🎓 How Trick Titles Can Level Up Your Service Dog Training
Added 2025-08-07 01:00:06 +0000 UTCYou are seeing this video ad-free and a day early. Thanks for being a Patreon member! Think trick titles are just for fun? Think again. In
You are seeing this video ad-free and a day early. Thanks for being a Patreon member!
Think trick titles are just for fun? Think again.
In this week’s video, I’m breaking down how earning trick dog titles can actually improve your service dog’s training—from building critical body awareness to boosting confidence, focus, and teamwork. Whether you're training a future service dog or just looking to strengthen your bond, this is one strategy you don't want to overlook.
P.S. You’ll also get some inspiration as you watch John Denver work through his Novice through Performer trick titles (and grow from 10 weeks to 10 months in just a few minutes!)
If you are interested in helping others find these resources (and helping me grow the channel) please:
1) Watch the video in YouTube by clicking the "YouTube" logo above and watching on youtube's website.
2) Click the thumbs up button on YouTube
3) Leave a comment in the YouTube comments section (even if it's just an emoji or two!)
4) Watch all the way through (increases my watch time which is huge on YT)
5) Share with a friend who you think will benefit from watching it!
Comments
Haha yeah it definitely has handler mechanics in it! I sometimes practice things without my dog to get the pattern down, and then invite him into the picture :)
Laura DeMaio Roy
2025-08-11 19:21:12 +0000 UTCTeaching the leg weave looks like it is about 95% handler mechanics! Gonna have to watch this a few times and practice without my pup first, lol!
Marcy
2025-08-09 02:53:52 +0000 UTCI do evaluate for DMWYD as well. I don't have a comparison. I do AKC with CoolWhip and Denver but wen't through DMWYD for Jake.
Laura DeMaio Roy
2025-08-08 12:50:29 +0000 UTCHa! Love it!
Laura DeMaio Roy
2025-08-07 23:31:42 +0000 UTCI’m going to teach a few basic tricks to kiwi at 10 weeks just for the fun. I have to say teaching him early on touch is so beneficial- we do have to refine it. We have a button that he touches to go to toilet and he’s really picking it up. I’m super cautious of the fact that he’s young and I’m trying to slow it down so he doesn’t get overwhelmed/ burned out but also not bored. As I’m writing this I’ve shown him a few times how to push his crate door closed and he is doing it for fun 😂
Anna O'Hare
2025-08-07 23:00:33 +0000 UTCDo you do evaluation for DMWYD? Do you have a comparison of them vs AKC?
Kya
2025-08-07 22:57:03 +0000 UTCWAHOOOOO! That whole comment is the best testimonial for trick training for SDs ever!
Laura DeMaio Roy
2025-08-07 20:19:28 +0000 UTCIf a dog is unsure about going through a tunnel, it probably means they aren't confident in tight spaces or spaces where things are over their head (I see this a lot in herding dogs because of pressure sensitivity - which is something they're bred for in the herding realm but can cross over to other things). So I'd approach that as the problem first and start with making them feel super duper confident going through tight spaces. So, between the couch and the wall for instance. Then I'd work with going under the coffee table, or the regular table, have chairs lined up back to back to make a shoot, put a blanket over that shoot to create a top. You want them having so much fun going through tight spaces. I'd reinforce with food or play at the other end (but make sure not to force them in! They need to opt in). Once they're good with all that, i'd seek out a really large but short tunnel. Sometimes they have them at dog parks, before trying a "real" agility style tunnel. And when you do think about an agility tunnel, be sure to shorten it up. I show a wall sensitivity exercise in my tuck video for reference! https://youtu.be/lKvPN467NZg
Laura DeMaio Roy
2025-08-07 20:16:34 +0000 UTCMy 2yo GSB/Mal mix won't even consider going through a tunnel. Any suggestions for me getting her through?
Aury
2025-08-07 15:54:08 +0000 UTCMy 7 month old SDiT puppy just received her TKN, TKI, TKA yesterday! Many of the tasks needed for my son are the foundations for the tricks she did. While working with her on the tricks I noticed that she was becoming quicker and happier to do her tasks. I was worried that teaching the tricks would take time and progress away from public access. It was quite the opposite and was well worth every minute. :)
Christina W
2025-08-07 01:28:01 +0000 UTCLove this!
Tasha DeVries
2025-08-07 01:08:25 +0000 UTC
