Dog Training Tricks That Will Give Your Pup a Leg Up

We all love our four-legged friends, but sometimes they can be quite a challenge, especially when they misbehave. But no dog is ever too old to learn new tricks.

So, here are a couple of neat commands that’ll physically and mentally stimulate your best friend while you two spend some quality time together.

Reward Good Behavior

Use treats, hugs, and a ton of praise to reward your pooch’s good behavior. Positive reinforcement is the best way to get your dog to stay on track. But make sure to never reward bad behavior by mistake, (like snatching food from the table) or they’ll keep doing it.

Teach Them Their Name

Teaching your dog to recognize his own name when you call him is the oldest trick in the book. When they look up at you, give them a treat or click the clicker. Repeat this exercise 4 times. Say their name as they look at you and repeat 7 more times.

Eventually, they’ll associate themselves with the name you’ve given them.

Get Them to Stop Jumping Up

Dogs tend to jump up when they greet someone. If this bothers you, don’t reward or reprimand them. Try ignoring them, instead. Turn your back on them until they’ve settled down. Once they stop, give them positive reinforcement. This trains them not to jump up to greet you or any visitors.

Discourage Them From Biting

If your dog likes to bite you or nip on you, don’t get mad. Try pretending like you’re in a lot of pain. This will make them stop. If it doesn’t work, trade whatever body part he or she is biting on with a chew toy. This swap trick also works if your dog starts biting on furniture or shoes.