Sic 'Em trick?

[Johnny Coleman]

A hunter can teach their companion hunter's tricks from the ranger skirmisher archetype.

PRD wrote:

A hunter may teach her companion hunter's tricks from the skirmisher ranger archetype instead of standard tricks. The animal companion can use skirmisher tricks when commanded, a number of times per day equal to 1/2 its hit dice + its Wisdom modifier.

Is this intended to mean that the tricks work as normal, but take up trick "slots" on the companion, and uses/day are based off the companion's stats instead of the hunter's stats?

Or does the companion actually perform the trick?

If so, how do tricks like Sic 'Em work?

PRD wrote:

Sic 'Em (Ex): The ranger can use this trick as a swift action. His animal companion makes one melee attack against an adjacent creature. The animal companion must be able to see and hear the ranger to make this attack.

Can we switch "ranger" and "animal companion" in this, to mean that the animal companion can activate this to give the hunter an extra attack?

Or would it do nothing since the animal companion has no animal companion?

I am having a hard time understanding how this class feature works.

[Torbyne]

I see how you could interpet it like that but i dont believe that is how the ability is supposed to be parsed. Animal Companions do not use tricks on player characters. This lets only your animal make an extra attack.

[dragonhunterq]

Not all of the tricks are appropriate for animal companions. Just because you can take it, doesn't mean it is a good idea. I strongly recommend not taking the ones requiring an animal companion (your AC doesn't have one) or the ones referring to ranged attacks (unless your AC is a slug or camel and maybe not even then).

EDIT: my thoughts on tricks