Teach Your Dog to Identify Toys
This trick is an excellent segue into teaching item identification
Step One: Start with a new toy. Upon presentation, call it by name (baby, ball, bone) and each time your dog or pup plays with it, refer to it by that same name.
Step Two: After a couple of days with this name play, give him another older toy and call it by another name for a few minutes play to take his mind momentarily off the new toy. Then remove the older toy and command the dog to get his “baby” (or whatever name you gave the new plaything). He probably won’t understand at first, so pick up the “baby” toy yourself and show it to him, repeating the toy’s name, then playing with it in a tossing game and calling the toy’s name with each toss. Playing with him is the reward in this training.
Step Three: Repeat the above steps throughout the day at play time, never referring to any other toy by name, but always referring to the new toy by your given name for it.
The objective will be for the dog to obey commands to go get “his baby” or whatever name you have given the toy, and play with it together. Keep this routine intact for at least a few weeks before you give another and different name to another toy and repeat these steps until the dog understands the naming concept. Then he will quickly understand your commands to retrieve different toys.
Training your dog to jump through your arms
Step 1: Place a treat on the floor, then place your arms on the ground between your dog and the treat, forming a bridge for your dog to go under. Say “Jump!” and let them get the treat. Repeat this step for a few days.
Step 2: Move the treat forward so your dog must stretch to reach the treat. Keep saying “Jump!” and watch as they go through your arms. This will take several iterations.
Step 3: Continue moving further away, increasing the effort your dog must put in on every jump. This process will take several attempts, but will definitely pay-off in the long run.
Step 4: Move your hands together, creating a hoop with your hands. Your hands should not be elevated yet, but your dog should be jumping over your hands when you say “Jump!”
Step 5: Slowly begin raising the hoop formed by your hands higher in the air. Be sure to do this slowly, so your dog can make the correct adjustments. Eventually, you will reach your dogs maximum jump height. Now your dog will be jumping through your arms on a consistent basis. The dog has been positively reinforced, so you can now remove the treat from the equation. If your dog will not jump without the treat, then you may want to revisit the process to properly train them.
Step 6: Enjoy showing this impressive trick off to your family and friends. Everyone will surely be impressed with your incredible pet.