What special tricks/commands does your malt know? - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**angelgirl599** · 01-06-2010, 12:59 PM

I love spending time with Lola to teach her tricks and commands

I recently got Lola to start high five-ing, although she gets really excited about it and puts both of her paws up to my hand.

I just saw Mandy's video of Jax doing all his tricks! He's SO TALENTED!!

Because of Jax, I'd love to know all the different tricks and commands that all your malts know and how you taught them.

Now that it's winter time, we don't go out for walks that much anymore, I'd love to keep Miss Lola occupied by doing something productive (for me and for her)!

Thanks!

Diana & Lola

**Johita** · 01-06-2010, 01:55 PM

Aolani high-fives. I think it’s such a cool trick esp. to show off to guys cause they often see him and think what a prissy dog, but once they see him do a high five they always get excited and ask him for high five. I started him off with a regular five and then gradually brought him up to a high five. He also rolls over though right now we’re working on rolling over without the treat directly in his face and he is almost there. Also been teaching him to crawl. He also stands and does a twirl when I hold a treat up above his head and say dance, but I’m not sure if he figured that out himself or if I actually taught that to him so I can’t take full credit for that one. He also waits for the queue to get his food. I’ll place the food in front of him and say “Wait” so he stops and know that he needs to sit, then I say “What else?” and he will lay, then I ask him to give me a five and he does. After that he normally looks at the food and I say “watch me” so he stares at me and then I’ll either ask him to give me another five or roll over or I just stare back at him until I say “Ok, take it” and he jumps over to the bowl for his meal. I tell everyone he knows English lol.

**MandyMc65** · 01-06-2010, 03:12 PM

Aww Thanks! Jax definitely loves his tricks and glad to "inspire".

He also knows several more. In addition to the video he knows Touch Hand or Item, Leave It, Take It, Stay (in whatever position), "What is it?!", Go to your crate/bed/bag, Mat/Place (which is go to a specific blanket, lay down & stay), get your toy, stop, wait, come, perch (put 2 feet up on a box). He sort of knows perch with movement, but that is a bit difficult. He puts his front paws on the phone book and then has to move just his back legs to go around the book in a circle. He also learned to turn off the lights - I put a string around the switch and he pulls the string to turn the light off. We also do Rally stuff, so he knows those - heel position (sit, down, stay, fast, slow, etc...) front position, around (go from the front of me around my back into heel). We are working on him getting me the remote and a couple others right now.

Kenzie is just now learning the rally stuff but she also knows Touch, Leave It, Take It, Mat, Crate/Bed/Bag, Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Come and "Bang".

Everything I teach is done with my clicker. A lot of it I set up Jax to shape the behavior. For example, to teach him to pull my sock off, I started with putting the sock down on the ground. He looked at it - click/treat. Then I slowly want more, he touches it - click/treat. Built that to grabbing it with his mouth - click/treat, Then tugging on it - click/treat, then put it on my foot and start back at touch it, then tug it, etc... This was his first trick he learned that includes grabbing something, so I set him up to do it when he was super excited. He is used to the shaping process, so he tries a ton of things as soon as I put an item down when I have my clicker out.

When shaping a behavior, you want small steps to build on what the final picture will be, aka successive approximations. Once you get the hang of shaping, you can come up with anything! It does take some patience to just let your dog do what they want rather than helping them immediately.

Touch (dog's nose to your hand) is one of the easiest ones to teach and is great for helping you & your dog learn the clicker. It's also very convenient to have. I've used it to teach other tricks and as a back up "come". I can explain it if you would like, just let me know!

**thach8** · 01-06-2010, 03:58 PM

QUOTE (MandyMc65 @ Jan 6 2010, 02:12 PM)

Quote:

Aww Thanks! Jax definitely loves his tricks and glad to "inspire".

He also knows several more. In addition to the video he knows Touch Hand or Item, Leave It, Take It, Stay (in whatever position), "What is it?!", Go to your crate/bed/bag, Mat/Place (which is go to a specific blanket, lay down & stay), get your toy, stop, wait, come, perch (put 2 feet up on a box). He sort of knows perch with movement, but that is a bit difficult. He puts his front paws on the phone book and then has to move just his back legs to go around the book in a circle. He also learned to turn off the lights - I put a string around the switch and he pulls the string to turn the light off. We also do Rally stuff, so he knows those - heel position (sit, down, stay, fast, slow, etc...) front position, around (go from the front of me around my back into heel). We are working on him getting me the remote and a couple others right now.

Kenzie is just now learning the rally stuff but she also knows Touch, Leave It, Take It, Mat, Crate/Bed/Bag, Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Come and "Bang".

Everything I teach is done with my clicker. A lot of it I set up Jax to shape the behavior. For example, to teach him to pull my sock off, I started with putting the sock down on the ground. He looked at it - click/treat. Then I slowly want more, he touches it - click/treat. Built that to grabbing it with his mouth - click/treat, Then tugging on it - click/treat, then put it on my foot and start back at touch it, then tug it, etc... This was his first trick he learned that includes grabbing something, so I set him up to do it when he was super excited. He is used to the shaping process, so he tries a ton of things as soon as I put an item down when I have my clicker out.

When shaping a behavior, you want small steps to build on what the final picture will be, aka successive approximations. Once you get the hang of shaping, you can come up with anything! It does take some patience to just let your dog do what they want rather than helping them immediately.

Touch (dog's nose to your hand) is one of the easiest ones to teach and is great for helping you & your dog learn the clicker. It's also very convenient to have. I've used it to teach other tricks and as a back up "come". I can explain it if you would like, just let me know![/B]

Thanks for that fantastic intro to using clickers and training! I LOVE Jax's video too! He's not just a pretty face

I really want to teach Diamond 'bang' as the next trick......I can't get her onto her side unless she's ready for bed. After seeing Jax's bang....I was sold on the trick as the next one.

I'm trying to build up Diamond's tricks. I think it's a great mental stimulation for them now that I have some free moments.
She knows sit, down,kiss, paw, wave and beg. But of course, I have to have treats in my hand or else...at this point....the trick won't be happening

**MandyMc65** · 01-06-2010, 04:15 PM

QUOTE (thach8 @ Jan 6 2010, 11:58 AM)

Quote:

Thanks for that fantastic intro to using clickers and training! I LOVE Jax's video too! He's not just a pretty face

I really want to teach Diamond 'bang' as the next trick......I can't get her onto her side unless she's ready for bed. After seeing Jax's bang....I was sold on the trick as the next one.

I'm trying to build up Diamond's tricks. I think it's a great mental stimulation for them now that I have some free moments.
She knows sit, down,kiss, paw, wave and beg. But of course, I have to have treats in my hand or else...at this point....the trick won't be happening

[/B]

Start with removing the treats from your hand. Put them on a table or couch, somewhere beside you, but not on you. Have her do a 'sit' and click her THEN reach for the treat. If you have to show her the treat, she doesn't get it. She'll learn that not seeing a treat doesn't mean she won't get one.

I also have my dogs do random 'sits' or whatever throughout the day, and say "YES!" then go and get a treat. I have random bins around my house with treats so I can reinforce them for it. Having that bridge (click or YES) gives you the ability to mark the correct behavior, then reinforce it without having to bribe or lure them into position.

**angelgirl599** · 01-06-2010, 04:45 PM

Mandy, just curious, do you have your clicker on you all the time to reinforce?

Lola is very spunky. She used to be okay with just the praise but now praise means very little to her without something yummy to eat.

**MandyMc65** · 01-06-2010, 05:09 PM

QUOTE (angelgirl599 @ Jan 6 2010, 12:45 PM)

Quote:

Mandy, just curious, do you have your clicker on you all the time to reinforce?

Lola is very spunky. She used to be okay with just the praise but now praise means very little to her without something yummy to eat.[/B]

No. I use my clicker to teach new behaviors. Once the behavior is learned and put on cue I no longer need to click. I will also start to reinforce less and with other things, other than treats. My dogs learn to sit and wait for doors to open, before the leash is put on, before they can greet guests, while playing with toys, etc... I put them on a variable reinforcement schedule since this strengthens the behavior.

I do use my Yes! or Click to mark the behavior if you are working on not needing treats in your hands, since they still are technically learning.

**angelgirl599** · 01-06-2010, 05:26 PM

QUOTE (MandyMc65 @ Jan 6 2010, 04:09 PM)

Quote:

QUOTE (angelgirl599 @ Jan 6 2010, 12:45 PM)

Quote:

Mandy, just curious, do you have your clicker on you all the time to reinforce?

Lola is very spunky. She used to be okay with just the praise but now praise means very little to her without something yummy to eat.[/B]

No. I use my clicker to teach new behaviors. Once the behavior is learned and put on cue I no longer need to click. I will also start to reinforce less and with other things, other than treats. My dogs learn to sit and wait for doors to open, before the leash is put on, before they can greet guests, while playing with toys, etc... I put them on a variable reinforcement schedule since this strengthens the behavior.

I do use my Yes! or Click to mark the behavior if you are working on not needing treats in your hands, since they still are technically learning.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Ooh ok thanks, I'm going to try to start clicker-ing tonight with Lola

**angelgirl599** · 01-06-2010, 05:29 PM

Also, how did you teach Jax to close the door? That seems very handy!!

**jmm** · 01-06-2010, 07:39 PM

I also use the clicker for teaching most behaviors.

The clicker is NOT a reinforcer. The clicker is like a camera. You click to "take a picture" of the exact behavior you want. So for sit, you would click when the dog's bum hit the ground. By clearly telling the dog what it is you wanted, it is okay for your reinforcer to follow seconds later. It is a bridge between behavior and reinforcer.

Roo knows:
2 paws on a big medicine ball and taking a few steps with paws on the ball (the ball moves while he does this)
2 paws on a 35 lb weight when asked "How strong are you?"
touch
ready (play bow), ok
ready(on a stay), steady, get it
target games
sit, down
spin, dance
All of the agility equipment and handling cues "turn" "here" "go" "out"
Basic heeling on and off leash
To stop outdoors on his name (even if there are kids to play with or a cat to play with)
recall
kennel

Soda knows:
sit, down
extensive heeling (pace changes, turns, figure 8, etc.)
recall
drop on recall
formal retrieve
retrieve over high jump
broad jump
All of the agility equipment and handling cues
All novice obedience exercises
Rally exercises through advanced
Turn, turn the other way
Stop
lay down, head down
paw
scratch my leg
hup and off
ready (play bow), ok
ready (on stay), steady, go
kennel
get off my bed LOL
I'm sure there are more. Right now he's learning "find it" which is our cue for scent articles.

I teach most everything, even heeling, off leash with the clicker.

01-06-2010, 12:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
angelgirl599 Maltese Guru Name: Diana Dog's Name: Lola Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NY/NJ Posts: 772	I love spending time with Lola to teach her tricks and commands I recently got Lola to start high five-ing, although she gets really excited about it and puts both of her paws up to my hand. I just saw Mandy's video of Jax doing all his tricks! He's SO TALENTED!! Because of Jax, I'd love to know all the different tricks and commands that all your malts know and how you taught them. Now that it's winter time, we don't go out for walks that much anymore, I'd love to keep Miss Lola occupied by doing something productive (for me and for her)! Thanks! Diana & Lola __________________

01-06-2010, 01:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Johita Maltese Guru Dog's Name: Aolani Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Joysey Posts: 3,375	Aolani high-fives. I think it’s such a cool trick esp. to show off to guys cause they often see him and think what a prissy dog, but once they see him do a high five they always get excited and ask him for high five. I started him off with a regular five and then gradually brought him up to a high five. He also rolls over though right now we’re working on rolling over without the treat directly in his face and he is almost there. Also been teaching him to crawl. He also stands and does a twirl when I hold a treat up above his head and say dance, but I’m not sure if he figured that out himself or if I actually taught that to him so I can’t take full credit for that one. He also waits for the queue to get his food. I’ll place the food in front of him and say “Wait” so he stops and know that he needs to sit, then I say “What else?” and he will lay, then I ask him to give me a five and he does. After that he normally looks at the food and I say “watch me” so he stares at me and then I’ll either ask him to give me another five or roll over or I just stare back at him until I say “Ok, take it” and he jumps over to the bowl for his meal. I tell everyone he knows English lol. __________________ ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Click here to see some of Aolani's videos

01-06-2010, 03:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
MandyMc65 Maltese Guru Name: Mandy Dog's Name: Richelieu's White Tornado RN, RL1, CGC & Bellarata's Little Miss Sunshine Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central California Posts: 3,860	Aww Thanks! Jax definitely loves his tricks and glad to "inspire". He also knows several more. In addition to the video he knows Touch Hand or Item, Leave It, Take It, Stay (in whatever position), "What is it?!", Go to your crate/bed/bag, Mat/Place (which is go to a specific blanket, lay down & stay), get your toy, stop, wait, come, perch (put 2 feet up on a box). He sort of knows perch with movement, but that is a bit difficult. He puts his front paws on the phone book and then has to move just his back legs to go around the book in a circle. He also learned to turn off the lights - I put a string around the switch and he pulls the string to turn the light off. We also do Rally stuff, so he knows those - heel position (sit, down, stay, fast, slow, etc...) front position, around (go from the front of me around my back into heel). We are working on him getting me the remote and a couple others right now. Kenzie is just now learning the rally stuff but she also knows Touch, Leave It, Take It, Mat, Crate/Bed/Bag, Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Come and "Bang". Everything I teach is done with my clicker. A lot of it I set up Jax to shape the behavior. For example, to teach him to pull my sock off, I started with putting the sock down on the ground. He looked at it - click/treat. Then I slowly want more, he touches it - click/treat. Built that to grabbing it with his mouth - click/treat, Then tugging on it - click/treat, then put it on my foot and start back at touch it, then tug it, etc... This was his first trick he learned that includes grabbing something, so I set him up to do it when he was super excited. He is used to the shaping process, so he tries a ton of things as soon as I put an item down when I have my clicker out. When shaping a behavior, you want small steps to build on what the final picture will be, aka successive approximations. Once you get the hang of shaping, you can come up with anything! It does take some patience to just let your dog do what they want rather than helping them immediately. Touch (dog's nose to your hand) is one of the easiest ones to teach and is great for helping you & your dog learn the clicker. It's also very convenient to have. I've used it to teach other tricks and as a back up "come". I can explain it if you would like, just let me know! __________________ ~Mandy, Ajax & McKenzie "If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them." ~Phil Pastoret Jax Video

01-06-2010, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
angelgirl599 Maltese Guru Name: Diana Dog's Name: Lola Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NY/NJ Posts: 772	Mandy, just curious, do you have your clicker on you all the time to reinforce? Lola is very spunky. She used to be okay with just the praise but now praise means very little to her without something yummy to eat. __________________

01-06-2010, 05:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
angelgirl599 Maltese Guru Name: Diana Dog's Name: Lola Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NY/NJ Posts: 772	Also, how did you teach Jax to close the door? That seems very handy!! __________________

01-06-2010, 07:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
jmm Maltese Guru Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 8,153	I also use the clicker for teaching most behaviors. The clicker is NOT a reinforcer. The clicker is like a camera. You click to "take a picture" of the exact behavior you want. So for sit, you would click when the dog's bum hit the ground. By clearly telling the dog what it is you wanted, it is okay for your reinforcer to follow seconds later. It is a bridge between behavior and reinforcer. Roo knows: 2 paws on a big medicine ball and taking a few steps with paws on the ball (the ball moves while he does this) 2 paws on a 35 lb weight when asked "How strong are you?" touch ready (play bow), ok ready(on a stay), steady, get it target games sit, down spin, dance All of the agility equipment and handling cues "turn" "here" "go" "out" Basic heeling on and off leash To stop outdoors on his name (even if there are kids to play with or a cat to play with) recall kennel Soda knows: sit, down extensive heeling (pace changes, turns, figure 8, etc.) recall drop on recall formal retrieve retrieve over high jump broad jump All of the agility equipment and handling cues All novice obedience exercises Rally exercises through advanced Turn, turn the other way Stop lay down, head down paw scratch my leg hup and off ready (play bow), ok ready (on stay), steady, go kennel get off my bed LOL I'm sure there are more. Right now he's learning "find it" which is our cue for scent articles. I teach most everything, even heeling, off leash with the clicker. __________________ JMM - JaMi Maltese, Home to Performance Maltese Becoming a Follower on our Blog!!!

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