Darf Blog

Teach your cat to do tricks!

What reward works with your kitty?

Yes!  You can teach your cat to do tricks!  We’ll describe how to do the tricks in later posts.  Your cat can learn to do tricks if you choose a time and reward that works for your kitty.  If edible rewards are used, choose a time when the cat is hungry.  Also, make sure your cat is well rested.

Before your begin, find out what your cat considers a reward.  Some cats like tuna fish or cat treats.  Some cats like toys or catnip stuffed toys.  Our cats like attention (they don’t respond to treats).

I test my cat to see if she is ready to learn by calling her.  If she comes she’s awake and wants something.

How to get your dog to shake

Have your dog sit.

Ask her to shake. Lift her paw. Give her a treat.

Do this 5 more times. Let her rest for at least 30 minutes.

Try again. Offer her your hand, ask her to shake. If she will does it without you lifting her paw, treat her. If she doesn’t lift her paw, ask her to shake again, lift her paw and treat her.

Soon, she will lift her paw to shake when you ask her. When you feel like she shakes on command, only treat her for shaking once of every 3-5 times she does it.

How often and how much to treat your dog

Dogs don’t care about the size of the treat you give them…they care about getting the treat. So, treat your dog more often with very small morsels.

One big treat each day, teaches them that they get one big treat a day. When you give your dog smaller treats each time they do something good they learn that good behavior elicits a reward.

If you want to give your dog a treat,  make him/her do something for it. Each time you reward her for an accomplishment, she learns something.

What sized treat should I give my dog?
Give toy-sized dogs approximately a 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch treat.

Give big dogs just enough so that he can tell you’ve given him a treat. Try a 1/4 inch x 1 inch circle.  Go as small as you can.

Remember, treat LESS more OFTEN!