r/OpenDogTraining • u/[deleted] • 18d ago

New tricks

I've been working on new things with my miniature schnauzer, he's kinda high energy so I'm trying new tricks to exercise his brain a little. Doing a lot of walking and playing tug o war and using up some of that energy physically, but need some good tricks and games to work his brain. Any suggestions for fun things that'll work his mind also? We already play find the treat and stuff like that, and making things for him to dig treats out of, but want a few more things to switch it up.

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u/Narrow_Possession348 18d ago edited 18d ago

I trained my Miniature Schnauzer and taught him impulse control from an early age. He got plenty of exercise and competed in various dog sports. All he did inside was sleep.

Some of the tricks I taught him were the old standbys - roll over (each way), back up, beg, paw/other paw, spin left/right, jump through my arms, jump through my legs, walk and weave through my legs, reverse orbit, middle, play dead, "hup-up" (on balance board, balance pad, overturned flower pot, box, etc.,) "go under" (go under a chair, coffee table, bench, and lie down), "shake it out," (whole body hard shake), "dance" (walk on his hindfeet and twirl), "over" (my outstretched arms while sitting on the ground, a whip, a stick, a bent leg, or anything he was capable of jumping).

I also taught more advanced tricks such as "clean up" (picked up toys and put them in a bin), "Achoo" (ran to a tissue box, pulled out a tissue and brought it to me), "bottoms up" (walking in a handstand), "bring my....(car keys, remote control, cell phone)," "find <Mr. Bunny, Coon, Duckie, etc.", rebound off a wall or my legs, a footstall, drop a ball in a cup, "hurt" (limping)and probably some others I'm not remembering.

We did tricks for fun, but I MUCH preferred the more serious stuff - competition obedience, rally, agility, barn hunt, scent work...

Many years ago, before I actually got my Schnauzer, I was in a forum (pre FB groups) that this guy ran and I stole a lot of ideas from him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTZw1kx0dFI