A Thing a Week- Week 2 "Dog Tricks" Recap

Happy Monday!

Last week's THING was so much fun, I wanted to first do a recap of it, before moving on to what's my thing for this week.  This past week it was dog tricks (and playing games) with Lucy and Ricky for at least 5 minutes each day.

I found myself wondering all week, "How come I don't ALWAYS make time for this?"  It's so easy to do, and it's so fun.  And most of all, it makes my dogs HAPPY.

I was reminded just how amazing dogs are.  If you taught them a trick 5 years ago, if they're like mine, they remember it!  It may need to be tightened up a little, but they remembered all the tricks I had taught them in the past. WOW

One of the tricks they didn't quite conquer back when we first tried it (I gave up too soon!) was "shut your door"- Meaning, shut the door (by way of a bandana I've tied on to the metal) of their crate after they walking in.  Lucy seemed to almost immediately understand what I was asking for and did it after we tried just a few times the first day.  Ricky still doesn't have it 100%, but is VERY close.  He grabs it in his mouth, but doesn't yet pull it shut.  But he will! 

I have to share a very cute/funny thing Lucy did while Ricky was working on "shut your door". She had just done it, flawlessly, about 15 times in a row.  So, she was in her crate with the door shut.  But not locked...  Ricky was trying to follow the directions I was giving him, but like I said, he just hasn't quite got it yet.  So Lucy pushes through her door, makes a sneezing sound once she's out (so we will notice her) and then runs in her crate and slams her door.  She's was either encouraging Ricky or just wanted another treat herself.  (Probably both.)

Lucy, our little Show Off

 We also played games like "Hide and Seek"- which they LOVE, Lucy especially so.  Fermin even did the Hiding a few nights. Family fun. ;) I also practiced recall when we'd go out on our walks.  They LOVE running really fast to me.  Here's Ricky...

"Wait"

 

"Ready? Ricky, COME!"

and like the speed of light...

he arrives!

I'm pretty sure my dogs are even smarter now than when they were younger and I was putting more time and effort into training them.  I'm SO GLAD I took the week to re-commit to this practice. It's such a great way to bond with a dog, and to watch their brain work, which is just fascinating.  I think the trick of it all is just keeping it short, and SWEET.  I only encourage, and say "yes! good job"- ALL POSITIVE.

I think trick training is just another way to show a dog how much they are loved, so I really intend to keep this up. They are so smart they can probably learn just about anything that I can think up.  So I'm going to keep a running list of things I'd like them to learn.  And we're going to keep practicing our old tricks too.  And play old games, and learn new ones.