What do you get when you combine 4 weeks of tricks training ending with a 30 minute photoshoot?! World class cuteness, that’s what!
I LOVED photographing the dogs showing off their new talents in the recent Tricks and Pics class. I loved EVEN MORE seeing the bond between the dogs and their people. These pups adored their people, and worked hard to make them proud.
Some (my husband) would say that I’m a dog training junky. It’s true. I am. I used to spend my money on cute shoes and the latest fashions, but now my discretionary funds go to training classes for Clooney.
I do it because Clooney loves to learn and I love helping him learn. Truth be told, I love showing off his talents. Yup, if he were a human kid, I’d be driving a mini-van with a bumper sticker bragging about his achievements.
In all seriousness, our bond and connection grows stronger with each and every new thing I teach him. Training is a wonderful way build a special relationship with your pup. Dogs crave to learn and please their humans.
I’ve mentioned before that Clooney was a difficult teen. He was handsome and smart (still is) and as far as I could tell, he thought he was THE TOP DOG in Seattle (he wasn’t wrong). But periodically during his wily adolescence, I didn’t find him very cute. Don’t get me wrong -- I never stopped loving him. I just thought he looked like a cross-eyed monster at times.
Then I discovered the value of trick training. When he would embarrass me in public, I’d redirect him and ask him to show me some tricks. He became cute again. I could cope. AND, he learned a different way of showing up in the world. It was a total win-win for both of us!
Thankfully Clooney’s adolescence is a distant memory and my mature/distinguished boy rarely lets out his inner hooligan. BUT…he throws out cute tricks daily just to make me laugh or to give him a treat. My favorite? He asks for permission to steal the cats’ dinners by giving them a bow. What’s not to love about that?
Excuse the bad phone picture, but sometimes the best camera is the one I am holding at the time cuteness occurs....
This is why I am SO thrilled to partner with Lindy on her “Tricks and Pics” class! If you want a deeper bond with your dog and to show off his/her cuteness…sign up for the class. Seriously. You won’t regret it! Here's the link: Tricks and Pics!
In the meantime, here are some fun resources to get you started trick training:
Karen Pryor, Fun & Handy Tricks
You can even earn a “trick dog title” like Clooney!
This girl dances for treats!
Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks?? This 13 year old beauty really doesn't like wearing "clothes" but her mom taught her to HAPPILY wear a party hat!
This little guy will sit on a box! Actually...he does a lot more than that on a box, but preferred to sit when the big studio lights were flashing.
So, we gave him a bone and he gave us his best downward dog!