[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Lhamilton

Hi,

I'm having fun teaching my 7-month-old tricks using hard food as treats. He's able to spin around in one spot, sit up and beg, roll over, jump through my arms and do a small bark. We're not quite at the stage where he can do all tricks by hand signal or verbal command but he's getting close.

I've also taught down and sit and am working on down-stay. I'm a bit concerned though that the down and sit are with treats. Is that going to be a problem since they're standard obedience commands?

By the way, one trick is rather interesting -- it took him a bit of time to learn to give me his paw in command. He tried licking at my hand, pawing with both paws etc. However once he learned the trick, he now uses it in a very loving way all by himself. Whenever he's being very friendly he gives me his paw and looks up at me lovingly.

Linda

Perhaps if you only reward with treat some of the times and with praise and a pat the other?