Wags & Wiggles is offering a 2 Hour AKC Trick Dog Titling Seminar that covers 10 common tricks.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is offering a Trick Dog Program, which will include four level of titles ranging from Novice to Performer allowing dogs of all levels to participate. At the end of the seminar, attendees have the option to test for their Level 1 Tricks Title.
Don’t let the word “test” scare you away. The tricks are pretty basic and you can still use rewards during your test. If you have taken any of our Sport Dog Classes you should already have items 1, 3 , 7 & 8 nailed (see below).
Seminar Pawticulars
Where: Tustin Facility
Date: Monday, October 16
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Cost: $39
Instructor: The Wonderful Gretchen
PURCHASE AND REGISTER FOR SEMINAR
Benefits of Trick Dog Training
• Increases Clarity in Communication. (wouldn’t it be great for our dogs to understand us better!)
• Builds Self-Confidence. (shy and nervous dog can learn to be brave.)
• Builds Focus. (perfect remedy for dogs with short attention spans.)
• Physical and Mental exercise. (a tired dog is a well-behaved dog.)
• Increases the Bond Between You and Your Dog. (perfect for the independent dog.)
• Improves Obedience and Manners (dogs who learn tricks listen way better.)
To earn the AKC Trick Dog title, the dog will need to be registered with AKC. Not registered yet? No problem – it is easy to obtain an AKC number for your pup.
• If Your Dog was purchased from an AKC registered breeder you should have received papers to submit to AKC
• If Your Dog is a Mixed Breed, register for Canine Partners through AKC.
• If Your Dog is a Purebred but a rescue or you don’t have papers, register for Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL)
Now you are ready to participate in AKC Titling Programs such as Tricks, Canine Good Citizen, Agility, Rally & More.
NOVICE LEVEL Trick Dog Descriptions (You Got This!)
Dog/Handler Team must perform 10 of the following tricks, you get to choose.
1. Balance Beam The dog will walk on a low balance beam or board a few inches off the floor. The dog will perform this trick at least 2 times in a row. The board should be approximately 6-ft. long. The board should be stable. Handler may be beside the dog for safety.
2. Bark on Cue When the handler says, “Bark!” or “Speak!” (or another chosen verbal cue), the dog will bark. The dog will perform this trick at least 2 times in a row. The handler may also choose to use a hand signal for “speak.” The hand signal may be given alone or along with a verbal cue.
3. Crawl The dog will respond to the handler’s cue to crawl by getting in the down position and crawling on his/her belly at least 5-ft. The dog will do this trick at least 2 times. In the Novice level, the handler may instruct the dog to “down” in preparation for the crawl. The handler may use a lure.
4. Fetch it & Give The handler will throw an object such as a favorite toy or ball for the dog to retrieve. The dog will fetch the object, bring it to the handler, and will release it. (2 times) The dog will fetch the object from at least 10-feet.
5. Find it A treat will be hidden under one cup and the dog will be told to “find it.” The dog will touch the cup with its nose or will turn the cup over [at the Intermediate level, this trick will be done with 3 cups]. (2 times)
6. Get your ____. When told by the handler, “Get your__” [may be a brush, toy, name of specific toy, etc.], the dog will get the object from at least 5-ft. away and will bring it to the handler. (2 times)
7. Get in (the box) When the handler tells the dog, “Get in,” the dog will jump or step into a box. (2 times) The box will be big enough to hold the dog The sides of the box may be trimmed so the box is only several inches high. A box lid may also be used if the lid is several inches tall. All 4 paws will be in the box.
8. Get on (low platform or step, etc. with 4 paws) When the handler tells the dog, “Get on,” “Hup,” or whatever the preferred term is, the dog will jump or step onto a low platform. This can be a wide step for the dog to stand on with all 4 paws, an agility pause table, or a trick dog pedestal. (Will do 2 times) Remember that whenever the dog is jumping onto something, the object should be stable.
9. Hand signals (Choose one: sit, down or come) The dog will respond to one of the hand signals for sit, down or come. Dog will do this trick (respond to selected hand signal) 2 times. If a hand signal has not already been taught, we suggest using the hand signals for AKC obedience if the handler is interested in obedience training. This trick tests the dog’s ability to respond to a hand signal; lures and verbal cues may not be used for this trick.
10. High five In the High five trick, when cued by the handler, the dog raises one arm into the “high five” (chest height) position. This trick can also be called “wave hello,” or “wave goodbye.” At the Novice level, the dog may simply raise the arm and does not have to wave or paw at the air. (2 times)
11. Hold (at least 3-seconds) For the Novice Trick Dog “hold”, the dog will hold an object given to it by the handler (who says, “Hold”). (Object will be given to dog to hold 2 times). The object may be a favorite toy or ball. For an obedience dog, the handler may wish to have the dog demonstrate holding a dumbbell. Objects at the Novice level are held at least 3-seconds Other objects could be a basket (handle), a stuffed animal that could be worked into a trick dog routine (“take the cat outside”), a letter, etc.
12. Jump (through a low hoop or over a low bar) When instructed to, “Jump!” by the handler, the dog will jump over a low bar (a few inches from the floor) or the dog will jump through a low hula hoop. (2 times) In Novice, a lure may be used to get the dog through the hoop or over the jump.
13. Kennel up (go in crate, stay until released) When told, “Kennel up,” “Crate,” or “Get in your crate,” etc., from 3 to 5 ft. away, the dog will go into the crate and will stay there (quietly and with no resistance) with the door closed for at least 10-seconds. (2 times) The handler will open the door after 10-seconds and will release the dog.
14. Kiss The handler will turn his/her cheek to the dog, say “Kiss,” or “Give kisses,” etc. The dog will kiss the handler’s cheek. (2 times)
15. Paws up (2 front paws on low footstool or step) When told, “Paws up,” by the handler, the dog will step up and place his/her two front feet onto a step, stepstool, upside down wooden box or other raised surface. (2 times) Stools, pedestals, and other surfaces should be stable so that they don’t slide when the dog steps up. A practical example of this skill is in therapy settings when the dog needs to raise its head so a patient in a bed can reach it for petting.
16. Push-ups (sit, down; sit, down; sit, down) Push-ups are a good exercise for puppies who are learning tricks. In Novice, a lure may be used to guide the dog into a sit. From sit, the dog is instructed to “down,” then sit again, then down. There should be 2 repetitions of sit and down.
17. Shake hands When the handler says, “Shake,” “Paw,” or “Shake hands,” the dog will raise her/his paw chest high so the handler can ‘shake hands.’ (2 times) Remember that you can reward the dog with food in Novice.
18. Spin in circle When told, “Spin” or “Circle,” the dog will spin in a full circle. The dog may circle to the right or left. More advanced trick dogs can learn to respond to “circle right” and “circle left.” The handler may use a lure in Novice to get the dog to spin. The dog should spin at least 2 times in a circle (does the trick twice).
19. Touch it (hand or target stick) The touch is the foundation for a lot of trick training. When told, “touch,” the dog will touch the handler’s hand or target stick. (2 times) Say, “touch” and present the object to be touched to the right of the dog’s head, then to the left, then in front of the dog (so the dog will demonstrate it can do this in 3 positions). For this exercise, we encourage handlers to learn to use a clicker if they haven’t already. In training, click and reward each time– the instant the dog does the behavior correctly. First click, then treat. By the time handlers get to the Trick Dog test, they may or may not have faded some of the clicks.
20. Tunnel (agility or child’s tunnel) In this Novice trick, the dog will go through a tunnel (2 times). The handler may guide the dog into the tunnel at the entrance.
21. Other: Handlers Choice For the Novice title, the handler may choose to do up to 2 Handler’s Choice tricks. This is to accommodate handlers who have taught tricks not on this list. If the trick is more difficult than a Novice trick, the handler may wish to save this trick for a more advanced title. Tricks may not be repeated from one title to the next. This trick should be demonstrated 2 times.