Here is the Circus dog "Nanna". She is a 1 and a half year old Rothweiler, just starting her first training. If you are a biginner ? Don't start up with a Rothweiler or a similar kind of race, because they are very headstrong and not so easy to work with. Futhermore are Rothweilers not allways so kind to other dogs but ofcause, there are exceptions. Nanna is one of them.
Basicly is the training the same with all dog races and there is a few keywords according to the work. One of the absolutely most importen 2 words are: NO FORCE. An animal or the trainer will never succed if he is using anykind of force or shouting. The only way, is to use some of the naturel skills the dog got and use rewards when the dog is doing the right thing.
Patience is another importent word in animal training. Don't expect any results in a few hours. Begin with some easy tricks and when you succed, do it again. Be auntusiastic, the dog can feel it and rewards you with doing the trick even better than last time. For the varity don't work with the same trick for more than 15 minnutes but change the dogs tasks, it's more fun for both of you .
What is a reward ? Thats food and praise. The food is ofcause something the dog likes. Normely the dog prefere something "Wet" like small pieces of meat, cheese or sausage.
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Cut the Sausage in to smaler pieces. It's the smell that tricker the dog not the size. And be carefull not to overfeat the dog. |
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Don't use the same foot every day but try a little variety. One day you use cheese, next you use small pieces of meat. If the dog gets to excited try some "dry" foot like pellets.
Lets get started
In the following I assume that the dog already knows how to sit and stay...
The best way is to tempt the dog with foot.
Call your dog and let her sit on your left side, rember to praise.
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As you can see on the picture. The baid is in my left hand and Nanna is very interested. |
It is a good idea to let you voice be in a high note when you praise - Like a childs voice and when she does something wrong use a low note. Use short commands like up, sit, stay. When the dog sits with the nose near your hand and ready to take the baid - Pull your hand slowly up and a little backwards. At the same time use the command -"UP".
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After hours of training, the same commands and movements, you and the dog will succeed. Do it over and over again but rember not to overdo the exercise. |
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Rember to change the exercise with 2 or 3 different tricks. It could be a "Give me five" or the wave to the audience trick. Use your emagination to find new stunts but rember not to force the dog to do anything against its nature. If the dog seems to be afraid or nervous, then try to find other ways or drop the trick.
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Here is Nanna wawing, not to the audience but to me because she knows that the reward is comming a few seconds after. |
