How To Train A Dog To Take A Bow
This tutorial is part of The Ultimate List Of Dog Trick Ideas which contains 99 other tricks like this!
Taking a bow is a nice trick that you can ask a dog to do after performing any other trick or routine. It is easier to teach this with the aid of a treat to lure him into the position that you can reinforce.
- Stand in front of your dog with a treat, when he is looking at you and in the standing position place the treat under your foot. If he sits down pick the treat up again and encourage him to stand.
- When you put the treat under your foot the dog will probably attempt to tap your foot with his front paws and sniff your foot in order to encourage release of the treat. When he does these things release the treat by lifting your foot ONLY if his rear is up in the air.
- This may take patience but by waiting until he is completely in the bowing position you will be reinforcing only the position that you want your dog in for this trick
- If your dog sits or lies down you can either pick up the treat and move away, inadvertently encouraging him to stand or wait for him to change into the bowing position before reinforcement of the correct behavior.
- When the position offered is almost perfect introduce the command words and stop putting the treat under your foot. Simply reward directly from your hand when your dog takes a bow.
- Gradually move further from your dog so that he can take a bow despite being a distance from your foot. Simultaneously bring the command word forward until your dog can bow on command.
Top tip; this can be a challenge to teach but watching your dog take a bow on command is rewarding and great fun, keep at it.
Dog trainers love this trick because it encourages intensive learning from the dog and also is a great addition to any other routine; the bow adds polish at the end of an already great trick.
