Table Of ContentThe 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
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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].
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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.
