A Border Collie is said to be the most intelligent breed, and a Greyhound is ranked as #46 out of 79 ranked breeds). A Border Collie for example may learn something as soon as 5 repetitions, a Labrador in about 20 repetitions, and a greyhound may need 30-40 repetitions. These number can vary a lot depending on your teaching skills, your individual dog, and whether they are physically capable of doing the trick behind performed - or need to develop the balance or muscles for that trick overtime - such as standing on hind legs. The general point is that you most likely need to keep practicing and be patient with pup - knowing that it's probably normal for her to need a lot more practice still. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

3 weeks, 3 days ago

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