Page 56 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

Perspectives

Dog tricks and stunts have entertained humans for years at vaudevilles,
festivals, movies and more. We humans are drawn to watching dogs perform.

The world of trick dog has expanded by leaps and bounds over the last 3 years
with online trick titles pushing to the forefront when “Stay at Home” became
the norm during COVID19; virtual dog training took off.

Getting

Tricky:

A new American Kennel Club title involves
teaching your dog some tricks!

Kelli Whitfield, Tennessee, USA

Kyra Sundance started offering trick dog titles with fitness. Students work with Certified Trick Dog
her ‘Do More With Your Dog’ (DMWYD) program Instructors (CTDI) who help coach the animal
in 2005. Sundance, who has a background in dog team to learn tricks and earn their titles either
obedience and animal wrangling for movies, saw in person or virtually. Sundance’s program was
the value in teaching tricks because it was fun and the first organization to offer trick titles as well
engaging for both the handler and the dog. It’s as an accompaniment of trick training books
hard to frown when you are teaching your dog to with step-by-step instructions and photos. The
dance, roll over, or sing! The relationship created DMWYD program offers the largest database of
between the dog and handler leads to a better tricks for all levels Novice (NTD) through Grand
bond through fun games. Champion (TDGCH) with video examples of each
trick. DMWYD is an international company that
The DMYWD program has grown from a simple offers trick titles anywhere in the world! More
trick program into something much grander, now information about the DMWYD program can be
offering titles in tricks, fitness, stunt dog, animal found on their website:
acting, and Trick Dog Register of Merit (ROM), as domorewithyourdog.com/DogTricks/
well as some fun specialty titles in both tricks and

56 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023