Spin Trick

Are you the dog owner who likes to teach dog tricks?

Can your dog spin circles on command?

Both ways?


How to teach Spin/turn to your dog:

1. Show your dog a treat, then move it to the side and toward its hip. When you dog turns its head, even a little, to follow the treat, say "yes" and reward with the treat.

2. Lure your dog toward its hip with another treat, encouraging the dog to follow. Reward your dog when it follows the treat. Your hand movement, while luring with treats, will become a hand signal to turn that direction.

3. Repeat, encouraging your dog to turn a little farther each time, and reward your dog the farther it goes. When your dog turns in a full circle, reward with a jackpot of several treats.

4. Now begin the process again, teaching your dog to turn the other direction. Say the cue word, "Spin," as you lure the dog in one direction. Say, "Turn," when you lure in the other direction.

5. When your dog readily follows the treat, turning in either direction, phase out the lure by making the same hand motion - but without holding the treat. When your dog turns following your lure-less hand motion, reward!

Try this trick as a limbering exercise or just for fun. Maybe your dog can learn to wipe off its feet by spinning and turning on a doormat or towel? Have fun!

Stop, Drop, and Roll

Sounds like a fire-safety demonstration.

Yet this is a fun and easy trick to teach your dog.

When you cue your dog to lie down, it will stop moving forward which makes this trick really only two parts: the drop (lie down) and the roll (roll over).

Drop: Teach this by luring from a Sit to a Down with a treat. Put the treat close to your dog's nose, then lower it slowly to just in front of its front toes. That hand motion becomes a silent cue for Down. Reward your dog with praise and a treat. When your dog drops quickly three times in a row, lured by treats, stop using treats and just lower your empty hand (open palm toward the floor). As soon as your dog lies down, drop a treat from your other hand.

Roll: With your dog lying down, put a treat close to her nose, then move it slowly past her shoulder and toward her hip. Reward with the treat. Do that again, but as she bends her neck, following the teat, move it a little farther so she rolls onto her other side, with her body curved. Reward. Repeat, then move the treat toward her spine, keeping the curve, so she rolls onto her back. Reward. Repeat, but move the treat in a half circle near her head so she rolls all the way over. Reward. When your dog confidently follows the treat lure, keep the treat hidden in your other hand and gesture with your empty hand (same movement as when luring) to signal to roll.

Stop, Drop, and Roll: When your dog can both lie down and roll over, put them together. Signal Down, the Roll. Reward after your dog rolls over. Gradually increase the speed of drop-and roll until your dog can do the sequence smoothly.

Funny Videos ofDogs in Halloween Costumes

I could not resist sharing these funny videos of dogs in Halloween costumes.

Ghost Dogs

Halloween Trick

Halloween Costumes?

Which one is your favorite?