By: Szashe, Certified Trainer, Treat2Train
The “Cha-Cha-Cha” trick is a great trick and exercise.
Set-up:
To teach a reliable “Cha-Cha-Cha,” consistency is key. You will also need a handful of bite-sized treats for this cue and a clicker or a word (i.e. Good boy/girl, Yes) to mark your dog’s behavior. The physical cue for “Cha-Cha-Cha,” is to shoo your dog back with your hands.
Step 1:
With your dog standing facing you, walk forward toward him. When he takes a step backwards, click and treat.
Step 2:
Continue stepping forward. When he takes multiple steps backwards, click and treat.
Step 3:
Practice this until he understands that if he backs up, he deserves a treat. Start walking toward him less.
Step 4:
Once he has learned this, say, ” Cha-Cha-Cha ” as he backs up and as you give the physical cue.
Step 5:
Click and treat every time he performs the cue. Reinforce the cue with extra training sessions.