How to teach your dog the "sock removal" trick
The dog trick "taking off socks" is not only fun, but also has a useful background: Service dogs learn to help people with disabilities.
Here you can learn from @die_appenshepherds how to teach your dog this fun trick.
What you need for the trick
- Treats as a reward
- Optional: Clicker (for confirmation)
- A loose-fitting sock that is as wide as possible
Take off your sock: This is how it works
You can train all the steps individually in short sessions (approx. 15 minutes) - spread them out over the course of the day. Always do it in such a way that your furry friend is not overstrained.
Step 1:
Hold the sock in your hand and let your dog make contact. Then you can start to offer the sock playfully. As soon as your dog engages with the sock, praise him immediately and give him treats.
You can now also include the command "sock" or "pull".
Step 2: Let your dog pull the sock from your hand
When your dog has understood that he should take the sock from your hand, you can teach him to pull the sock with slight resistance. Your dog needs a little more strength to pull the sock off your foot.
Put the sock over your arm and clench your hand into a fist so that the dog has enough space to pull on the sock. Don't forget: Reward your dog immediately when he pulls on the sock.
Step 3:
As soon as your dog has understood the principle, you can go one step further: Now pull the sock over the back of your foot (important: do not pull it completely over the heel). When the dog pulls the sock off, you can test whether he can also take it off when it is completely pulled on.
This trick can be learned quickly and is useful if you are not able to move well.
