Los memes y el discurso

TEACH IT:

VERBAL CUE Open Close

Your dog opens a door using the handle. and pushes it closed with his paws. OPEN THE DOOR:

1 Place your dog in front of an outward opening door with a lever door handle. Something desirous should be on the other side of the door, such as access to the outdoors, food treats, or a favorite toy. Have the door open a crack and encourage your dog to push his way through to get to the reward.

2 Hold the door slightly ajar, and encourage your dog to push it open. He will need to paw at it or jump on it to get it open this time. When he does, release the door, allowing it to open and giving your dog access to his reward.

3 Close the door completely and tap the door handle while encouraging your dog up. If he paws at the handle, subtly depress it and allow it to open.

4 Now that your dog understands the handle is the secret to opening doors, he will perfect his technique on his own, given enough incentive on the other side!

5 Once your dog has mastered the outward opening door, try it with an inward opening one. Tape the latch so the door opens without depressing the handle. Your dog first needs to learn to lean on the handle and walk backward. Stand on the other side of the door with a treat or toy and call to your dog while tapping on the door.

6 Remove the tape from the latch and again stand on the opposite side of the door. Keep your foot pressed against it so that if your dog depresses the handle at all, the door will

open toward him. Your dog will learn to walk backward while depressing the door handle.

BUILD ON IT! Build on these skills by teaching bring me a beer from the fridge

(page 74).

TIP! Short dogs may need a stepping stool to help them reach the door handle.

1 Have your dog push through the door crack.

3 Depress the handle when your dog paws it.

4 Give your dog incentive to open it on his own. STEPS:

7 Using a slightly ajar inward opening door, hold a treat at nose height against the door and encourage your dog to "close, get it!" When he shows interest, raise your hand higher against the door. It shouldn't take much coaxing for your dog to place his paws against the door while reaching for the treat. This will push the door closed. Immediately give your dog the treat and praise him. If he is frightened by the sound of the closing door and does not take his treat, encourage him back up on the closed door and reward him while he is in the correct position, on two paws.

8 Once your dog has the hang of this, try merely tapping the door to get him to push on it. Reward him for pushing the door closed.

9 Finally, from a distance send your dog to "close" the door. Don't be surprised ifhe slams it shut in his eagerness!

WHAT TO EXPECT: Door handles have baffled dogs throughout the ages. Opening a door requires both logic skills and coordination and can take a dog several weeks or more to master. Closing the door is much easier and can actually be a fun game for your dog!

5 Try it with an inward opening door.

6 Press the closed door with your foot.

8 Tap the door.

intermediate

TEACH IT:

VERBAL CUE Bell

Your dog noses or paws a bell on the door when he wants to go in or out.

1 Wiggle a bell on the floor and encourage your dog to "get it!" Mark the instant he touches the bell with his nose or paw by saying "good bell" and offering a treat.

2 Hang the bell from a doorknob at a low height and encourage your dog to ring it by saying "bell, get it!" You may need to hold a treat behind the bell, and tease him with it. As soon as the bell makes a sound, praise and reward him.

3 Get your dog's leash and get him excited to go for a walk. Stop at the door with the bell, encouraging him to ring it. It may take a while, as he will be distracted by the idea of his walk. As soon as he touches the bell, immediately open the door and take him for a walk. In this trick, the reward is a walk instead of a treat, so be sure to introduce this concept early on.

4 As you return home from your walk, get him excited to go inside \vith promises of a treat or dinner. Again, have him paw at a bell hung from the door before opening it. It could take several minutes to ring the bell, so practice when you are not in a hurry.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Consistency in enforcing the bell to go in/out rule will speed up the learning process. You'll also need to be very responsive to the bells in the beginning--if you hear them ringing, rush to open the door. This method of communicating sure beats barking and scratching at the door, so try to reward his politeness with a walk as often as possible.

2 Encourage your dog with a treat behind the bell.

3 Reward your dog with a walk when he rings the bell.

4 Have your dog ring another bell to come inside . easy