I've read that training isn't teaching your dog a bunch of circus tricks but I kind of disagree. To me, training involves getting your pup to listen and if that means engaging them in circus tricks then that's a fine form of training.
What do you think? Is training always meant to be serious and focused? My pups get mentally tired even after our circus tricks routines. And, isn't that one of the main points of training; to mentally challenge them and wear them out?
Training is about working as a team and having fun and bonding but with that said, I'd rather train stuff that is practical over commands that are useless. In what universe is shake going to come in handy?
I taught Rusty "help me" which means just that. He will bring a towel to me when I get out of the shower, pick up sticks in the yard & lay them in a pile started by the fire pit, carry a light laundry basket, my purse a grocery bag.
My goal was for him to earn his keep in our home! lol
I train commands first tricks later. The tricks are not important to me. I don't care if they give paw or not, but I humored the trainer and trained it. Robyn's command for paw is pound it and I think that is cute. I might be willing to train the younger golden some tricks because he is a super fun dog and it fits him.
I agree with Winners on training. As far as exercise, didn't you bike with them before? That would slim them down fairly quick, helps keep the nails trim too if you mix in a little pavement on your rides.
So cute. Love how patient and attentive Zeeva is. (Frodo can't stand his human family giving attention to any other dog. )
Why not tricks? Its a fun way to ask the dogs for behaviors( I am sure it is bizarre for them - the things we ask - but not as bizarre as heeling), they are calm and obeying and obviously happy.
What do you think? Is training always meant to be serious and focused? My pups get mentally tired even after our circus tricks routines. And, isn't that one of the main points of training; to mentally challenge them and wear them out?
You're getting the dogs to do what you want them to do, when you want them to do it and at the same time, you're keeping them mentally stimulated. I'd call that training. Besides that you and the dogs are having fun...that's what owning a dog is about.
training=teaching. To me there is no difference between tricks and obedience. The reason that dogs like tricks is that people are generally more upbeat while teaching tricks and as a result, dogs are too.
To me "training" is teaching your dog something, whether it's how to properly walk on a leash or basic commands like sit, shake, lay down, how to behave in public, etc.
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