20 Uses for Dog Tricks
- Tricks engage your dog’s mind and provide mental exercise.
- Tricks are fun and make the learning process for children (and adults!) more enjoyable.
- Tricks can make breeds with a “bad reputation” look friendlier.
- Tricks can help make shelter dogs more adoptable.
- Tricks can be used to solve barking: A dog who barks at visitors could be taught to go get a toy and hold it in his mouth instead.
- Tricks can be used to solving jumping on people: A dog who jumps to greet people could be taught to sit and wave instead.
- Tricks are a great way to strengthen the dog-owner bond. People are relaxed when teaching tricks and it’s great fun for dog and owner.
- Tricks add variety to training.
- Tricks allow you to “show off” what you’ve accomplished with your dog.
- Tricks can be practiced indoors or out, regardless of the weather.
- Tricks can be used to help endear your dog to someone not traditionally a dog lover.
- Tricks increase your dog’s repertoire of behaviors. The more your dog learns, the better your dog learns and the more mentally engaged he will be.
- Tricks are more fun to teach for people “put off” by obedience training: “Bang you’re dead” is the same behavior to your dog as “down”–but you have fun with it.
- Tricks provide a way to practice your dog’s “manners”.
- Tricks are entertaining and they can make people think you and your dog are both geniuses!
- Tricks can be useful. For example, teach your dog to get your slippers or bring in the newspaper on rainy days.
- Tricks engage the entire family, particularly children.
- Tricks make you laugh!
- Tricks can be entertaining for people on therapy visits at places like hospitals.
- Tricks can distract a reactive dog from something that scares him.
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