I have a 9yr old gsd/husky and want to keep training him as he is the HAPPIEST dog in the world when in training. So far we have done basic obedience, therapy training (he is a therapy dog), and basic agility training. Since he does work with children and elderly I want some fun things that they can do with him. He can hi-five and hi-ten, beg, play dead, fetch, wait, pick things up, etc.

I'm looking for some new ideas on what to train him mostly for his therapy sessions, but also he is SO much happier when we have a weekly training class, and do additional training during the week. I tend to get lazy when we don't have a specific training goal.

Have you tried Rally Obedience?

http://www.rallyobedience.com/

Freestyle obedience can be a lot of fun (the dancing with dogs stuff you can find on YouTube). Maybe you can find a class in your area. This is something you could take with you into your Therapy visits (even little mini-routines).

My GSD loves our little routine, just something we made up ourselves. I make up my own music (you don't even need a tape recorder or anything<g>, and march along, with her spinning a couple of times to the outside on my left, then weaving between my legs as I march, ending up on the other side, spinning to the outside there, then we change so that she's facing me in front, I march forwards, she backs up, I back up, she follows, eventually, I'll flip her back around to one of my sides...she'll happily do this as long as I feel like humming the Star Spangled Banner or something else marchy, or something Motown (Stop in the Name of Love is a lot of fun, since you have that stop! thing going on). And, it's a lot of fun to do it in front of an audience. People eat this stuff up. All the little pieces are easy to train, and it's fun to put it all together, too. Best of all, you can do it anywhere, anytime you get the urge.

leih merigian