Dog training with a sense of humor

Obedience training for dogs, necessary as it is for the development of a well-mannered companion, has one built-in problem, says dog trainer and author Liz Palika. ''General obedience has a tendency to be too serious," she says. ''Even when you're trying to be positive with your dog, there's a tendency to be too serious."

Peg that to the boot-camp mentality a lot of pet owners can't shake when it comes to obedience training, despite the introduction of more positive motivation methods in most training classes. In the minds of many dog lovers still, you take your dog to class to ''break" him of annoying behaviors, to bark commands at him, to correct him for being ''bad."

Your dog may be learning, but neither of you is having any fun. That's why Palika likes trick-training.

''When you get people to laugh, you have it made," she says. ''It's so much fun for the dog, too. They're getting your attention, and you're laughing. Dogs know what laughter is, and they pick up your attitude."

Palika has been a dog trainer for more than 20 years and the author of pet-care books for a decade. She started her career as a dog handler in the military and now teaches dog-training classes near San Diego. Obedience training may be her bread and butter, but she loves to get her students to teach their dogs tricks, too.

Sometimes it's not just for fun: Some of the trick-trained dogs from her classes end up showing off their skills at pet-therapy visits, and a couple have landed paid gigs in advertising.

But it's that changing of attitude that Palika likes about trick-training most of all. You're having fun with your dog, but he's still learning, she says, and this can be a great confidence-builder for a shy dog.

So where to start? Palika says to consider the temperament and physical abilities of your dog. Some tricks are best for active dogs, while others are well-suited to couch potatoes. Some physical limitations apply as well: Dogs with long backs, such as dachshunds, shouldn't be taught to beg because sitting up can put strain on their backs. ''Safety is always an issue," she says.

Above all, be modest in your expectations. ''Don't try to do the more elaborate tricks first," says Palika. ''Your dog will get discouraged, and you'll get discouraged. Start with the basics and work your way up."

The basics start with some of those behaviors commonly taught in obedience classes: ''sit," ''down," and ''stay," along with the request for attention, ''watch me." From these basics, it's easy to train the more simple of tricks, including ''shake hands" and ''roll over," ideal for the more sedentary dogs.

For active dogs, weaving through an owner's legs while walking is an easy one to teach. With the addition of some relatively inexpensive equipment, such as hoops, tunnels, and jumps, you can come up with routines that everyone will enjoy, including your dog.

Best of all, when your dog does succeed, the relationship between you will improve. ''Once you're successful at a couple of tricks, it's addictive," says Palika.