Okay, to follow up on the shaping post, here is my, not-yet-completed list of things to shape. When I get it finished, I will post in on my website. If you would, please look over the list, alert me to any duplications you see and write up your own suggestions. They don’t need to be “tricks” but rather responses you can shape. Some with props, some without. Certainly there are some behaviours unique to certain dogs. It may be easier to teach one do to speak quietly than another. Some of the behaviours I have taught to one of my dogs I likely wouldn’t consider for another (for example I don’t know if I would trust Buzz to hold a lite cigarette the way I did Stoni (he may decide he liked it too much but knowing him he would move on and get with Micheal Phelps for some real action:))). Seriously there are physical strengths and weaknesses that makes one response more suitable for one dog over another. I wouldn’t teach a hand stand to a dog that wants to pull on their front end in agility but I would get them walking upright (provided they were strong enough for it). You also must consider the age, and physical attributes of your dog and perhaps consult a PT before you undertake them. Mostly they should be fun for both of you.
List of Ideas to Shape
- Shake a Paw
- ItsYerChoice (cookies on your paws, face etc)
Stoni performing “hold” and “Pals” – – Shelby being a good sport!
- Wave
- Bow
- Cross Paws in Down
- Walk while crossing paws
- Chase tail one way then the other
- Show me Your Belly
- Stretch while on your back
- Speak
- Speak quietly
- Talk (different than barking)
- Crawl
- Back up
- Jump Into My Arms
- Limping on front leg
- Don’t Peak (cover your eyes)
- Dig
- Roll Over (one way) Tumble (the other)
- Play Dead
- Moonwalk (back up while laying down)
- Pop Backwards vs walk backwards
- Jump Up & Down on the spot
- Walk on Front Paws
- Hold (any item)
Twister praying.
- Stretch
- Get Your Tail (wrap from legs around mine)
- Take my Leg
- Where’s Your Big Butt (lay down and put your butt in the air)
- Target yourself with your nose
- Meow (lick Lips & growl)
- Dead Dog
- Pray
- Lick your lips
- Wipe your face
- cover your eyes
- In the chair
- Lift your rear leg on a person/chair etc
- Wrap yourself in a blanket
- Turn on/off lights
- “no” turn head in disagreement (do you agree?)
- sit up pretty
- Stand tall
- transition from sit pretty to tall
- Transition from tall to sit pretty
- Cover nose with both paws
- yawn
- open door / pull latch
- pick up and carry
- growl/ show teeth
- lick your nose
- go under chair
- back flip
- circle around something
- High Five/10
- target with rear paw
- Pals-put your arm around another dog
- Stand on two paws (on same side)
- Go to target & sit or down
- retrieve Kleenex
- Go-see–visit someone
- Walk upright on hind legs
Feature sits pretty
- circle right, circle left
- Put toys away
- Put stuff in the trash
- Discriminate items on scent
- Discriminate items on sight
- Lay flat out on your side
- Target your butt with your nose
- Pivot on front legs
- Pivot on rear legs (turn on haunches)
- Show your teeth/smile
- In a box then shrink it down—all paws in a tiny tupperware container
- Stand with your front paws on my shoes
- Walk with your front paws on my shoes
- Walk up the walk with rear legs
- Puppy yoga (downward facing dog)
- Jump into arms
- Jump through my arms
- Jump and spin off of me
- Jump onto my back
- weaving backwards between legs
Encore playing ItsYerChoice
- Puppy Pretzel (roll your head as far between your front legs as possible)
- Bear Skin run – lay flat on with legs behind you and head on the ground
- Praying on the bedside or chair
- Kill the toy (shake it violently)
- Clean the floor (allow me to drag you)
- Balance on a physio disc
- Sitting pretty lifting one front paw then the other
- Give kisses
- Hand Target
- Give kisses to another dog
- Climb a ladder
- Ride a skate board
- Be pulled by another dog
- Stand with your 4 paws on my 2 legs (while I am sitting on the floor with my legs out in front)
- Rest your head flat on the floor
- Front paws up on the wall (like you are going to be frisked by a policeman)
- Hide your head under the couch
- Go to your bed,matt or other targeted location
Today I am grateful for the unique behaviours each of my dogs have learned over the years.
Thanks for the great list! We will definitely be trying to work through these over time. One thing that I don’t think I saw as I was reading through was a “pressure” or “lean” cue – like how when dogs lean into you which can be fun but also helpful for folks that may be working on shaping for service dogs for conditions like PTSD. Also as someone that tends to get cold & is guilty of letting their dog sleep in their bed one natural behavior that I’ve been able to pair with a cue is “snuggle” (inviting my dog to jump up on the bed or couch with me and curl up next to me)
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Another behavior for improving balance is to put a boogiboard in a plastic kiddy pool and teach your dog to stand on it. You can gradually increase the water level, and once your dog has a really good grasp of it, you can even pull them on it when you’re in a real pool or lake.
[…] down an amazing foundation for agility. I would say no more than 5 of these behaviours are on our “tricks” list this group came up with earlier in the year. What may shock you is that none of these skills involve any equipment or […]
“Say AH” really becomes helpful when she goes to see the veterinarian or as a demo for fun! Thanks for the list. You are right we sometimes forget about just the simple things that can be shaped into great, fun things to show off and to make us laugh.
1. Choca los cinco
2. Aguanta (galletas en las patas, en la cara, etc)
Stoni haciendo “sujeta” y “colegas” – – Shelby siendo un buen compañero
3. Saluda con la pata
4. Reverencia de juego
5. Cruzar las patas delanteras desde la posición de tumbado
6. Caminar cruzando las patas
7. Perseguirse el rabo, en un sentido y el contrario
8. Enséñame la barriga
9. Estirarse mientras esta panza arriba
10. Habla
11. Habla bajito
12. Charla(diferente tipo de ladrido)
13. Arrastrarse
14. Andar hacia atrás
15. Saltar en mis brazos
16. Cojear de la pata delantera
17. No mires(cubre la cara con la pata)
18. Escarbar
19. Rodar , hacia ambos lados
20. Hacerse el muerto
21. Moonwalk (arrastrarse hacia atrás desde tumbado)
22. Saltar hacia atrás mientras camina hacia atrás
23. Saltar & Tumbado en el sitio
24. Caminar con las patas delanteras unicamente
25. Sujetar (cualquier objeto)
Twister rezando
26. Estirarse
27. Cogete el rabo
28. Coge mi pierna (en realidad es coger cualquier cosa con sus patas delanteras)
29. ¿Donde está tu culo?(desde tumbado levanter el culo)
30. Tocarse cualquier parte del cuerpo con su nariz
31. Miau (relamerse los belfos y gruñir)
32. Hacerse el muerto
33. Rezar
34. Relamerse los belfos
35. Lavarse la cara(con la pata)
36. Taparse los ojos
37. Subirse a la silla
38. Levantar la patita trasera como para hacer pis
39. Taparse a si mismo con una manta
40. Encender o apagar luces
41. “no” decir que no con la cabeza
42. Sienta con el cuerpo levantado(sientate bonito)
43. Alzarse sobre las patas traseras 44.Pasar desde sentado bonito a alzarse
44. Pasar desde alzado a sentado bonito
45. Taparse el hocico con las dos patas
46. Bostezar
47. Abrir y cerrar puertas
48. Coger algo y llevarlo a un sitio
49. Gruñir/enseñar los dientes
50. Relamerse el hocico
51. Meterse debajo de una silla
52. Dar la vuelta hacia atrás
53. Rodear un objeto
54. Chocar los 5 o los 10
55. Target con las patas traseras
56. Colegas:poner la pata sobre otro perro
57. Levantar la pata delantera y trasera del mismo lado
58. Ve a tu sitio, sentado o tumbado
59. Traer los pañuelos para sonarse los mocos
60. Ir a saludar a alguien
61. Caminar sobre las patas traseras
Sentado bonito
62. Circulo a la izquierda, circulo a la derecha
63. Recoger los juguetes
64. Meter la basura en la papelera
65. Discriminación de objetos por olor
66. Discriminación de objetos por la vista
67. Tumbarse de lado
68. Target el culo con el hocico
69. Pivotar con las patas delanteras fijas en un sitio
70. Pivotar con las patas traseras fijas en un sitio
71. Enseñar los dientes/sonreir
72. Cuatro patas en un contenedor pequeñito
73. Quieto con las patas delanteras en mis zapatos
74. Caminar con las patas delanteras en mis zapatos
75. Caminar con las patas traseras
76. Puppy yoga (downward facing dog)
77. Saltar en mis brazos
78. Saltar entre mis brazos
79. Saltar,apoyarse en mi y dar la vuelta
80. Subirse a mi espalda
81. Zigzag entre mis piernas pero caminando hacia atrás
Encore haciendo “aguanta”
82. Puppy Pretzel (meter la cabeza entre tus patas delanteras tan lejos como puedas)
83. Bear Skin run – tumbado absolutamente estirado, patas traseras estiradas hacia atrás y cabeza apoyada en el suelo)
84. Rezar en una silla o en la cama
85. “Matar” el juguete (sacudirlo violentamente)
86. Limpiar el suelo (permitirme que te arrastre)
87. Balancearte en un disco de hacer ejercicio
88. Sentado bonito y saludar con una pata y con la otra
89. Dar besos
90. Target con la mano
91. Dar besos a otro perro
92. Subir una escalera
93. Skate, con la patineta
94. Dejarse llevar por otro perro de la correa
95. De pie con las cuatro patas en mis piernas(mientras yo estoy sentada en el suelo con las piernas estiradas)
96. Apoyar la cabeza en el suelo completamente(mientras esta tumbado)
97. Patas delanteras en la pared(como si te fuera a registrar un policía)
98. Esconder la cabeza bajo un cojín
99. 100.Ir a su sitio o cualquier zona que se le señale
[…] without putting the puppy on equipment and another of tricks to teach. Since we already have a “trick” resource on this blog I felt it redundant to post those. Although there are some skills in this […]
New to the blog. Can anybody tell me how to teach my 5mth old BC puppy to jump in my arms ?
Thanks…
Well, in the list I saw wave then later I saw sitting pretty – my Beagle-boy Shiloh will wave while sitting pretty. He also likes to dance or twirl while standing on his back legs. Both of my Beagles, Shiloh’n Shasta are Canine Good Citizens so they do have a few skills but they both can sit pretty, roll-over & back up. You can read more about them on our blog.
“thought I had a hind leg stompy dance – but it was just an itchy belly and he didnt remember it next time”
McFuzzylugs – that has had me laughing all day!
I love this list. I played with it for the month of July while I was living at our summer house with my 7 month old pup, and vowed that I would not think about agility, only tricks. I always worked in very short sessions, keeping everything to very short “clickable” parts and worked on something new every day. She absolutely loved the learning/ playtime and now, back in our real life, she comes to me at the same time every day with that look that says, “let’s play mom, I want to learn a new trick!” There is nothing like the undivided attention, energy and irresistable insistence of a puppy who loves to learn. Also, the daily game of doing tricks has evolved into simple flatwork and freestyle movements that have her thinking about working close to my body and away from my body. For example, she weaves at good speed through my legs as I walk forward or backward and widens or closes the loops depending on my arm movements. I never do this for more than about three passes through the “weaves,” then I tug or toss or treat so it’s a big reward for a small effort. The best thing about all of this is not just that I it helped my dog to love to play and learn (something I believe as people, with serious and busy lives, also deperately needed to learn), it has helped me unfocus on agility. We are having so much fun, we aren’t obsessed with obstacles and sequences like I was with my first agility dog. I know that when the time comes and puppy-bones are mature, she will be confident and focused and we will have the incredible relationship that I have always dreamed about having with my agility partner.
I teach my pups to close the kitchen cabinets…it helps them to get use to moving things and the reward doesn’t come until they “Bang” it. Also Saga’s infamous trick that earned me $5,000 in a trick contest….HUMP!!! ( I call it “Show some LOVE”) keep in mind she is a girl…and it has been very useful on the set… 😉 As always great idea to put it all these tricks on a list together!!
AA
I’m a late-comer to the game here, but my dog’s favorite is “whisper”. It’s a very soft bark, that has become so subtle that it’s now just a muzzle twitch.
[…] possible to get their reward. So if they learn they can get the reward without sitting, they will. Shaping behaviors is what the pros call […]
yesterday was my first “blog” experience. I realized that my positive self talk has dwindled. I am now inspired to “be grateful” on a daily basis like you Susan.
I am also inspired to get off my rear and start training more effectively my own dogs.
My volunteerism at the local dog club is no excuse!
Thank you for continued inspiration.
Today I am grateful I found this blog.
Love the tug stuff.
Got any ideas for a non-retrieving 5-yr.-old Golden? Will chase and p.u. but drop before reaching person. Was heavily reinforced as pup for dropping stuff.
Learning your dog to give you a hug, is really popular in our family! 🙂
Sorry, what I meant was, “how did you shape the smile ?”, assuming the cue you gave it later is “show your teeth/smile”.
P.S. I love the photo of “show your teeth/smile” What’s the cue ?
Maybe “Howl With Me” isn’t truly shaped, because the cue is the behavior? In any case, it’s best saved for special occasions, like when no other members of the household are present.
There is only one tiny little thing. Apologies to John Pinette but number 41 should be “I say Nay Nay” !
If “weaving frontwards between legs” counts the same as weaving backwards, and “howl with me”, then we only have about 86 more things to do to catch up ….
About number 73, that tiny tupperware container (aren’t you glad you agreed to go to that party about 11 years ago !)… I can see your point about rear legs awareness… My doggie will get into a box, but when the container gets very tiny he puts 2 front legs in and gives me a look that says, confidently, “I’m IN “…
New (I hope) idea: “spazz” – it’s really “shake”, but not to be confused with the cue word when the dog offers his paw. This trick is to have the dog shake his whole body like dogs do when they get wet and want to dry off.
I have no clue how one would shape this. But I knew someone who used the cue word after a bath just before her dogs were about to shake. Once the dogs knew the cue, she found it a helpful command for several situations.
I think that actually is what Susan is referring to with shake – in one of her episodes she talks about that sometimes be a calming signal for some dogs so it can be helpful to capture the behavior when your dog does it naturally (similar to the “big stretch” they do when first waking up). I’m still working on figuring out steps to capture the shake (I’m thinking it will be trying to pick up on subtle body language just before my dog naturally shakes off when being bathed so that I can say the cue word – like shake or spazz – right before she normally does it). I can’t remember which pod cast she mentioned it but here is her blog post talking about capturing “big stretch” that you may fond helpful! https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2008/11/toilet-stretching/
a video would be great, I definatly want to see the backflip and the standing on front legs. I’v never seen a dog do a backflip for anything but a toy/ frisbee. and the standing on the front legs! not many dogs can do a proper handstand!
dana
Thanks for the list, we all love lists (so easy to tick them and move on apparently, I think I need a revolving list so I keep coming back to more foundations)
My puppy has been struggling with confidence on the seesaw so I have been working on shaping with things that are less stable.
I have just been shaping putting all 4 feet on a Dynaso ball, this is quite hard when the flat side is up. A bit easier when the flat side is down. Also been working with all 4 feet on a 55cm fit ball that is supported in a base so that it doesn’t roll. He managed this once in the 2nd session, but found it hard, so we will have to work for some duration. And we have also had a go at balancing an unsupported peanut shaped fitball as it moves in one plane.
I didn’t see: wave bye-bye
As everyone else has said, great list. I’ve often gone out on the web looking for lists of tricks and end up yawning because it’s the same old stuff.
This list has lots of new things that we are going to have fun working on.
One idea (either ask your web guy or email me and I can explain), you should make this a “page”. That way, it will show up in your sidebar (Under the “Stuff about Susan” link) and be set aside from your regular posts.
I have a feeling lots of people are going to be referencing this list and coming back to it for inspiration. This would make it really easy to find.
I have some of the items on the list on slighly different cues. I have Maeve do imitations of some dog friends.
If I say “Be Buzz” she barks.
If I say “Be Twister” she grabs my leg.
If I say “Be Stoni” she stands in a beatiful pose. When people ask what she is doing, I says she’s “being perfect”.
How about lifting a rear leg/foot to touch something? A friends’ dog does this and it’s pretty funny – people think he’s about to pee! He will lift either rear leg and touch his paw to the nearest vertical object – a post, human leg, wall…..
It would be awesome to see a video of your guys back flips. I found a jack doing a true back flip but can’t find a border doing one- one back cartwheels, not true flips.
Another tip I don’t think I found in the list: “There’s something on your nose!”
Here is my blog post with a video of it:
http://clickeragility.blogspot.com/2009/01/trick-paw-on-nose.html
GREAT List!
additional trick, not sure if I saw “throw your toy” – dog throws a ball or toy about five feet in the air.
I love snob–dog looks away from you. And blowing bubbles in water.
Your list is wonderful–it should give us some new ideas while the weather is still wintery!
Great list and i am liking the blog too, glad I found it
Kids really like ‘what you saying’ where dog targets nose in your ear – like he is whispering to you
Curtsy – bow with front paws crossed
Wish I could figure out how to do most of these – we are not great at free shaping yet – thought I had a hind leg stompy dance – but it was just an itchy belly and he didnt remember it next time 🙁
My other favorite to shape is “Say AH”. Of course, this becomes helpful when she goes to see the veterinarian or as a demo for fun!
Thanks for the list. You are right we sometimes forget about just the simple things that can be shaped into great, fun things to show off and to make us laugh.
See you in a couple of weeks at Tweeners Camp!
Thanks for all the great ideas. I think 20 and 32 are duplicates, as are 17 and 36.
My favorite cue for dead dog (not original) is “How’s my breath?”
is #17 dont peek, and #36 cover eyes the same?
#20 is play dead, #32 is Dead dog, and #68 flat on side….aren’t they the same?
And I need a picture of #76. I dont get it!
Love the list! It’s nice to have something to reference. Maybe you could have a contest where we submit pictures or video of each trick for people to see some of them!
a few others Ii thought of…
Retrieving a hot dog.
Closing a door.
Flipping a pillow over.
-Aubrey
Thanks for posting this list.
One quick question, should #84 be “rug” instead of “run?”
Fantastic list. I found it fun to see several on the list I have done and ones I never even thought of.
I have a few I have shaped I think of as variations to some on your list but I don’t think they are on the list.
One is to target the wall or something specific with your nose from 15 ft away.
One of the others I taught my dog was to point – lift front leg and point it out to the side – my cue for this is “which way did he go?” (way)
I love all the ones where you have the dog touch different parts of their body – I taught my dog to put his nose under his front armpit when laying down.
I don’t think I saw any crawling – either forward or back ward.
Thanks again for the great list – now i am going to be having more fun with my pups.
Love the list!!
Another trick: Sneeze on command. I wiggle my pointer finger at my dogs for the command.
Great list! There’s a few tricks I haven’t thought my little red girlie yet.
For some additional tricks…
My girl also knows how to bring me her front paws, lift her back paws with her mouth, put bricks in a small tower, dig herself under the bed covers, scratch her back on the rug, put her rear paw on her nose (while lying down, working on standing version) and slalom a football between traffic cones with her nose.
It would be cool to see some videos of you training your dogs to do some of these tricks.
Cool list. I’ll have to try these. I’ve even done some of these with my eight year old Aussie. Keep up the great work. Love your blog.
Susan, thank you so much for the list! I look forward to your blog daily. There are some things in your list I will have to train my boy. BTW, not sure if you listed sneezing but I am currently working on that one.
Thanks for the list…I love shaping(and lists)…I’m putting a copy in my training log now…your blog is always interesting and useful. THANKS
Thank you so much for the shaping list! (I love lists – easier for me to sort thru than when the are part of a sentence). I believe you refer to many of these for Body Awareness as well? What about that Puppy Grid comment? What is that? (still wondering)
Thanks so much for your blog – it is really a wonderful bonus to be able to ‘chat’ and learn from you in this fashion.
BTW – did you ever see my video of my Kitty 2×2 weaves? (via email) 🙂
I love your blog…you are a great trainer and a wonderfull inspiration for me. I will love to translate and paste in my blog this list of shaping (if you agree to) to share with other spanish speaker trainers….
Thank you very much for everything you share in this blog…
Besos desde España
What a great list! Some of these I have never thought about, I will have to try them out and see how they go. Just a quick note – #15 and #78 are duplications (jumping into arms).
Thanks Susan for everything your share daily with us. I just love your blog that is a great source of inspiration and reflexion. As today is a very sunny day our session of weave training (i’m at day 5 and it’s working great) is sure to be fun !
Sandrine