How to Train a Greyhound to Do Easy Dog Tricks

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.

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.

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.