If you've been training your dog a few tricks, whether they are young or elderly, you can advance things by creating a simple trick routine. Trick routines are an excellent technique to boost your dog's self-assurance in both their trick abilities and training in general.
The Novice Trick Dog title simply requires 10 different trick cues, such as crawl, shake, and high five. You can also gain titles with basic abilities. Putting tricks into a little routine is a terrific way to start preparing yourself and your dog for the more advanced levels when performance fluidity does start to count, even though an organized routine is not required to obtain this basic title. Trick performances are a great way to impress and amuse your loved ones.
How Do Dog Trick Routines Work?
A routine of dog tricks is a collection of tricks put together to form a brief performance. You have the option of performing a routine in front of a live audience, online, or at home. The dog and handler can perform a trick routine alone, to music, or—as in the case of the Elite Performer Trick Title—with a narrative.
As long as you and your dog are having a good time, there is no right or wrong method to develop a trick routine.
Choosing Techniques for Your Routine
You should concentrate on tricks that your dog is familiar with and enjoys performing as you put together his or her first trick routine. As you practice tricks, you'll start to discover several that they appear to prefer. These are the ideal cues to incorporate into your dog's introduction to tricks.
If your dog has trouble with a lot of the tricks in your routine, it may disrupt the flow of tricks or make both you and your dog feel discouraged. As an alternative, train those difficult skills independently of your routines, then add them once your dog has learned them.
Expanding Your Routine
Build up your dog's stamina to perform several tricks in a row before incorporating tricks into a routine. Start the well-known tricks you choose, and after they are finished, reward them with a treat. As your dog improves, you will be able to modify the reinforcement rate more, allowing your dog to occasionally receive a treat after each trick and other times to request a number of tricks before receiving a reward.
Your dog will remain engaged and enthusiastic if you do this. Keeping your dog engaged is more important than counting how many consecutive tricks you may ask him to perform before rewarding him.
Don't be hesitant to include reward breaks into the routine since one of the beautiful things about tricks as a sport is that you can reward in the middle of the routine even at the highest levels of competition.
Bringing Everything Together
After deciding which tricks to include in your dog's routine, you should think about how the tricks will flow. You don't need to weave a tale into your trick performance throughout the early Trick Dog stages. You can instead concentrate solely on establishing a pleasing flow for you and your dog.
Consider the potential synergy between tricks that utilize props. You shouldn't have to run back and forth across a training area by performing tricks with comparable props all at once. The temperament of your dog is another thing to think about.
Consider spacing out or omitting stationary skills like sit or down if your dog dislikes getting up from a sit so you can keep them moving and maintain their energy level. If you do teach your dog tricks that slow him down, make sure to reinforce him more quickly afterward.
Keep in mind to have fun
Trick Canine should be an enjoyable and amusing sport, like all dog sports. Tricks are intended to teach your dog new skills that they will love and look forward to learning while keeping accessibility in mind.
It's time to practice your routine after choreographing it! Keep your practice sessions brief and enjoyable while rewarding your dog frequently. Be as adaptable as you can with your dog's schedule. Never be hesitant to mix things up, alter the order of the tricks, or substitute other tricks if you think they would enhance the routine. Everything is a learning process.