Yesterday was Tuesday, you know what that means.
Yup, Tuesday night tricks class.
We were a little bit late and Ariane was handing out hula hoops.
I don’t know about you, but hula hoops aren’t my thing. Don’t get me wrong, I can do a mean impression on the Wii balance board, but put a real hoop around my hips and all bets are off. (You might want a video camera handy though, it would probably be very amusing.)
Thankfully the hoops were for the dogs, not for the people.
No my sweet, they are for jumping through.
What? You’re asking me to jump through hoops? WTF is that about?
Well that’s how it would have gone down if Delilah could talk.
Thankfully she cannot.
I don’t have any other pictures of her using the hoop, but try to visualize it. Stand the hoop up, slide just a bit of the hoop between your legs and hold hit there. This frees up your hands.
Then using a treat lure your dog through the hoop, and toss the treat away from you. In this manner the dog understands that you want them to go totally through the hoop.
You can call it whatever you like, I’m using “HOOP.”
Boring.
No comments from the peanut gallery Delilah.
Once your dog is comfortable going through the hoop you can raise it slightly if you’d like. For Delilah I had to throw the treat quite a distance, because if I didn’t she didn’t pick up her feet properly.
Ariane says it is because she is focused on the treat, so it makes sense to toss the treat.
I also used the hoop to lasso her, when she got away from me once. 🙂
Another trick we learned is Peek-a-Boo. This is when you lure you dog around your right side and they come to a sit between your legs.
I hope to get a couple of videos together maybe this weekend so I can show you how it looks. The key to this trick especially with a dog the size of Delilah (or if you have super short arms) is to use two treats. With one treat you lure her around your right side.
(No, that is not flabby stomach hanging out of my shirt, it is the design of the shirt, it’s got patches of flesh color on it. Which isn’t to say that I DON’T have flabby stomach flesh, it’s just not hanging out of the shirt. give me some credit, I have a little class.)
Timing is key. When she reaches my side, I should step to my left with my left foot and reach between my legs with my left hand, thereby luring her through to complete the trick.
If I’ve done it right, she will be sitting between my legs.
I’m hoping the finished product will look way more polished than this when we’re done.
2 brown dawgs says
I think I would be seriously challenged in your class. Hold a hoop between my legs. Lure a dog with two treats and end up with them sitting between my legs. I am very uncoordinated….lol. You are doing a great job. I look forward to seeing video.
Jodi Stone says
It isn’t that bad, I’m sure you’d do fine. The problem for me is the pictures. LOL I can’t take the pictures and train too!!
Donna says
You ever think that dogs must wonder why the heck we want to teach them these tricks….yet they are so much fun for us people to watch!
Jodi Stone says
I’m always wondering what they’re thinking Donna! Why is it we love to watch the tricks?
Blueberry's human says
Thank you for clearing that up about the stomach flesh. Lol!!
I bet you will have that trick down pat in no time at all and afterwards you’ll think – why did I ever think that was hard?
Jodi Stone says
You’re probably right! I hope it’s soon though. 🙂
Genevieve Petrillo says
Mom taught me the hula hoop trick. I can jump through easily, but if she holds it up too high, I run underneath. Shortcut!!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Jodi Stone says
I can’t imagine me ever raising the hoop too high, she is a heavy dog and I would be too nervous! LOL
Jen@MyBrownNewfies says
Alright you had me up until your caption about the shirt, after that I couldn’t stop laughing!
Jodi says
It was supposed to make you laugh!! I just don’t always know whether I succeed or not. 🙂
Kristine says
I wish I had a hula hoop at home! Shiva will jump through my arms but it would look much fancier if I had an actual hoop to hold. Maybe I’ll have to see if I can find one somewhere. It’s such a cute idea! I am looking forward to the videos!
Jodi Stone says
The instructor said Job Lots usually has them in the spring but I did see some at K-Mart today. I’m not sure if you have any around you.
I love your tricks! I bet you could get her to jump high too!
A Husky Life says
That is such a fun class! I can’t wait to see the video.
Jodi Stone says
It is a fun class! I hope the video turns out okay. 🙂
Jen says
I am fundamentally unable to hula hoop. I’m unclear why.
I want a hula hoop as well, for Elka to jump through. My arms won’t make a big enough ring for the two of us to survive that training, I don’t think. (maybe that one I got for my 9th birthday is still in my grandparents’ garage….?)
Jodi Stone says
If you can’t dig out that old Hula Hoop, I found one at K-Mart today. 🙂 No, I can’t imagine having Delilah jumping through my arms. LOL
Gizmo (@GizmoGeodog) says
My mom is seriously no coordinated enuff to try this…She’d need at least two more hands to even try BOL! So she’s very impressed by your efforts and would love to see the videos *snoogles*
Jodi Stone says
I’ll do my best next week! If we use the Hula Hoops again and I can get the instructor to record it! i don’t have a hula hoop at home….yet. 🙂
Basil says
I’m pretty sure lassoing a dog with a hola hop is not a bonified trick – sounds like fun tho!!
Jodi Stone says
No I’m pretty sure it doesn’t count either. LOL It was crude, but effective.