Can I ask a trick training question here?

EddieF

New Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
103
Likes
0
Points
0
#1
This isn't a real training question, but some time ago I saw a youtube video (can't find it anymore) of a dog trick that I'd like to teach my dog at some point. But I don't know how I'd go about it. I've trained dogs before and am doing obedience with my 5 month old puppy now, but I've never taught my dogs 'tricks.'

Here's what I saw on the video, the video was actually showing how the dog went to the fridge and got a beer and brought it back. Even went back to close the fridge door. But I can find plenty about teaching a dog to do that. Another thing the dog did was, while sitting facing the owner, when the guy yelled "TOUCHDOWN" and raised his arms up in the touchdown position, the dog raised his arms up too!

Being a Redskins fan, it seems I will have a number of years before this particular trick will be needed. :mad: But I would be interested to learn how to go about teaching a dog to raise her arms up along with the 'command' "Touchdown!" or mimic my raising my arms up when I say it.

Any thoughts? Is this the wrong forum for this?
 

CharlieDog

Rude and Not Ginger
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
9,419
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Georgia
#2
Hmm. I've seen that trick, and that's a great idea! I know a few football fans who would love that trick if I could teach it to Ozzy. Seems to me the easiest way would be to use a clicker and chain the behavior. Teach the dog to lift a paw little at a time, and slowly raise the criteria to two paws and then have each paw get higher and higher?

That seems to be a little long winded, so maybe someone who has a better idea can answer? I'm really interested in hearing the different ways to do this though...
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
2,242
Likes
0
Points
0
#3
Your also going to want to train the behavior chain in reverse...break it up into sections... so the dog is always working towards som'thing he knows.
 

Dekka

Just try me..
Joined
May 14, 2007
Messages
19,779
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
48
Location
Ontario
#4
think this through first... you want to teach your dog to open the fridge.. where you keep food...

This trick works well if you have a beer fridge that only has beverages in it.

(i love teaching tricks.. but I will never teach my dogs to open the fridge lol)
 

EddieF

New Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
103
Likes
0
Points
0
#5
think this through first... you want to teach your dog to open the fridge.. where you keep food...

This trick works well if you have a beer fridge that only has beverages in it.

(i love teaching tricks.. but I will never teach my dogs to open the fridge lol)
No, I don't necessarily think I'm going to do that, that was just the context in which I saw the touchdown trick on youtube.

However, I can see a real value in maybe teaching her how to fetch a beer from an open cooler out on the deck or something, that would be great fun at summer parties!
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
2,242
Likes
0
Points
0
#6
think this through first... you want to teach your dog to open the fridge.. where you keep food...This trick works well if you have a beer fridge that only has beverages in it.

(i love teaching tricks.. but I will never teach my dogs to open the fridge lol)
haha.. exactly why i never go there with my dogs...
 

CharlieDog

Rude and Not Ginger
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
9,419
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Georgia
#7
think this through first... you want to teach your dog to open the fridge.. where you keep food...

This trick works well if you have a beer fridge that only has beverages in it.

(i love teaching tricks.. but I will never teach my dogs to open the fridge lol)
HAHAHAHA. I can only imagine the havoc Ozzy would wreak if he knew how to open the fridge...

How's that joke go? "THUMBS! If only I had THUMBS!!!"
 

Dekka

Just try me..
Joined
May 14, 2007
Messages
19,779
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
48
Location
Ontario
#8
Dekka does an 'arms up' pose. For her its 'stick em' and then I shoot her and she falls over dead.

How I trained it-I shaped it with a clicker. She would move her paws up to keep her balance when on her back legs. I would click when the paws were up. It didn't take long till she got it.
 
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Messages
1,299
Likes
0
Points
0
#11
think this through first... you want to teach your dog to open the fridge.. where you keep food...

This trick works well if you have a beer fridge that only has beverages in it.

(i love teaching tricks.. but I will never teach my dogs to open the fridge lol)
Look at the video CaliTerp linked ... that's exactly what the guy in the video did, had a separate small fridge. You can see the larger main fridge in the background, on the other side of the room. The main one has no towel tied to the handle, so it appears he doesn't want his dog going into the one with the human food. Smart move, LOL. ;)
 

IliamnasQuest

Loves off-leash training!
Joined
Feb 28, 2006
Messages
1,083
Likes
0
Points
0
#12
I've taught several dogs to fetch beer from the fridge and have never had a problem with them getting into the fridge when they shouldn't - but I also didn't tend to leave the towel hooked to the handle when I wasn't there. I recommended to my students to use a separate fridge just in case .. *L*

On the "touchdown" pose - it's going to depend in part on your particular dog and your dog's structure. First thing is that your dog needs to learn the balance and build up the muscles to hold a "sit up" position. Some dogs have a hard time with this, some find it easy.

Then you may choose to use a touch stick or something similar. When the dog is in the "sit up" position, use the touch stick to get him to reach his paws a bit higher. Of course, first you practice having him touch the stick with his paws without being in the "sit up" position so he understands, and then add it in. When he reaches up higher for the stick, mark and reward that behavior.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top