Trick Dog Program

Trick Dog Titling Program

Click here for Trick Dog Application (click here)

What are Dog Tricks?

Dog tricks are when we the owner associate a command to a specific behavior displayed by our dog. We all teach our cavaliers basic home training like sit or down. These commands are actually tricks.

Historically as jesters to the court of King Charles I, cavaliers have been rewarded by praises for their silly behaviors like spin or dance. What more could a Cavalier want beside lots of treats and praise while doing amazingly difficult and/or wonderfully simple skills. Tricks can be complex and difficult or simple and elegant. The choice is yours.

The trick dog titling program recognizes the biddability of the cavalier to perform their jester-like ability on command. Almost anything you teach your cavalier can be performed as a trick for a trick dog title.

There are four levels of trick dog titles, each level requires you to complete the lower level before you apply for the higher level.

Title	Abbreviation	Requirements
Trick Dog Novice	TKN	10 Tricks
Trick Dog Intermediate	TKI	TKN title plus 10 new tricks
Trick Dog Advanced	TKA	TKI title plus 5 new advance Level Tricks
Trick Dog Performer	TKP	TKA plus 10 tricks already demonstrated put together in a performance.

Positive reinforcement and clickers may be used at all levels of performance, luring with a treat or toy, however, may only be used at the trick dog novice level.

Below is a list of suggested tricks, however a “unique” trick not on the list needs to be approved by the evaluator prior to the evaluation. New tricks are limited only by imagination and, of course, with safety always being the primary condition. There are many excellent sources for discovery of new and interesting tricks you can teach

Resources:

Kyra Sundance and Chalcy, 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond With Your Dog.

Larry Kay and Chris Perondi, The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever.

Karen Pryor, www.clickertraining.com

Trick Dog evaluations are available online in addition to live performances at designated CKCSC, USA events. Online evaluations will use video conference or videos sent from your phone or computer.

We are extremely fortunate to have Fran Hellman, a wonderful AKC Certified Trick Dog Evaluator as our evaluator. To receive approval for a “unique” trick, please contact Fran Hellman sunjayscav@aol.com 845-234-1645 est.

Have fun with your cavalier, learning and teaching new skills and post those videos.

Each application and evaluation cost $25 payable to the CKCSC, USA.

To register for online evaluation:

Fill out the application
Indicate the level you are performing and the tricks you plan to perform.
If paying by credit card, complete the CKCSC Performance Title Application Credit Card Authorization Form included with this application (page 4).
Mail completed application and check or authorization form to: CKCSC, USA Membership, 10444 Tuminaro Lane, Amite, LA 70422. Or FAX completed application and authorization form to 985‐748‐8589.

An evaluator will contact you once they receive the application.

Suggested Tricks

Novice and Intermediate Tricks

Sit
Give paw
Down
Bow (as in “Take a bow”)
Spin
Crawl
Sit up in begging position
Go Kennel (bed, crate)
Retrieve thrown object
Speak
Walk around handler
Weave between handler’s legs
Jump on chair (box, table)
Place (go towards mat and sit/down/stand on it)
Jump low bar
Stand on balance ball
Stand on wobble board
Find specific toy or ball on floor with other toys
Sit/down stay while handler gets leash (10ft)
No touch (food)
Kiss
Hug
Heel on leash 15ft straight
Recall from 5 ft away
Go thru tunnel 2ft away
Sit/down/stand while handler walks around dog

Advanced Tricks

Back up (walk backwards)
Balance treat on nose, flip to eat when told “OK”
Barrel (roll with 2 paws, or stand on with 4)
Cover your eyes.
Cover-up with blanket.
Go find (handler hides, dog goes and finds)
Go hide (get under table)
Head down
Heel on leash with two changes of direction
Heel on leash thru crowd
Heel on leash between bowls of food
Hide your head (under blanket, front arm over head)
Jump into handler’s arms
Jump over handler’s back
Light (turn on pressure sensitive battery operated light)
Open door of mailbox, toy refrigerator, get object.
Play dead.
Scent articles (choose from 5 – dog can ‘read’)
Sit or down at distance (15 ft)
Tissue out of box (and bring to handler)
Toys (take to and drop in box)
Weave poles (6 weave poles)
Jump three jumps with a change of direction
Go thru a tunnel with handler 10 ft away
Recall from 20 ft away

Q&A

Q: I have never formally trained a dog, how can I learn to train a trick to my dog?

A: Your dog may already be performing behaviors that can be constituted as or turned into tricks. There are many Youtube videos online that demonstrate how to teach tricks to dogs. Please refer to the resources listed on our website page (Events-Performance-Trick Dog).

Q: Is there anything I need to buy to teach my dog tricks?

A: You do not need to buy anything to teach your dog tricks. Some people like to train with a dog training clicker. A clicker is a noisemaker that indicates or marks a dog’s behavior at a precise moment. This way of training is a positive reinforcement training method. Dog training clickers are available for sale online.

Q: Do I need to buy props?

A: No, in fact, you can use homemade props, such as taping two cardboard boxes together to form a tunnel, or, you can use a step stool. You may use a chair as a post for teaching the dog to go around the post on their own. Be creative.

Q: If I ask my dog to do a trick during the evaluation and my dog does not perform the trick, can we try to do it over again?

A: Yes, as long as the number of times is within reason and your dog is not being stressed. Your dog will need to perform each trick two times correctly for all levels except for the Performer level.

Q: Can I use food or my dog’s favorite toy?

A: Luring with a piece of food or a toy may be used at the Novice level only. Food or a toy reward may be used after the performance of the trick at the Intermediate, Advance and Performer levels.

Q: Can I make up any tricks for the evaluation?

A: You may choose your own tricks but they must be approved by the evaluator, in advance of the evaluation.

Q: What video media can be used for the electronic evaluation?

A: A zoom or facetime meeting with the evaluator may be scheduled or individual videos of each trick may be sent to the evaluator via mobile phone, email, youtube, or dropbox. You may use any device that records videos (ie; cell phone, ipad, computer, camera). Remember, all tricks must be performed twice successfully for the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Q: When should I send the application?

A: Once you have recorded the successful number of tricks required, complete the application send it by regular mail or fax to CKCSC, USA. An evaluator will be in touch once the payment is processed.

Q: Where do I find the list of tricks my cavalier performed for their Trick Dog title?

A: You can request the list of tricks from the evaluator (Fran Hellman sunjayscav@aol.com 845-234-1645 est.) or performance recorder (Sabine Gregory sgregory5@verizon.net).