[Deacon.dog]

Does anybody else focus mainly on Tricks with their dogs? My dog knows all of his OB from basic to advanced, also participates in agility. Tricks are his favorite though. Nothing gets him more exited than preforming freestyles for by-standers. He totally knows when people are watching and shows off. A lot of people have told me tricks are pointless, So I wanted to ask.. Does anybody else LOVE tricks?

 

[LeoRose]

It's all tricks. Even Utility is just tricks.

Evidently people like tricks, though, since there are several organizations that offer titles for them, including the AKC

Both my current girls, Leo and Lily, have their Do More With Your Dog titles through Expert Trick Dog. My late Ilka also earned her Expert Trick Dog title, as well as her AKC Performer Trick Dog title, back when you still had to send in a video. Do More With Your Dog also offers Stunt Dog titles now, which are performed live (Trick Dog titles can be earned via video). AKC trick dog titles can be earned either in person or by transferring your DMWYD titles, except for the Elite Performer titles, which have to be done live.

There are a couple other organizations that offer trick titles, but I can't recall the names off hand, but they are on the list in the Cyber Dog Sports group on Facebook, though. Cyber Dog Sports

 

[Deacon.dog]

ah yes, they're all tricks but I was referring to mostly stunty-show off type tricks. Such as rebounds and flips

 

[Canyx]

My previous dog got his TDCH through Do More With Your Dog. He had average athleticism but a great mind for detail. My current dog does flips and such and knows, or is working on, around 80 different cued behaviors. For a large dog he moves very lightly and seems to have springs in his feet. But I don't have him do the very physical stuff very much because he won't think twice about hurting himself. I couldn't teach rebounds to either because I'm not a big person and both dogs were 70+ lbs (current dog 78, to my horror).

 

[Deacon.dog]

ohh no! my current mutt is 53 pounds (heaviest) and about 49 at his lightest (summer bod) I am quite a small kiddo as well. Its interesting. Of all the things we do, flyball, agility, attempting dock diving, he really goes nuts to do tricks. drives me insane. I've been trying to teach him to use his dang brain but hes just go go go and would rather do flips, and weaves, and hooped arms at sonic speed, rather than taking a second to learn more diligent tricks like footsies, or stacking rings. My next dog is going to be either a toy poodle, or a border terrier (insane differences but just) I prefer smaller dogs. My favorite dog i've owned so far as far as size was a american staffishire bull terrier and I preferably wouldn't own anything much bigger.

 

[LeoRose]

Since he likes rebounds and the like, have you checked out canine parkour? There are two organizations that offer tittles for it, the International Dog Parkour Association and All Dogs Parkour. They are the same, yet different. With IDPKA, each level has a set list of behaviors that need to be done to earn that title. With ADP, there is a list of behaviors to choose from, and you can pick the ones you want to do, as long as you meet the minimum requirements.

 

[Deacon.dog]

I'm trying to slow him down because he turns 7 march 11th. He really needs to like move away from such high impact tricks but when he gets exited he just starts bouncing all over the place and I am like no no no your poor joints. My point is, I would LOVE to get into something like that but he really is just a little bit too old for something like that.

 

[LeoRose]

Then ADP would be a good option, then. They have a Special Division for older/less physically capable dogs. There are options that let them stay safely on the ground.

My GSD has been in Special Division for most of the time we've been doing ADP. This was her Level 5/Championship submission from a couple of yeas ago.

 

[Deacon.dog]

thats really interesting. I'll look more into it.

 

[LeoRose]

This is the ADP website. All Dogs Parkour All the rules and stuff are there.

There is also an active Facebook group, where you can ask questions about any and every thing ADP. All Dogs Parkour