Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Feeling Lazy? Want to show off? How to Train Your Dog to Fetch a Beer

Feeling Lazy? Want to show off? How to Train Your Dog to Fetch a Beer


Feeling Lazy? Want to show off? How to Train Your Dog to Fetch a Beer

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Ever been too lazy to get off the couch and get a beer? Or are you looking for a new way to impress your buddies? These instructions will show you how to train your pooch to fetch a beer (or any other drink) from the fridge.

Steps

Opening the Fridge

  1. Tie a rope or a towel to the door of your fridge. If you have a tug toy that your dog likes, this would work as well. You can also wrap a treat inside the towel to make it more enticing.
  2. With your dog next to you, say "Get me a beer" or whatever command you have chosen for this action. Encourage your dog to bite on the towel. Give praise and a treat every time your dog bites the towel on your command.
  3. Say "Get me a beer" and encourage your dog to pull on the towel. Give praise and a treat every time your dog pulls the fridge open.

Grabbing the Beer

  1. Empty a beer can and play fetch with it. If necessary, wrap something around the can so the dog can grab it more easily.
  2. Put the beer can on the lowest shelf of the fridge so that your dog can reach it. It helps to clear out any stuff around it.
    • Put something against the fridge door so that it stays open without you having to hold it.
    • Near the fridge, point to the beer can and tell your dog to "fetch". If your dog doesn't understand, as you give the command pick up the beer and place it in the dog's mouth.
  3. Give your dog praise. Give the "drop" command so that she drops the can into your hand. Give praise and a treat. Repeat until your dog can pick up a beer can and put it on your hand using only verbal commands.
  4. Move further away from the fridge and repeat. Keep moving a little further away until you're sitting on your living room couch in front of the TV, or wherever you'll often be when you command your dog to fetch the beer.

Closing the Fridge

  1. Open the fridge door slightly.
  2. Dangle a treat so that your dog gets up on his hind legs and leans with his front paws against the door. This will close the door. Say "Close it" when you're doing this, and reward your dog when he puts his paws on the door.
  3. Move further away, leaving the fridge open. Tell your dog to "Close it". Reward your dog whenever he closes the fridge.

Putting It All Together

  1. Stand close to the fridge. Ask your dog to "Get me a beer". He should now be comfortable opening the fridge door. While the fridge door is open, tell the dog to "fetch".
  2. Have him put the beer in your hand and reward him.
  3. Repeat the previous step, but this time say "Close it" after he grabs the can and reward him profusely after he's brought you the beer.
  4. Move a little further away and say "Get me a beer". Your dog should open the fridge door but if he forgets to, just grab the beer or close the fridge, and remind him verbally.
  5. Reward him when he brings you the beer (having done everything he was expected to do). Keep doing this and eventually most dogs will complete all of the tasks with a single command: "Get me a beer".

Video

Tips

  • You can also use a similar technique to fetch a beer out of a cooler, or wherever else you keep your beer.

Things You'll Need

  • Beer can
  • Rope or towel
  • Dog treats


Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

  • Men's Health magazine, June 2010, p. 90 - Research source.

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It's the first day of summer! How to Choose a Bikini

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Warm weather means swimsuit season. For most women, it also means the dreaded trip to pick out this year's bikini. However, this doesn't have to be a nightmare shopping trip. All you need to know to choose a bikini that is perfect for you is what type of body you have and what type of bikini will flatter you the most.

Steps

  1. Straight, athletic figure
    Straight, athletic figure
    Determine your body shape. There are many body types that you could fall under, and some people even fall under several, so it's important when you choose a bikini to have an idea of what works with your body type and what doesn't. The following general points apply:
    • If you have no waist, and your shoulders are the same width as your hips, then you have a straight, or athletic figure.
    • If you have wide shoulders, but narrow hips and lower half, then you have a triangle-shaped body.
    • If you are the opposite of a triangle shape and your hips and lower half are bigger than your shoulders and upper half, then your body has a pear shape.
    • You are curvy if you have fuller hips and bust, but a smaller waist.
  2. High cuts elongate the legs
    High cuts elongate the legs
    Identify what aspects of your body you want to accentuate. Depending on your shape or your combination of shapes, there are going to be areas that you want to accentuate. By drawing attention to the right areas, you make yourself look more balanced in a bikini:
    • If you have no waist, try to choose a bikini that will help you create curves. Bikini bottoms with some type of belt will work, as will some sort of detail on the bottoms like rings, ruffles or sides that tie. On top, aim for something that fills you out such as triangle tops or halter tops, and padding in the top can help give the illusion of more cleavage.
    • For wide shoulders and a narrow lower half, you will want to choose a bikini that draws attention to your hips. Go for bottoms that have embellishment, rings, a belt or large prints.
    • If you have a pear-shaped body, then you want to fill out your top by choosing detailed tops. You can also get away with a low neckline or a triangle top that ties behind your neck.
    • For a curvy figure, you are lucky--you can choose most styles to flatter your shape. Tall, curvy women often look amazing in a bikini. Remember that it's best to get an exact, perfect fit (see "Tips"). Anything too big will make you look bigger than you really are. Think Marilyn Monroe - the halter top is an excellent choice.
    • One advantage to wearing a bikini over a one-piece is that with a bikini, you don't have to worry if the length of your torso is longer or shorter than average.
  3. Find what fits best
    Find what fits best
    Learn what to downplay or avoid to help flatter your figure. Just like there are parts you want to accentuate, there are also going to be areas that you want to downplay to avoid drawing too much attention to when you wear a bikini:
    • If you have no waist, the goal is to create a more curvy look, so avoid anything with horizontal stripes, solid colors or really tiny bottoms.
    • Play down wide shoulders by choosing a top with bra-like straps that has a more square neck. Avoid low-cut bottoms and v-neck tops, they will only make your shoulders look wider. If you're fuller bodied, don't wear tankinis because they over-emphasize shoulders - the tankini top cut only really suits a boy figure and is never flattering for women who have a bit extra. (And the briefs look like granny pants on the beach!)
    • Play down fuller hips by choosing a very simple bottom that sits right on the hips. Avoid any bottoms that tie, and you can even go a shade darker on the bottom than on your top to help direct attention up.
    • Curvy figures should avoid tie bottoms that are a little snug, as they might make the bikini bottom look too small. Ruching at the waist can work well, but keep it to the side, to flatter the stomach. High cuts will elongate the legs.
  4. Strong support
    Strong support
    Look for adequate support. If you have a large bust, look for a bikini that has inside underwire for the most support. A halter shape and cut is good for a heavier chest because you can tie it up as tight as is comfortable to provide the proper support. Strapless tops can undermine the overall appearance of a woman with a fuller bust and might not provide enough support.
  5. Take care with certain elements of bikinis. The following elements require care:
    • Patterns - these are best avoided if you don't want particular focus on an area of your body - stick with a single color. Diagonal lines, however, are great for disguising wright.
    • Horizontal lines and patterns - avoid these for smaller busts.
    • Vertical stripes - don't wear these if you have a long torso but they're ideal for a short torso.
    • Ruffles - generally these are not a good decorative effect on a bikini because they add layers and therefore weight.
    • Do not wear a string top if you're larger than a C cup.
    • Leave thongs to the celebrities. On the whole, they're not flattering and show more than most people want to see.
    • Skirted bikini
      Skirted bikinis. They can look cute when they have a vintage cut, when they're covering up something else. When you're looking for a skirted suit, stick to something that is really sexy and fun, and flirty, like a pin-up skirt or a vintage sort of bathing suit. Otherwise, just throw a sarong on, and take it off when you want to go in the water. Definitely, don't buy a granny or toddler style skirted suit!
  6. Have confidence. Finding the right bikini for you takes time, patience and confidence. You have to know that you'll find something that you love and that you feel good in while you wear it.
    • Make use of a cover-up when you are walking to and from the beach or pool. Cover-ups are flattering and can help you to feel comfortable when not in the water. Look for cover-ups that are easy to remove and replace.

Video

Tips

  • Try to find a store that allows "mix and match" tops and bottoms. These stores let you match a top that is exact for your bust size, and bottoms that fit your shape. Few people are one size fits all, so this proves to be the most tailored approach available.
  • Ties at the side give you the option of increasing the size or reducing it, to accommodate weight changes.
  • Dark colors draw attention away from weight. If you have a large bust, wear darker colors at the top.

Warnings

  • Don't assume what worked last summer will work this summer. Our bodies and coloring change all the time. The trick is to try on the bikini and see if it works for you now.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

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