Cat Trick of the Day

9/15/13

Hey friends!  Katie here :)  Yep, you read that title right!  We now have an official Cat Trick of the Day!  We had a friend request it and now here it is.  We're going to start with a really basic trick.  Well actually it's not a trick at all.  It's Clicker Training.  A clicker is a really useful tool in training, because your pet can hear it very easily.  You click the clicker right after you pet does the behavior you want correctly, but sometimes pets are really scared of the clicker.  That's why you have to train them to like it.  Once they like the clicker and know they get a treat after it they know that whatever they did was the correct behavior.

Supplies:

Clicker (You can easily get these at pet stores.)
Treats (I'd recommend the cat's favorite.  Cats can be a little picky.  I know my cat's favorite treats are Whisker Lickin's, so I use those to train Cailee.)
Cat 
Yourself

Clicker Training:

1. With a handful of treats in your hand click the clicker and give a treat to your cat.  Repeat this many times.

2. If your pet is scared away at first when they settle down give them a decent amount of treats, beginning to ease down their nerves.

3. That is it!  Simple right?  Now you can use a clicker when training other tricks!

If you have a lizard Mydivapets would really appreciate it if you could send us some pictures to use as the star!  Me and Allison will choose the winner!  Enter for a chance to win.

Do you love Mydivapets?  Tell us below by commenting!  We love to here from you.

Check out our other websites: mydivapets.yolasite.com, mostlyfantasywriter.blogspot.com, thesurprisinglycraftyme.blogspot.com, Mydivapets (Facebook Page), and The Life of a Writer (Facebook Page).

Did you know at our writing blog we have another competition going?  If not, we do!  I am looking for someone that can make me a cover for my book The First Wizard.  The book isn't finished yet, but when it is if you make the winning cover than you get a free copy!  Enter for a chance to win the amazing prize.  Also, be on a look out for Allison's new book!

Don't forget to only train in three five minute sessions a day.  You don't want your pet thinking training is boring!

If we don't have a trick for a pet that you have please tell us!  We will get right on it and create a trick for your pet.

Spread the word about our blog to everyone you know!  We strive to make the bond between pet and owner strong and training is just one of the great ways to do this!

Remember that small treats work just as well as large treats, so unless your pet does something amazing try to keep the treats small so that you don't waste any treats!

Try making homemade treats!  Your cat will go nuts for them!

Happy training!

Dog Trick of the Day

9/13/13

Hey guys!  Katie again.  Today I'm doing another dog trick.  Are you ready to finish the trick we started? Lets go!

Supplies:

Bottle 
Water
Dog
Treats
Clicker
Yourself
Refrigerator
A dog that knows the Touch command  (If you dog doesn't know this there is a fairly old post made by me.  Press the dogs tab in the word cloud 8th item down on the right hand bar.)

Get Me a Bottle of Water

Close the Door (dog uses his nose)

1.  Once your dog is comfortable holding the bottle in his/her mouth, practice having him/her target the refrigerator door with his/her nose.

2.  Open the door a little, give the Touch command, and click and treat him/her for moving the door shut even a little.

3.  Gradually leave the door open a little more and more until the dog is shutting the refrigerator door with purpose.  Remember to click and treat your dog for even small attempts to push the refrigerator door shut.

4.  Verbally label the behavior Shut the Door by saying it right after the dog does the motion and then treat them.  Repeat.

Close the Door (dog uses his paws)

1.  Use a paw target to get him/her to touch the refrigerator with his/her paws, than click and treat the behavior.

2.  Open the door slightly and tell your dog to paw the door; click and treat him/her for moving the door shut.

3.  Gradually open the door more and more so your dog has to push the door closed harder to earn the click and treat.

4.  Verbally label the behavior Shut the Door by saying that right after the dog completes the task.  Repeat.

Yay!  That's the end.  You taught your dog to retrieve you a bottle of water!  Happy Training!

Now listen up.  Mydivapets is having a competition to get a star lizard!  We want your lizard to be Mydivapets star lizard.  Enter for a chance to win.

Check out out other websites!  Mydivapets.yolasite.com, thesurprisinglycraftyme.blogspot.com, mostlyfantasybookwriter.blogspot.com, Mydivapets facebook page, and the Life of a Writer facebook page!

I also have a very special announcement!  Allison is currently writing a story, so go check out mostlyfantasybookwriter.blogspot.com to check for updates on her story!  There also is another competition over at that blog.  For my book, The First Wizard, I need a cover design and unfortunately I'm not very good at that kind of thing, so I'm counting on you guys to send me some wonderful ideas.  The winner gets a free copy of the finished book.  Enter for a chance to win.

Don't forget to only train in three five minute sessions a day.  You don't want your pet getting bored and dreading training!

If you have a pet that we don't have a trick for please tell us!  We will get back to you as soon as possible and before you know it you will know how to train your pet!

Dog Trick of the Day

Hello my friends! it is Allison ready to teach you a wonderful dog trick. Yes, I know I have been going nuts with dog tricks, but I have tons of ideas! Are you ready to learn one of them? Well lets say it actually has to parts... first it is seek!

Supplies
Clicker
Treats
You
A dog that knows the command come, and stay.

1. First, command stay. stand behind a close wall, clearly visible to your dog.

2. Command with the word, come!

3. Keep repeating. Lets say, training has a lot of repeating. As you repeat, get farther and farther from were your dog can see you. Make sure it doesn't walk around looking for you. Make sure you are not to far though! You still need your dog to find you! As you keep going, slowly, change the word come to seek.

4. If you hide, and your dog comes automatically to you when you say seek, your dog should get it eventually. When they do get it, congratulations! Repeat until your dog can do it every time. Now your dog can seek.

If you have a lizard that is great in photos, enter it in our contest! We need a mydivapets lizard! Maybe you can own the mydivapets lizard! Just send us a photo. Me and Katie will decide if it is mydivapets material.

Thanks for reading! Watch out for part two! Happy training!

Dog trick of The Day

Hello dog lovers! It is Allison here. We are going to do some more dog training today. This trick will require the command touch, or target for your dog, so if your dog doesn't know that command, we have a really old post by Katie on the command, touch. I also want to apologize for not posting a lot of tricks. Me and Katie are very busy this time of year, so it it hard. Although, we have gotten a few posts up on our Terrific Treats area. You should check them out! Also, you may want to be notified that this is a pretty hard trick to get on command, but your dog will think it is an awesome trick, for it is fun. It also will teach your dog right and left a bit. Now to introduce.... Spin!

Supplies
Clicker
Treats
You!
A dog that knows the command touch. (It can also be called target!)

1. Start by having your dog follow your hand in a circle, using the command, touch.(Or target.)

2. When he/she makes a full turn, click, and treat!

3. Do this a few times, eventually adding the hand signal for spin. ( A circular motion with a pointed index finger)

4. Try fading out the word touch or target, and start replacing it with spin right(if your going right) or spin left(if you are spinning the dog left!)

5. Practice until your dog can spinning at your command and hand motion!

Don't practice to long! 3 5 minute sessions work! Also, you don't want your poor dog getting dizzy!

 If you have an all-star lizard that is great in pictures, enter our contest! Send us a photo, because we need an mydivapets lizard!

I hope you enjoyed! Happy training!

Dog Trick of the Day

8/ 19/ 13

Hey guys!  Katie here.  Sorry about my lack of posting, but haven't you loved Allison's posts?!  I've just been busy with school and schoolwork, but now I'm back so no fear!  Today's trick is pretty difficult, but with a lot of work it will be perfect!  It comes in three parts, so technically three tricks in one.  Cool, huh?  Today's trick is (drum roll please)... Get me a Water Bottle!

Supplies:

Bottle of Water

A dog

Yourself

Treats

Clicker

Refrigerator

Strap

Getting Me a Bottle of Water: Part 1

Getting the Water Bottle:

1. Hand your dog a bottle of water and tell him/ her to Take It.  Click and treat your dog for holding onto it for a few seconds.

2. Move away from your dog and have him/ her come to you over greater and greater distances, so your dog gets used to bringing the bottle to you wherever you are in a room.

3. Place the bottle of water on the floor and tell your dog to Take It, then Bring It to you.  Click and treat him/ her for retrieving it, then gradually withhold the click until the dog is on him/ her way back to you.

4. Put the bottle of water on a low shelf on the refrigerator and practice having him/ her Take It.  Click and treat your dog for approaching, then taking, then bringing the bottle of water to you over short training sessions.

Opening the Refrigerator Door:

1. Put a strap on the refrigerator door to make it easier for your dog to open it easily.

2. Starting with the refrigerator open, hand him/ her the strap and tell him/ her Take It.  Click and treat him/ her for taking the strap.

3. Once your dog is taking the refrigerator strap easily, delay the click for an extra second or so and click and treat your dog for holding it.

4. Standing slightly behind your dog, call him/ her back to you while he/ she holds the refrigerator strap.  Try making him come to you much like a fetch, but without letting go of the strap at all.

5. When he/ she can hold onto the strap while backing up, click and treat him/her for actually moving the door.

6.  Gradually close the door until the door's almost clicked shut, so that your dog has to pull a bit harder to open it.

7.  Once your dog can open it when it's shut all the way, try letting him/ her retrieve the strap on his/ her own.  At first, click and treat any attempt that your dog makes to take the refrigerator strap.

8. Gradually add a little distance from the refrigerator so that your dog is approaching the refrigerator from greater and greater distances.  This helps your dog find his way there without your help.

9. Eventually delay the click and treat so that your dog is taking the strap and starting to back up away from the refrigerator to pull open the door before you click.

I know this is only two parts, but I'll get the next to soon!  I'm just tired from writing.

Lizard Trick of the Day

Hello! It is Allison. And are you ready for another lizard trick of the day?! Lets hope so. Now lets start with the basics of training. First, you want to male sure you are doing an okay time frame. Lets say, you are approximately supposed to train in three, five minute sessions.  Want to get started? Well... hang on! We need to announce the awesome trick! This trick is a glorious trick, which any animal can do with the right training... Target!!!

Supplies

A target, that your lizard can touch his/her nose on.

A lizard.

An awesome trainer... you!

Your lizard's  favorite treats.

A clicker.(Optional, although helpful!)
Make sure your lizard knows how to follow your hand

Target!

1. Start by holding the target in front of the lizard, and say target. You always want to start by teaching your pet the word.

2.Now, put some treats on the target. Something you can slather on, a bit sticky and liquidy is usaully a good choice for target training. 

3. Hold out the target in front of the lizard. A treat is on the target, so your lizard will go for it, right? Well, it hopefully will!

4. When your lizard's nose touches, say appraise the lizard, and give it a treat from the other hand. you can even take a slight bit of the treat from the target.

5. Keep repeating step three and four. Gradually, keep wiping a tiny bit of the treat off for rewards, whenever your lizard's nose touches. Just make sure your lizard isn't eating stuff directly off the target. That is bad for training because the lizard starts to think it is just a food station.

6. When you do this procedure, move the target around in different places. This way, the lizard can learn new spots, and doesn't get attached to one spot.

7. Keep repeating procedure until your lizard it targeting sharply.. 

8. Is your lizard targeting sharply? If so, congratulations! You have trained your lizard to target!

Do you have an all-star lizard? Have you thought you could do something super cool with them, along with training? Maybe that something could be entering in Mydivapets contest! All you have to do is send us some photos of your lizard, and me and Katie can see if it is Mydivapets materiel! If so, maybe it can appear in the lizard photos on the lizard pages! Also, if you have a pet we don't write about, please tell us! We will get started right away! Thanks! Happy training!

Dog Trick of the Day

Hello everyone! It's Allison. And today I will be doing another dog trick. Well, I hope you enjoy! Remember about how long to train- three five minute sessions! Now to announce the dog trick... how to make them give!

Supplies

A dog that noes how to fetch, play ball, Frisbee, ect.

Yummy dog treats.

You!

Clicker( It would be helpful, but not everyone uses one even though it is slower!)

Give it!

1.Start by throwing your item, and having the dog fetch. A lot of puppies don't drop the ball at first when they fetch.

2.Start by saying give. Yes, the puppy is most likely not going to give, but you want the puppy to learn the word.

3. Carefully tug the ball from the puppy, and say give again.

4. Repeat the throw.  Then try again getting the ball back, without chasing the puppy. If you chase the puppy, the puppy will think you are playing a game! You really are trying to train!

5. When the puppy comes to you, repeat step three.

6. Keep repeating steps 4 and 5.

7. As you move through this progress, slowly start tugging less and less.

8. You know you have it when your dog drops it when you say give, without any tugging.

9. Congrats! You have taught your dog to give!

If you start getting bored, chances are your dog is getting bored. Remember the approximate time limits! Also, Mydivapets wants to hear from you! If you have a pet we are not posting tricks for, make sure we know! Also, if you have a good-looking lizard, can you please send us his/her pictures? We need a star Mydivapets lizard. Hey, your lizard could become a Mydivapets star! Good luck, and happy training!