When USA Today decided to feature an article on the increasing demand among pet owners for ever more elaborate dog tricks, they turned to the Zoom Room’s top dog trainer Jaime Van Wye as their expert source.

FIRST PLACE WINNER in the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest! Jesse the Jack Russell Terrier began learning tricks through the motivation of tasty lunch meat. And when he was only nine weeks old, he taught himself how to sit up!

Your votes have been counted, and we’re delighted to announce the five finalists in the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest in support of positive dog training.

Victor, a four-year-old Poodle, was picked up as a stray by an animal shelter in Worcester. He was then adopted by American Poodles at Work (APAW) where he met his owner, Sharon. Watch their entry in the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest.

Jilli Dog, a Yorkie, was rescued from the streets as a sickly, messy little pup, almost 11 years ago by her owner, Rick. She has gone on to become a most amazing little pooch, making many people smile with her dog trick performances.

Kaine is a three year old, clicker trained, award-winning German Shepherd. Kaine’s favorite trick is painting. He loves to create original pieces of art with his imagination.

Charlie is a “demo” Service Dog for APAW (American Poodles at Work), and accompanies his owner, Jillian, when she speaks to groups about the importance of assistance dogs. Charlie demonstrates many tasks, from turning on lights, to retrieving keys or a phone, or opening doors. He also really loves taking things out of bags… and sometimes putting things into bags where they don’t quite belong.

Ryleigh, a 9-month-old German Shepherd, was trained using positive reinforcement by her owner, Jess, for this entry in the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest.

Watch how Murphy, a Border Collie/Schnauzer mix, learned how to play basketball using positive dog training methods. It all started with putting away her dog toys!

Ivy, a two-year-old Foxhound mix and rescue dog performs amazing tricks for the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest, in support of positive dog training.

Mike in Tacoma, Washington, has created a great “music video” for the America’s Best Dog Trick Contest, featuring his two dogs: Blue, a Blue Heeler mix and rescue dog, and Red, a Border Collie.

Spitfire Spinelli, or “Nels” for short, is a one-year-old cattle dog/husky mix, adopted from a rescue in Tennessee last February when she was 5 months old, by her owner, Sam, age 23.

The Zoom Room Dog Agility Training Center and exclusive sponsor West Paw Design, announce the “America’s Best Dog Trick Contest” – the first nationwide dog trick contest using only positive-reinforcement dog training methods.

Agility training sounds like so much fun. Except you live in an apartment that doesn’t allow dogs. What to do? Easy: train your fish.

Just what is clicker training? Many dogs owners are hearing about this “new” style of positive-reinforcement training, and it’s become the training style of choice for most puppy classes, but few really know what it’s all about.