Clean Run - May 2013 - 32

Table Tricks
There are many tricks I teach my
dog on the ground that I might
also do on the table. For some of
these tricks, marked with an asterisk (*), performing them on the
table adds an element of strength
and coordination, depending on
the stability of your table. Remember to teach your dog how to
do each trick on the ground first!

You can make this list even longer with the tricks you’ve already
taught your dog. Some tricks, for
obvious reasons, are not appropriate to do on the table, such as
backing up or rolling over. You can
see from my list a simple sit and
“down aren’t really even included.

Other Table Training
I also teach my dogs to maintain
a down position on the table until
I say my release word. And, I do
a lot of exciting gyrations when
they’re in a down-stay on the
table to see if, in a playful way, I
can entice them to come off the
table. If they do make the mistake of coming off the table, because I have done all of the other
table activities with them, they
are typically quick to get back up
on the obstacle. When they make
an error, all of my gyrations stop
suddenly so I become far less interesting. Then, when they do hop
back up on the table, I’m quick to
reinforce in their minds that the
table is a really fun place to be!

•
•
•
•

Stand up on your hind legs*

•

Stand up and lift up both
of your rear legs*

•
•
•

Put a toy in a small box
Stack one food bowl inside
another

Much of the rest of an agility
course is so much fun for the
dogs that time spent making the
table a fun place to be is time
well spent—and it takes very little
time and space to do it. Sit or
down on a table should just be
one of many things your dogs
might do to earn a cookie while
they’re up there. And, like any
other behavior you might ask your
dog to do as a trick on the table,
sit and down should be viewed as
a trick—cued with a smile on your
face and praise at the ready!

•
•
•

Bark

Until next time, happy training! D

Wave*

•

Lay down with your paws
curled over the edge of the
table

Editor's Note: A video to support this
article is available at http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.
display&feature_id=290 or go to the
Magazine Forum page at www.cleanrun.com and select Videos.

•
•
•
•
32

Sit pretty or beg*

Down to sit

Touch your nose with
your paw*
Stand up and lift up one of
your rear legs*

Take a toy out of a small box

Lay down with your chin
on the table

Sit to stand
Tug on a toy*
Hand targeting

Daisy Peel has competed in agility since 1998. She is
a five-time Regional champion (USDAA), a five-time
National champion (AKC, USDAA), and a four-time
AKC/USA World Team member. Daisy currently
competes with her dogs Solar and Jester. Before
becoming a full time agility instructor, she was a
high school chemistry teacher. Visit her website:
www.daisypeel.com.
Clean Run | May 13

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Clean Run - May 2013

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