Companion Dogs · NICS-06
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)
15-day foundation dog tricks and enrichment course from NICS. Learn professional shaping and enrichment methodology across fifteen trick behaviours. Start your pet industry career.
- Foundation
- 15 days
- ₹14,999
- Onsite · Indore
About this course
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is a 15-day professional training programme covering fifteen trick behaviours: Shake Hand, Play Dead, Roll Over, Spin, Walk Backwards, Bow/Salute, Go Around a Cone, Catch a Treat in Air, Bark on Command (Speak), Ring a Bell, Hug, Leg Weave, Hurdle Jump, Hula Hoop Jump, and Walk Between the Legs.
Learners apply luring, capturing and shaping — the same core methods taught in Introduction to Obedience — to a new set of behaviours chosen specifically for their enrichment and engagement value. Each trick is taught using the professional sequence used throughout the NICS pathway: theory, demonstration, guided practice, and repetition to a stable, low-distraction response.
The practical skills developed include precise shaping technique, criteria-setting (defining exactly what "counts" as a step of progress), session pacing appropriate to a dog's enthusiasm and fatigue, and structuring an enrichment-focused session distinct from an obedience or behavioural session. Two tricks in this course — Hurdle Jump and Hula Hoop Jump — carry specific physical safety considerations addressed explicitly in their own sections.
As the entry point of the Dog Tricks & Enrichment pathway, this course has no formal NICS prerequisite, though foundational Sit and Down (from Introduction to Obedience) make several tricks considerably easier to teach and are recommended.
Who this is for
- Aspiring professional dog trainers seeking to add enrichment and trick training to their service offering
- Companion dog handlers and pet-care professionals working in boarding, daycare or shelter environments
- Group class instructors seeking engaging, low-stakes content for client sessions
- Shelter and rescue professionals using trick training as a confidence-building and enrichment tool for under-stimulated or fearful dogs
- People entering the pet industry who want a professional grounding in shaping and enrichment methodology
What you will learn
Theory
- Shaping methodology: rewarding successive approximations toward a target behaviour
- Criteria-setting: defining precisely what counts as progress at each shaping stage, and why vague criteria slow learning
- The enrichment value of trick training: mental stimulation, confidence building and the handler-dog relationship benefits distinct from obedience compliance
- Session pacing appropriate to high-engagement, high-arousal enrichment work
Practical
- Correct shaping, luring and capturing technique across fifteen trick behaviours
- Precise marker timing for multi-step shaping sequences
- Structuring an enrichment session distinct from an obedience session
- Safe spotting and technique for the two physical tricks in this course
Professional Application
- Designing a short enrichment session appropriate to a client's dog and goals
- Explaining the enrichment and confidence-building value of trick training to a client
- Using trick training as a low-stakes teaching tool for handlers developing their own shaping skills
Safety & Welfare
- Physical safety considerations for jumping and physically demanding tricks
- Recognising fatigue and over-arousal during high-engagement enrichment sessions
- Appropriate session length and stopping criteria for enrichment work
Problem Solving
- Identifying which specific shaping step a dog is stuck on and adjusting criteria accordingly
- Distinguishing a physical limitation from a training difficulty for physically demanding tricks
- Adjusting technique when a dog disengages from a normally high-motivation activity
Curriculum highlights
- 1 Shake Hand
- 2 Play Dead
- 3 Roll Over
- 4 Spin
- 5 Walk Backwards
- 6 Bow / Salute
- 7 Go Around a Cone
- 8 Catch a Treat in Air
- 9 Bark on Command (Speak)
- 10 Ring a Bell
- 11 Hug
- 12 Leg Weave
- 13 Hurdle Jump
- 14 Hula Hoop Jump
- 15 Walk Between the Legs
Day-by-day structure
| Day | Focus | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation & Shaping Theory | Shaping and criteria-setting theory; Shake Hand and Speak introduced (both build from natural behaviours) |
| 2 | Position Tricks (Part 1) | Play Dead introduced from the Down position |
| 3 | Position Tricks (Part 2) | Roll Over built from Play Dead |
| 4 | Movement Tricks (Part 1) | Spin introduced; luring and targeting theory |
| 5 | Movement Tricks (Part 2) | Walk Backwards introduced |
| 6 | Position & Movement Review | Bow/Salute introduced; review of Days 1–5 |
| 7 | Targeting Tricks | Go Around a Cone; Ring a Bell |
| 8 | Engagement Tricks | Catch a Treat in Air; review of capturing methodology |
| 9 | Contact & Movement | Hug introduced |
| 10 | Physical Suitability Assessment | Theory and practice of physical assessment for jumping behaviours; introduction to Hurdle Jump at ground level |
| 11 | Hurdle Jump Progression | Hurdle height progression practice |
| 12 | Hula Hoop Jump | Hoop introduced flat on the ground, progressing to a held position |
| 13 | Leg Work | Walk Between the Legs introduced; foundation for Leg Weave |
| 14 | Leg Weave & Full Programme Review | Leg Weave built from Walk Between the Legs; supervised practice across all fifteen tricks |
| 15 | Final Assessment | Theory assessment; practical competency assessment across all fifteen tricks |
Outcomes
- Explain shaping methodology and criteria-setting as applied to trick training
- Teach and achieve a reliable cued response for all fifteen Foundation trick behaviours
- Apply capturing technique to bring a naturally occurring behaviour under cue control
- Assess a dog's physical suitability for jumping behaviours and progress difficulty conservatively
- Design an enrichment session appropriate to a given dog's energy, confidence and physical suitability
- Explain the enrichment and confidence-building value of trick training to a client
- Apply the OBSERVE–IDENTIFY–ASSESS–PLAN–IMPLEMENT–MEASURE–MODIFY–REASSESS framework to a stalled shaping session
Frequently asked questions
Who can join this course?
This course is open to anyone entering the pet industry professionally, including aspiring trainers, boarding and daycare staff, and shelter and rescue professionals. No prior formal dog training experience is required.
Is previous experience required?
No NICS prerequisite is required, though completion of Introduction to Obedience is recommended, since foundational Sit and Down make several tricks easier to teach.
How much practical training is included?
The course is heavily hands-on. Each of the 15 days combines shaping theory with trainer demonstration, supervised practice and independent repetition.
What theory is taught?
Learners study shaping methodology, criteria-setting, capturing technique, and physical suitability assessment for jumping behaviours.
What training methods are used?
This course uses shaping, luring and capturing exclusively, the same reward-based methods used throughout the NICS pathway.
Is trick training safe for all dogs?
Most tricks in this course are suitable for any healthy dog. Hurdle Jump and Hula Hoop Jump require a physical suitability assessment, and are not appropriate for puppies with open growth plates, senior dogs, or dogs with joint or mobility concerns.
How is the course assessed?
Assessment is competency-based, covering theory, live-dog practical execution of all fifteen tricks, and the learner's ability to design an appropriate enrichment session.
Where can these skills be used professionally?
Graduates apply these skills in group class enrichment sessions, boarding and daycare programmes, shelter and rescue confidence-building work, and canine content and demonstration work.
What is the next course in this pathway?
Graduates progress to Advanced Dog Tricks & Performance, which combines tricks into performance sequences and proofs them against distraction.
What professional pathway does this course support?
This course is the entry point of the NICS Dog Tricks & Enrichment pathway, leading to Advanced Dog Tricks & Performance.
Does completing this course guarantee employment or a training business?
No. This course provides structured professional training in foundation trick and enrichment skills. It does not guarantee employment, income or business outcomes, which depend on the individual's further study, experience and effort.
How much does Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) cost?
The course fee for Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is ₹14,999.
How long does Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) take to complete?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) runs for 15 Days.
What level is Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is a Foundation-level course, teaching the topic from first principles with no prior NICS coursework required.
Which NICS pathway does Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) belong to?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) sits within the Companion Dogs pathway at the National Institute of Canine Studies.
Is Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) conducted online or in person?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is delivered onsite through hands-on, in-person training at NICS.
What topics are covered in Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) covers: Shake Hand, Play Dead, Roll Over, Spin, Walk Backwards, Bow / Salute, Go Around a Cone, Catch a Treat in Air, and 7 more topics.
What will I be able to do after completing Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
By the end of this course, students will be able to: Explain shaping methodology and criteria-setting as applied to trick training Teach and achieve a reliable cued response for all fifteen Foundation trick behaviours Apply capturing technique to bring a naturally occurring behaviour under cue control Assess a dog's physical suitability for jumping behaviours and progress difficulty conservatively Design an enrichment session appropriate to a given dog's energy, confidence and physical suitability Explain the enrichment and confidence-building value of trick training to a client Apply the OBSERVE–IDENTIFY–ASSESS–PLAN–IMPLEMENT–MEASURE–MODIFY–REASSESS framework to a stalled shaping session
Who is Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) designed for?
Aspiring professional dog trainers seeking to add enrichment and trick training to their service offering Companion dog handlers and pet-care professionals working in boarding, daycare or shelter environments Group class instructors seeking engaging, low-stakes content for client sessions Shelter and rescue professionals using trick training as a confidence-building and enrichment tool for under-stimulated or fearful dogs People entering the pet industry who want a professional grounding in shaping and enrichment methodology No prior training experience is required, though completion of Introduction to Obedience is recommended.
Do I need to complete another course before Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
No formal prerequisite is required — Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is an entry point into the Companion Dogs pathway.
What can I study after completing Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
Graduates of Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) can progress to Advanced Dog Tricks & Performance to continue building their skills in the Companion Dogs pathway.
What is the NICS course code for Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) is listed under NICS course code NICS-06.
How do I enrol in Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
You can enrol in Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation) by selecting it in the NICS course catalogue and sending your enquiry via WhatsApp, or by using the enquiry button on this page.
Ready to enrol in Dog Tricks & Enrichment (Foundation)?
Enquire now, or add this course to a learning package. Package discounts of 5–20% are calculated automatically in the catalogue.