Let's Teach Your Dog Something More Tricky!

You have already learned how to teach your dog to make eye contact, sit and lie down on command with a clicker in Introduction to Clicker Training . But that is not the end. Once clicker trained, your dog will never ever forget what the clicking sound means. The clicking sound means "The Very Moment of Success". Your dog will always positively react to clicker for the rest of his/her life. So let's not waste the gift of the clicker. Keep using it to teach your dog something more tricky, something more fun and something more useful.

Teaching your dog to roll over

1. Make your dog lie down on the ground. 2. Hold a treat in your right hand and a clicker in your left hand. 3. By moving the treat counter-clockwise, lure your dog to lie down on the side. 4. As soon as your dog lies down on the side, help your dog roll over with your left hand. 5. Click when your dog has completely rolled over. 6. Repeat as gradually reducing helping-hand. 7. Start adding the cue "Roll" when your dog can comfortably roll over with little help. 8. Repeat until your dog can roll over all by him/herself. 9. Then he started practicing rolling over to the oposite direction.

Teaching your dog to catch a frisbee

	1. Wave a frisbee in front of your dog. 2. Click and treat when your dog touches the frisbee. Repeat 3 times. 3. Spin the frisbee vertically like a wheel on the lawn. 4. Click and treat when your dog chases and catches the frisbee. Repeat 3 times. The photo shows Harry catching the rolling frisbee.
	5. Toss the frisbee in front of your dog. 6. Click and treat when your dog jumps and catches the firsbee. Repeat 3 times. 7. Gradually make the distance longer. The photo shows Harry jumping up and catching the frisbee.

In the photos, Harry is using a competition frisbee made of plastic.
However many dogs prefer nylon frisbees.
If your dog is not going for competition, nylon frisbees are easier to use.

Teaching your dog to skateboard

	1. Place the skateboard on a flat surface. 2. Click and treat when your dog touches the skateboard. Repeat 3 times. 3. Click and treat when your dog rides on the skateboard. Repeat 3 times.
	4. Move the skateboard on a very gentle slope. 5. Gently push the skateboard down the slope. 6. Click and treat when your dog jumps on the moving skatebroad. Note: If your dog gets afraid, return to Step 3 and repeat it a few times and move on to Step 5 again.
	7. Place still the skateboard on the gentle slope. 8. Click and treat when your dog jumps on the board and starts rolling. 9. Gradually make the distance and the duration longer. 10. Continue until your dog learns how to slow down and turn by moving his/her weight. Note: If your dog gets afraid, return to Step 5 and repeat it a few times and move on to Step 7 again.

The skateboard must be lighter than your dog, or it won't roll easily.
The light plastic skateboard for small kids works well for small dogs too.

Making your dog love to swim

	1. Carry your dog in the river, approximately 2M away. 2. Slowly dip your dog in the water. 3. Then let him/her go!
	4. When your dog reaches the bank, click and treat. 5. At this point, give your dog only mediocre treats. 6. Repeat 3 times and gradually make the distance longer.
	7. Walk to the middle of the river. 8. Call your dog showing a big chunk of roastbeef. 9. When your dog jumps into the water by him/herself, click. 10. Catch your dog when s/he comes and treat him/her with roastbeef.

All dogs can swim, but some dogs need to learn that swimming is really fun!

References

• Alexander, Melissa C. Click for Joy!: Questions and Answers from Clicker Trainers and Their Dogs. Sunshine Books, 2003
• Bloeme, Peter. Frisbee Dogs: How to Raise, Train and Compete. Sky Houndz; 2nd edition, 1994
• Pryor, Karen. Don't Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training. Bantam, 1999
• Tillman, Peggy. Clicking With Your Dog: Step-By-Step in Pictures. Sunshine Books, 2000