Pets Information


Train Your Buddy To "Walk" & "Dance" - Warning: Not All Dogs Can Do It!


Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that put an abnormal strain upon the muscles of the back and hind legs and most dogs require considerable practice before they gain sufficient control of those muscles to balance themselves in this unnatural position.

Before you rush into teaching this trick, bear in mind that not all dogs can do this trick, especially the big dogs such as St. Bernard or Great Dane as it is almost physically impossible for them to perform such trick. Sorry. This trick is not for you - Big dog owners!

A dog should first be taught to sit up and after he will do this well, hold a small piece of treat just above his nose and say "Up," when he will elevate himself just a trifle to get it, and should be allowed to eat it. Give him daily practice at this, making him reach a little higher from day to day until he can balance himself on his hind feet.

Do not keep him at these lessons too long at any one time, as they are very fatiguing, and you must give the muscles plenty of time in which to grow strong, so that he can sustain himself more easily. After he can stand up he should be taught to walk by slowly moving the treat from him, and he will be induced to take first one step and then another toward it. Reward him frequently by letting him have the treat and be careful not to tire him.

Dancing Dog

After a dog can stand erect and walk on his hind legs he can be taught to dance, which consists simply in hopping around on the hind legs and at short intervals turning around.

The simplest method of teaching this trick is to attach a piece of treat to a string, four or five feet long; hold the treat in tempting proximity to the dog's nose, and so high that he will stand on his hind legs to get to it, and then slowly move it around and he will follow after it any way that you may select. Give a command such as "Dance" to associate this trick with. Say the command when you tempt him with the treat.

Do not keep him at it too long and reward him frequently, so as to keep up his enthusiasm. In the early lessons, your dog simply follows the treat because he wants the reward attached to the end of it, nevertheless with regular practice, your dog will still dance for you even without the reward treat. Over time, he should be able to dance at command and for an occasional reward. Till then, he can be accustomed to dancing when dressed up in fantastic apparel.

Standing On Forelegs

This is one of the most difficult tricks to teach, and you most probably see this trick only in a circus as the position of standing on the front feet alone with the head down and the hind legs elevated is an unnatural one. It will be a long time before your dog learns to balance himself.

However, it is not totally impossible to teach your dog such trick, provided that you put in consistent amount of effort and time to teach and train him. (This trick is mainly for smaller and toy breed dogs only, most big dogs are physically incapable of doing this trick)

To teach this trick, provide yourself with a light cane or a stick, about two feet long. Hold the stick in your right hand and place it under the dog's stomach, raising his hindquarters with the stick and at the same time placing your left hand on his head, so as to prevent his moving away, thereby forcing him to retain his reversed position; as the dog rises into position the stick should be gradually moved back from his belly until it supports only his hind feet.

Use a command such as "On your head" to associate this trick with and repeat it distinctively during training and remember don't save on your praises and treats when your dog is progressing and learning. He need plentiful of them to further encourage him to learn the trick.

Repeat this operation at successive lessons until the dog understands what is expected of him and learns to balance himself with but very little assistance or support from the stick, and finally with none at all. Eventually he will learn to take the position at the order, "on your head," without assistance from the hand or switch.

After a dog can balance himself on his forefeet he can be taught easily to take a few steps by standing in front and calling him to you, and as he gains confidence and experience can be made to walk quite a distance.

Your dog may or may not master any of these tricks mention above. For all you might know, he could be a lazy dog, or maybe you are a lousy teacher. In any case, tricks are still tricks; you shouldn't be bothered if your buddy can't perform them because I know you will still love him for what he is, and not performing tricks to entertain friends or yourself.

About the Author:
Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com - The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog.

You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.


MORE RESOURCES:

WNCT

Store Accused Of Selling 'Puppy Mill' Pets
WYFF, SC - 14 hours ago
GREENVILLE, SC -- A national pet store chain is under fire tonight accused of selling puppies that come from "puppy mills." The Humane Society of the United ...
Video: AP Top Stories AssociatedPress
Investigation ties pet chain to 'puppy mills' MSNBC
Petland Linked to Puppy Mills Action 3 News
Brownsville Herald - WIFR
all 180 news articles


PetProductNews.com

Pet Sitter Association Poised for New Leadership
PetProductNews.com, CA - 15 hours ago
The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), a non-profit trade association based in Mount Laurel, NJ, will be under new leadership in 2009 ...


Freezing temperatures a danger to outdoor pets
Kingsport Times News, TN - 10 hours ago
As temperatures this week dip below freezing at night, animal shelter folks are urging pet owners to make sure their dogs and cats have proper protection ...
At the shelter State Gazette
all 2 news articles


CNN

Pets deserve pats for household health
Anchorage Daily News, AK - 2 hours ago
While many industries are feeling the pain of the current economic crisis, the pet industry is booming. Americans spent $41 billion dollars on their pets ...
In the lap of luxury, dog's paradise International Herald Tribune
States hound dogged drivers Tampa Bay's 10
Long-distance puppy love CNN
all 4 news articles


San Francisco Chronicle

Would you chose your pet over your partner?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 15 hours ago
In a study of 900 pet parents by BizRate Research, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. ...


Fire destroys Lee Street home; family of three, pets escape unharmed
Salisbury Post, NC - 4 hours ago
By Shavonne Potts Thursday morning started out like any other for Marilyn Adrian and her two children, who were at their North Lee Street home watching ...
Salisbury Family Loses Everything In Fire WSOCtv.com
all 2 news articles


Three people, 19 pets evacuated in Northeast fire
KVIA, TX - 14 hours ago
EL PASO, Texas -- Two adults, one child and nearly 20 pets, including ferrets, dogs and mice, were evacuated during a Thursday morning fire that nearly ...
Ferrets Revived With Oxygen Masks KTSM-TV
Extension Cord Sparks House Fire KFOXtv.com
6 fire units respond to Northeast house fire El Paso Times
KVIA
all 5 news articles


PRAIRIE COUNTRY: Pampered pets
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 51 minutes ago
That’s not surprising since their owner Chris Farber runs a Web-based clothing business from her Gilby home that sells pet clothes. ...


Donation baskets brighten the holidays for pets of the homeless
The California Aggie Online, CA - 4 hours ago
The Mercer Veterinary Clinic will continue its 13-year long tradition of making holiday gift baskets for pets of the homeless this December. ...


City seeks to get more pets licensed
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, IA - 21 hours ago
In efforts to get more pets in the City of Storm Lake properly licensed so they comply with City Code, the City Council is looking at passing an ordinance ...
Dog tags might help get strays home, veterinarian says Le Mars Daily Sentinel
all 2 news articles

Pets - Google News

home | site map
© 2007