Meeting a dog who can perform a variety of tricks is always amusing. But can you really teach your dog how to kiss, shake, and do puppy push-ups? If you think this is impossible without going to expensive dog training classes, then you are wrong. If you can teach your dog to perform cool tricks, then it is definitely great. But what’s even more important is that it forges a bond between pet and the owner. So without any further ado, here are 15 simple tricks for you and your pup to learn together!
1. Shake The Paw
Teaching your dog how to shake his paw is not a great deal. But at the same time, it is not as easy as blowing your nose. For this you need to break the target down into small steps. Take some treats and bring them up to the dog’s nose. The more aromatic it the better. Make him try using his paw and not his mouth to grab at them. That’s when you want to reward him with a compliment or a treat. Once when he starts to understand what you want, you can add a verbal cue.
2. Roll Over
You have to teach dogs in detail how to roll over. Step one is to present a treat near your dog’s nose and guide it into a sitting position. The next step is to take another treat and guide its head back so that it rolls over to one side. The final step is to lure it onto its back with a another treat. Lure it to complete the rollover move slowly. Make sure you have multiple treats in hand. Otherwise, the dog may get distracted.
3. Puppy Pushups
Puppy pushups is a three move combination – sit, down, and stand. It’s easy to teach them how to sit. The same method can be used to teach the pup how to go into a down position. Get your dog to stand from a down position, by holding a treat out. Once your pup has mastered these three moves, puppy push-ups are just a breeze for your dog. Repeat them in quick succession so that it looks like a push-up.
4. Speak And Sing
Before you attempt to teach your dog to speak and sing, keep one thing in mind. Nobody likes a whining dogs that creates a racket all the time. Sit in front of your dog and by using a particular hand cue, signal the dog for a sound. Initially, it will require a bit of patience. As soon as the dog comprehends your signal, reward it with treats. Keep this training session fun for you and your pet by making it short and sweet.
5. Twirl And Spin
Start with your dog in a standing position and begin by touching a treat to its nose. Slowly lure it all the way until it completes a circle. Reward your dog with the treat once she makes a full turn. Stick with your dog’s preferred direction until it can perform the trick in both directions. Use visual cues after competing the all the steps.
6. Sit And Stand On Your Command
This sitting and standing training session is fun for dogs. It’s just like a game to them. All they have to do is figure out what they need to do for getting the treat. They might perform erratically at first, but slowly they will catch up. If they are able to perform the feat, then give them a generous treat. That should get it motivated for more.
7. Take An Object, Bring It And Leave It(Fetching Objects)
For teaching this trick you need to start by playing tug. Say “take” when you want your dog to pick up the rope. Then say “give” when you want it to release the rope from its mouth. Then throw it a few feet away. Again say, “take.” Give treats when he picks up and hands the rope. Make sure you give it enough practice.
8. Leap And Jump
Have your dog sit and stay. Then lay a stick on the ground. Cross over to the other side of the stick and call your dog. As soon as the dog reaches you by crossing the stick, hand it over a treat. Repeat this step a few times before adding height to the stick. Hand treats every time it crosses the stick. Add enough height so that your dog has no choice but to jump over. Speak “leap” before it jumps and reward it with a treating. Keep on repeating until your dog learns to do it when commanded.
9. Keep Silent When Asked To
Focus your attention on your dog when it barks. If it looks at you and stops barking then hand it a treat. Repeat this several times, by saying the word “Hush”. Hand it a treat every time it keeps silent. Repeat this until it has mastered the trick. Each time you repeat, try to go for longer duration of silent spells.
10. Open/Close A Door
You know how to teach your dog to tug, right? Tie a bandana or cloth around your door ask the dog to tug at it. Wait until he tugs the door open, then hand it a treat. Keep doing this, by giving it a verbal cue saying, “open” whenever he tugs the door open. After it has learned to open the door at your command, reverse the trick by putting a stick on the door. Each time it touches and closes the door, give it a treat.
11. Search Something
Hold up an object that your dog is familiar with. Keep in mind that it should know its name. Then let it smell the object. Place the object under something obvious, like a towel for instance.Then say “find”. You might add the name of the object in case of a delay. Repeat this procedure several times until and unless your dog is able to instantly follow your command.
12. Catch A Ball
Start out by playing a game of throw and catch with your dog. Try it over short distances. Then hand it a treat. Throw the treat to your dog and make sure it catches it. If it is unable to catch it, take the treat away and make it to try again. If it manages to catch it, praise your dog and give it a bonus treat. Keep repeating this until he becomes a good catcher.
13. Bow
Start this training by ‘rough-housing’. Whenever your dog starts to get into the “bow” position, hand over a treat. Keep doing this until it starts doing it on its own. Start saying “Bow” whenever it gets into the particular position. Keep repeating it until it bows at your verbal cue.
14. Crawl
First of all, tell your dog to lay down. With a treat in hand, lure your dog to move forward. If required, do it with the touch stick. Make sure he does so while in a lower seated position. Repeat the procedure several times. Once your dog learns to crawl naturally, start saying ‘Crawl’. Repeat and persist until it follows your instructions.
15. Play Dead
Have your dog lay down belly up. Use your touch stick, or take your treat in hand and then slowly guide your dog lays down in the ‘Play Dead’ position. Repeat until he gets into the ‘Play Dead’ position without your help. Keep repeating the process until your dog learns to lay down in that position motionlessly.