The trick: When presented with two closed fists, your dog sniffs each and indicates which hand holds the treat. You present your fists to your dog and encourage him to “get it” Then, reward your dog for showing interest in the correct hand.
Wait is a great behavior for controlling impulses and keeping your dog calm around exciting stimuli. To signal wait, hold your hand out in front of you at about waist height, with your palm facing forward.
The Magic Hand game involves placing food in the palm of your hand and gently pushing individual treats through your fingers for your dog to catch. Focus and concentration win the day!
Perhaps your dog will tolerate a light touch on the top of his head, and a gentle scratch under his chin, but he becomes very tense if you do more than that, and any efforts to touch his legs and feet or his hindquarters and tail elicit serious warnings about forthcoming aggression.
Areas to Avoid
The genitals and anus are obvious areas to stay away from; dogs are protective of these areas just like humans. In general, other areas to avoid petting include the face, tail, feet, and legs. Hugging a dog should also be avoided unless you are certain the dog likes it.
"Sit" is one of the easiest tricks every pet owner should teach their dog. The “sit” command is the starting point for most dog tricks. Once your pet has perfected "sit," they will have an easier time learning other tricks. Teaching your dog "sit pretty" is a fun trick to entertain to your friends and family.
The 3-3-3 rule represents the phases of a rescue dog or common milestones your new dog or puppy will go through 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months after being adopted from a shelter. Your new dog will have unfamiliar surroundings and go through an adjustment period while settling into his new home.
Release words are words or sounds that signal to your dog that he is done working. Common release words are “OK”, “Done”, “Free”.
Let the Dog Approach You
Rather than sticking your hand in the dog's face or reaching out for pets, wait for the dog to come to you. If the dog approaches you, they are saying they want to meet you.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Dogs expose their bellies to us for two main reasons: as a submissive display, and as a request for a belly rub.
Understanding canine hearing may help us to understand the cause of a dog's agitation in some circumstances. She may be hearing something we cannot. While the areas of the human body most sensitive to touch are the fingertips, the most sensitive part of the canine body is the muzzle.
At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.
Show your dog what you (don't) want it to do
As your dog tries to get it, say “no,” and close your fist around the treat. Let your dog sniff and lick at your hand, but don't give it the treat. Once the dog stops trying and turns away, offer plenty of praise and provide a treat from your other hand.
To sign quiet, bring your index finger to your lips (that is, the universal shhh sign). Note: This is an abbreviated version of the full ASL sign for quiet. The full version is a two-part sign, where you cross your flat, open hands and then release them for the second part of the sign.
Dogs are great at reading body language – it's second nature to them. Some dogs respond so much better to hand signals than to verbal commands. There's even an Italian study that proves this – the canine participants responded to verbal cues 82% of the time, yet listened to hand signals 99% of the time.
Teaching your dog basic obedience - such as sit, wait and coming back when called - gives them the freedom to do the things they like to do, like running off lead and coming with you to meet friends and family, while being safe and under control.