LOS ANGELES – If it seems like your dog knows every trick in the book, try changing books.
Babette Haggerty, veteran dog trainer to the stars, has packed 106 teach-them-yourself stunts into her new book, “The Best Dog Tricks on the Planet.” Pets that master the basic sit, stay and heel commands can learn to help around the house and even appear to read, pirouette or do the “Hokey Pokey,” she says, picking up party tricks to dazzle guests or special talents for TV and movie work.
Teaching canines of the rich and famous is a trait she picked up from her legendary father.
Haggerty, 45, of Oakland, N.J., figures she has trained 1,000 dogs over the years, many at her school, Babette Haggerty’s School for Dogs. She’s got a ways to go to catch dad Arthur “Captain” Haggerty, who died in 2006 at age 74. He trained an estimated 100,000 dogs.
The elder Haggerty handled dogs or appeared as an extra in more than 150 films and about 450 commercials. He also pioneered “Stupid Pet Tricks” on David Letterman’s late-night show and appeared on it 26 times. His 1977 book “Dog Tricks” is still selling well, and many credit him with turning dog training into an honorable profession.