It’s Tricky

Looking for something fun to do with your dog during these challenging times? Have you heard about Trick Dog training? Read on to learn more!

  During a recent working visit with a friend and fellow trainer, I was showing her a few the things I’ve taught Glimmer over the years. My friend suggested that I should have Glimmer tested for a Novice Trick Dog title. Now, I’ve seen many videos of dogs performing some really amazing tricks, but testing her for a Trick title never crossed my mind. Glimmer has always had a preference for learning things that can be helpful, not tricks that are purely for entertainment.

Still, after my friend was on her way home – and purely out of curiosity – I looked into the information she had given me. I was very surprised to learn that with few exceptions, many of the “tricks” listed in each of the four testing categories are tasks Glimmer has long been trained to do. So, after giving it some long and careful thought, I decided to apply to have her tested for a Novice Trick Dog certificate.

  For the Novice title, Glimmer must perform 15 different “tricks”. While reviewing the list, I was delighted to discover that most of the tasks are things she does every day, anyway. Earning her Novice certificate will be easy for her.

I’m very excited to be taking on this new challenge. Even at nearly 8 years old, Glimmer loves to learn new things, and she loves to be out working on refreshing what she already knows. She is very eager to please, and I know she’s going to be awesome with this new challenge.

If you would like to know more about Trick Dog training and titling, go to Do More With Your Dog [link will open a new window] and check out their Trick Dog Titles section. Whether you live in Canada or in the U.S., you should be able to find a certified instructor near you who can test you and your dog.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be working Glimmer on the tasks I’ve chosen for her to perform for her test. I’ll be sure to update again with the test results. Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on – and good luck on your next adventure with your dog! 🙂