WELCOME!! What a cute dog!!
don't give up on teaching this dogs tricks, ANY and EVERY dog CAN learn tricks!!!!
It might be best, to pick out ONE trick, and work on that one trick. After you have successfully taught this adorable dog one trick, you will probably feel more confident, and more hopeful and less stressed about how to teach a dog a trick,
but, whatever you do, don't give up! You CAN do this, and your dog CAN learn tricks!!!
Mena is at a great age to learn tricks!!!
HERE are some general tips and hints.
If you dog is NEW to tricks training,
keep your lessons SHORT, and quick. Like 5 to 10 minutes for first week or two, to avoid getting frustrated, to avoid a bored dog who will zone out on you and not pay attention. Overtime, if you want to, you can make lessons a lil bit longer. But for now, keep lessons SHORT!
You might want to Use a clicker, or an inkpen that clicks, to mark the "right answer" for your dog. This can really help your dog learn tricks faster. You click whenever dog does correct move, or makes an attempt at a correct move. EVERY click, gets a treat, no exceptions. You click one time, if you are REALLY pleased, you can give many treats, but, only ONE click for each correct move. Pet supply stores sell clickers.
Use YUMMY treats, like real meat, or hotdogs, or bits of cheese, but keep all treats very small, so your dog wont' get fat or full. There are many good recipes in the "Treat" section of the forums if you have a fussy dog about treats.
Do NOT scold a wrong move, do not even say "no",
just silently IGNORE all mistakes, and reward correct moves. Tricks training should be FUN for you AND for the dog!!
If your dog stops paying attention, pick up your treats, and move to a new room, or train outdoors, this moving around can perk a bored dog back up, and check the clock to make sure you haven't gone over a beginner dog time limit. (some dogs who are NEW to lessons, can't pay attention very long at first).
End all lessons, with "All done!" so dog knows lessons are over, and then play with your dog, so he thinks lessons are FUN!!!
Do you have a trick you are working on, or a trick you WANT to teach next???