Good party trick, used for assistance dogs, can also be used as part of another trick such as retrieve an article out of a closed drawer and then the dog closes the drawer when finished.
Equipment Needed
Dog, treats, clicker, hair scrunchie, or piece of rope
Method
When I taught my dog this trick, I based the method on Shirley Chongs clicker retrieve but used it on a drawer instead. I taught both of my dogs to do a formal retrieve using the above method. http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html I also watched the bow wow video tape.
Step 1. (Not essential)
See if your dog likes to play tug, get him playing tug and use a command. I use "tuggy tuggy".
Step 2. (If your dog does not play tug go straight to this step).
Put a hair scrunchie or similar on the drawer, (do not use anything smaller than a hair scrunchie, we want to make it easy for the dog).
Step 3.
Put the dog (offlead) in front of the drawer, have drawer slightly open. When the dog looks at the scrunchie, click and treat. Repeat 10 times. When the dog can do this 10 times, you are ready for Step 4.
Step 4.
Withhold the click, and wait for the dog to offer something else, such as touching the drawer with his nose. The dog will probably look at the drawer and then look at you and then look at the drawer again and try something different. Reward these nose touches. When the dog is touching the drawer ten times in a row with its nose, it is time for Step 5.
Step 5.
With hold the click and wait for the dog of offer something else, could be just putting the scrunchie in his mouth. Click and treat this. Test is when the dog can do it 10 times move to the next step.
Step 6.
Wait for strong pulls of the drawer, once the dog is pulling the drawer, push the drawer all the way in. You now have a dog who can open drawers.
This trick took my dog a couple of sessions to master. I found that when I put a toy inside the drawer he was super keen to open the drawer.
ADVANCED
Combine this trick with open drawer/door and teach the dog to retrieve a toy out of the drawer, then get the dog to close the drawer/door afterwards. I taught my dog this, and he got so enthusiastic that he pulled the drawer off the track. He loves retrieving. For help with retrieving see link above.
Trouble Shooting
Won't my dog now start opening all the doors and cupboards?
You only let your dog open doors/drawers that have scrunchies attached to them.
Close Doors/Drawers - Video 215kb
Prequisite -
Dog must know Targetting - Read Up and teach this trick for a week first.
http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=8044
Method - there are three methods, you can use one or try a
combination
Equipment Needed Clicker, Treats, Light weight door (such as kitchen
cupboard door)
Target Method
Get a small target that the dog is interested in, could be a yellow sticky
note, piece of cardboard etc. Stick this to the cupboard door.
Dog is off lead in distraction free environment. Dog is in front of the
cupboard door and it is slightly open.
1. When the dog sniffs the target, click and treat do this about 20 twenty
times.
2. Now hold back and don't click for sniff the target, wait for a harder
nudge. Then click and treat the door moving slightly about 20 times.
3. Now hold off and click and treat the harder pushes.
4. Now only click for the door closing. Do this twenty times.
5. When the dog is successfully opening a slightly closed door, open the
door a bit further and repeat the above steps. Once he has been successful
add the cue word, I use DOOR
6. Now cut the target to a bit smaller, and repeat the above steps, then cut
the target smaller again, and repeat above steps and then phase out the
target.
7. You can now teach the drawer using the same method, but choose a drawer
at the dogs head height or lower. Use a lightweight empty or near empty
drawer.
Shaping Method
Put dog in front of slightly open door, (lightweight small doors work best,
kitchen cupboard, laundry cabinet door etc)
1. When the dog looks at the door click and treat. Repeat this 20 times.
2. Now wait for the dog to offer something else, such as a harder nose push,
click and treat this 20 times.
3. Keep repeating step 2, and click for harder and harder nose pushes.
4. Once the door is being closed, only click for door closures.
5. Once successful add the cue word "DOOR"
Food Lure Method
This is similar to the shaping method, except you put a little bit of mince
on the door, so the dog will nose the door and click that, then repeat the
above steps.
Trouble Shooting
My dog actually ate the sticky note, so I did a combination of shaping and
luring methods.
My dog also tends to push the door the wrong way, making it open more. I
just let him keep trying and he pushes the door hard enough the wrong way
that it actually bounces back and closes.
Dogs don't generalise too well, so when you go to practice on another door,
you may need to go back a few steps. Don't click for paw touches only nose
touches. You don't want the dog slamming that door, or scratching the door.
Make sure you add a cue word. I didn't and now when my dog sees an open
door/drawer he has to go and close it. Some dogs can get fanatical about
open doors/drawers.
Also I have taught my dog to open doors and drawers and when I first taught
him he would open it, and then immediately close it. It was very funny to
watch, so make sure you add a cue word. Open doors/drawers will be taught
later down the track.
ADVANCED
Once your dog is successful at close the door, you can add in the drawer
using the same methods. You can also open several cupboard doors and click
the dog only after he has closed two doors, then three doors. You can also
open several drawers and get the dog to close all of them.
