Simple Tricks to Teach Your Labradoodle

Labradoodles are intelligent dogs who love to learn, so teaching yours a few simple tricks will help to keep him mentally stimulated. Not to mention that you’ll be able to show off these new found talents next time anyone comes over to visit. When training your dog, make sure to keep training sessions fairly short – 10 to 15 minutes at a time – so that he doesn’t get bored or frustrated. Try to leave the session on a positive note, so if he’s not getting something and you’re becoming irritated, give him a simple command – such as “sit,” treat him for obeying you, and end the session. You can always come back to it in an hour or so.

Shake Hands

Shaking hands is one of the simplest tricks you can teach your labradoodle, so it’s a good place to start. Have your dog sit, then take one of his front paws in your hand, shake it gently up and down, and give your chosen command – usually either “paw” or “shake hands.” Then praise your dog and give him a treat. Repeat this a few times and then try holding out your hand, palm upwards, for your dog to put his paw into and giving the command. As soon as he gives you his paw, praise him and give him a treat. If he doesn’t give you his paw, keep picking it up yourself, giving the command and treating him until he understands.

High Five

It’s easiest to teach your doodle to high five if he already knows how to shake hands. Give the shake command so that your dog lifts his paw, but as he does so, position your hand with your palm facing him (as you would when giving a high five) and say “high five” or “gimme five.” You dog will probably keep pawing the air and accidentally hit your hand with his paw, but if he doesn’t make contact you should press your palm against his raised paw. Once contact is made, praise your labradoodle and give him a treat. Repeat this for a few minutes, before simply raising your palm and giving the high five command. If he responds, treat and praise him right away. If not, keep going with the previous steps for a little longer.

Speak

Not only is teaching your dog to speak majorly adorable, it can also help to control problem barking, as long as you teach it in conjunction with the “quiet” command. You need to start out by getting your dog excited, either by playing with him or by waving food at him just out of his reach. As soon as he starts barking, say “speak,” give him a treat and praise him. Keep on doing this until he associates the word “speak” with barking and will bark on command. As soon as your dog stops barking, use the command “quiet” and treat him again. Continue this until he knows that the “quiet” command means that he should stop barking.

Play Dead

If you want to teach your dog to play dead, it’s best if he will already lie down on command. Get him to lie on his tummy, then give your chosen command, you can use “play dead” but many people prefer to use “bang!” (like a gun sound). Hold a treat in your hand and just after giving the command, move the hand with the treat in from in front of your dog’s nose to over to one side, so that he’ll have to roll onto his side to get it. Once he is lying on his side, give him praise and the treat. Repeat these steps, until he has got it. When he will play dead on command, start having him stay on his side in his dead position for longer and longer before giving him the treat.

Photo credit: Joseph Baranowski/Flickr

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