Saturday, 3 May 2008

teaching a dog to beg

At K-9 Kompany last week, our teacher Cindy showed us how to do the 'begging' trick. I've always been a bit wary of it because Penny has a long back, but Cindy says if it's done carefully it will help Penny to develop strong muscles in her back, so we are trying it.

First we started with a 'sit'.


Next I held out a treat, quite far back above her so that she had to reach up to it but not come forward.


I didn't do it very well, because I held it up too high and she really came off her haunches. Cindy said the idea was to hold it just above her mouth so that if she wasn't confident at first, she could hold onto my wrists with her paws, which she is doing a bit in this photo.


I was rather pleased with how far we went in just a couple of short sessions. Here is Penny doing it fairly well, I think.

6 comments:

Johann The Dog said...

I'm getting really good at beg and can hold it for a while now. But when I first did it, I tumbled over backwards, BOL! Mum giggled...good thing I was on carpet. Penny will love beg, and it comes in really handy sometimes, BOL!

Woofs, Johann

parlance said...

Johann, we'll keep practising.

Noah the Airedale said...

Well done Penny. That trick will come in very handy lol.

Hugs and tail wags
Noah Willow Tess Lucy

parlance said...

Noah, she doesn't need it for begging for food, if that is what you are subtly suggesting - you clever thing! She has already mastered the art of gently nudging people's legs to let them know she'd like to share their food.

Amber-Mae said...

Oh Penny, you're doing really well, You';re progressing! Well, Chloe & Faith balanced themselves by putting their paws on mommy's lap. Mommy will stand up straight & then ask them to sit in front of her & then ask them to "sit up" & then will sit up *& rest their paws on her lap for balance. Then slowly, mommy moved away further & then asked them to do it for a very short time only like 2 seconds becoz they still couldn't balance well. Faith still can't balance well today. She's a very slow slow slow learner. Takes more than 5 months to master a trick I tell ya but Chloe does it very well. Mommy can command her from 10 feet away & she'll do it & stay there. Even when mommy walks around while she is sitting up. Too cute! I hope Penny will progress to that level soon but take it easy on your back Parlance...

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

parlance said...

Thanks, Amber-Mae. Praise from an expert like you is very welcome. It's interesting to hear how you learned the trick. Maybe we can practice it that way also.