The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever The Big Book Tricks of for the Best Dog Ever A Step-by-Step Guide to 118 Amazing Tricks & Stunts LARRY KAY and CHRIS PERONDI WORKMAN PUBLISHING • NEW YORK Copyright © 2019 by Larry Kay and Chris Perondi Original photography copyright © 2019 by Workman Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without written permission of the publisher. Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited. NOTICE TO READERS: The publisher and the authors of this book do not and cannot assume any responsibility for property damage or bodily injury caused to you or others as a result of any misinterpretation or misapplication of the information and instructions provided in this book. If you are uncertain about your or your dog’s ability to safely perform any of the techniques or stunts described in this book, you should first consult a medical or veterinary professional. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. Hardcover ISBN 978-1-5235-0570-8 Paperback ISBN 978-1-5235-0161-8 Design by Galen Smith Original photography by Mark Rogers Additional photos by: Genevieve Abbiss: pp. 276, 277; Linda Blake: pp. 255, 256, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 280, 282, 283; Beckie Fairchild, TGC Photography: pp. 176, 177, 179, 181, 182, 216, 218, 219, 221; Eliana Lopez: p. 174, top left; Karen Moureaux/ dogsportphotos.com: p. 271; Matt O’Harver: pp. 180, 217, 252, 253; Heather Signs: p. 281; Omar Von Muller: p. 174, top right and bottom Workman books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising or educational use. Special editions or book excerpts can also be created to specification. For details, contact the Special Sales Director at the address below, or send an email to [email protected]. Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 225 Varick Street New York, NY 10014-4381 workman.com WORKMAN is a registered trademark of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. Printed in China First printing February 2019 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 If you’ve ever rescued, rehabilitated, or rehomed a dog who needed to be adopted, this book is dedicated to you. Directly or indirectly, you’ve made a difference in my life. —Larry Kay For my first stunt dog, Pepper. When I adopted you, we were both diamonds in the rough. May the lessons you taught me enrich generations of dogs and inspire trainers across the globe. —Chris Perondi Contents Welcome! 1 Run the Bases ..........................78 How to Use This Book 2 Touch a Target ......................... 81 Push a Buzzer ..........................84 Before You Begin: Trick Training Basics 4 Ring the Bell ...........................86 The 101 Box ............................ 15 Close the Door .........................88 Open the Door .........................90 Beginner Tricks 17 Push a Ball .............................92 Kiss (with Sticky Nose Target) ........94 Peekaboo .............................. 18 Chin Rest and Freeze ..................96 Peekaboo Sit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cookie Nose ...........................98 Paw Shake .............................22 Cookie Nose Flip .....................100 Tug and Release .......................25 Hoop Jump ...........................102 Fetch ..................................26 Jump over My Arm ...................104 Boing ..................................28 Jump Through My Arms .............106 Jump Over ............................30 Jump into My Arms ..................108 Spin and Twist ........................32 Figure Eight ..........................110 Circle and Around .....................34 Walking Leg Weave ...................112 Heel and Side Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 On Two ...............................114 Sit Pretty ..............................38 Fetch Two Named Objects ...........116 Time Out ..............................40 Toy Cleanup ..........................118 Belly Up ...............................42 Catch a Ball ...........................120 Roll Over ..............................44 Bow Trick: Butt Balance ..............122 Back Up ...............................46 Crawl on Cue .........................124 Crawl on Lure ..........................48 Look Away ............................126 Cookie Paw ............................50 Shy ...................................128 Sad Puppy .............................52 Say Your Prayers ......................130 Speak ..................................54 Wrap It Up ............................132 Take a Bow ............................56 Shell Game ............................134 Find Me ................................58 Come and Go .........................136 Which Hand? ..........................60 Go Find ...............................137 Intermediate Tricks 63 Pro Tricks and Stunts 139 Get on a Platform ......................64 Moviemaking 140 Jump Across Platforms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Costume Acclimation ................144 Feet Up ................................70 Sticky Paw on an Object ..............149 Get in a Box (or Bowl) ................. 72 Lean In ................................150 Get on a Perch .........................74 Step Slowly ...........................151 Rotate on a Perch ......................76 Head Shake No .......................152 Hug an Object .........................154 Dance on Two Around Me ............232 Send Around a Corner ................156 Footsies ...............................234 Carry an Object to a Mark ............158 Criss-Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236 Push a Shopping Cart .................159 Touch Left, Touch Right ..............238 Steal the Handkerchief ...............160 Cancan ................................240 Ride in a Wagon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Back Leg Cancan .....................242 Peek over a Wall ......................164 Side Step Together ...................244 Climb in a Suitcase ...................166 March .................................246 Wipe Your Paws ......................168 Over and Over ........................248 Limp ..................................170 Crawl Weave ..........................250 Crash Through a Barrier .............172 Pro Interview: Sara Carson ...........252 Pro Interview: Omar Van Muller .....174 Extreme Stunts and Sports 254 Live Performance 176 Disc Dog 256 Core Strengthening and Catch a Flying Disc ...................258 Balance Training .................184 Run Around Your Legs ...............261 Jump Through My Legs ..............186 Throw in a Circle .....................262 Knee Rebound ........................188 Leg Vault ..............................264 Chest Rebound .......................190 Back Vault ............................265 Back Stall .............................192 Dock Diving 266 Foot Stall .............................194 Pro Interview: Suhey Perondi ........267 Back Up to Feet Up ...................196 Dock Diving ...........................268 Big Ball Roll ...........................198 Pull a Wagon ..........................200 Agility 270 Jump Rope with One Turner .........202 Pro Interview: Kate Moureaux .......271 Jump Rope with Two Turners .......204 Agility Tunnel ........................272 Hug My Leg ...........................206 Weave Poles ..........................274 Hug Me ...............................208 Dog Parkour 276 Hide Your Head .......................209 Pro Interview: Dr. Abigail Curtis .....277 Head Balance .........................210 Long Balance .........................278 Two-Paw Wave .......................212 Surf Dog and Board Sports 280 Suhey Perondi’s “Blind” Hoop Pro Interview: Lori Signs .............281 Jump Sequence ...................214 Board Acclimation ....................282 Pro Interview: Abby Cline ............218 Ride a Skateboard ....................284 Dog Dancing 220 Back Up Around ......................222 Appendices 286 Back Up Toward Me ..................224 Acknowledgments 302 Back Up Scoot ........................226 About the Authors 305 Back-Up Leg Weave ..................228 The Dogs 306 Hop Up ...............................230 Index 308 Welcome! C ongratulations on taking this adventure with your dog! As you embark on this journey, you’ll unlock more of your dog’s personality and discover hidden talents. You’ll bond with your dog more deeply, and you’ll find that training dog tricks and stunts can change your life. How do Chris and I (Larry) make this bold prediction? We’ll let you in on a secret: Neither of us expected to have careers with our dogs, let alone become the number-one stunt and trick dog performer in America (Chris) or a bestselling and award-winning dog book author/filmmaker with millions of Facebook fans (Larry). But when we do what we love, sometimes miracles will happen. Chris and I wish you more joy, confidence, connection, love, and—yes—miracles, and we believe that dog tricks can do the trick. When Chris invited me to see his stunt dog show for the first time, I had already been training and filming shelter dogs to promote the cause of rescue and adoption and to help these dogs find their forever homes. Seeing the Perondi Stunt Dogs perform was a game changer for me: Since every Perondi dog has been rescued, this validated my belief that shelter dogs are actually undiscovered stars. All they need is a little guidance and love to bring out their hidden talents. For the following year, Chris and I discussed various projects we could collaborate on. Then Workman Publishing called and the rest is . . . this book. Best barks, Larry Kay and Chris Perondi Join our community! For free videos, downloads, contests, and special offers, visit: dogtricksandstunts.com Visit Larry Kay: positivelywoof.com Hug an Object, Visit Chris Perondi: stuntdogshow.com page 154.