8 Amazing tricks to teach your dog [2023]

Dogs are extremely intelligent and depending on the amount of training, they can do some mind-boggling things. Ultimately it’s up to us and our consistency when it comes to training. Dogs love to have a purpose and they love when you train them. It is both challenging and rewarding to interact with your dog in order to train them. Here you find some tricks to teach your dog just for fun.

Because we must learn how they think, it helps us think in different ways and teaches us patience in the process. Dog training technology has evolved and you might be surprised at what is available on the market now to help you. The internet has also revolutionized the sharing of information and people can learn how to teach their dog fun tricks much easier. Here are amazing tricks to teach your dog that people have taught their dogs that might inspire you to enroll your dog in a training class.

The intelligence, perception, and agility of most dogs have meant that they have been used in a number of roles as well as performing animals for thousands of years. Tricks have been used to amuse their human companions, as a way to earn money, and as a way to protect dogs from harm. Dogs who can dance, play cards, handling equipment, and perform acrobatic stunts are still entertaining people today as they were in Elizabethan England. However, not all tricks to teach your dog are about fun and games.

Here are some of the tricks to teach your dog:

1. Turn The Lights On or Off

Yes, that’s right, a dog can be trained to hit the light switch. Mobility assistance dogs, also known as service dogs or disability dogs can help wheelchair-bound individuals who have trouble with basic activities. These incredible dogs help make many people’s lives much easier. Certain tasks such as pulling a wheelchair are illegal in certain countries. It seems there is no extent a dog won’t go to help a human. Usually, clickers, vocal commands, and treats are used for training dogs but an assistance dog usually lives with a trainer for a few years learning all of these things until they are ready to be placed with an individual. This unique training enables people to have a highly trained helper even though they themselves may not be capable of training them. Training a service dog requires dedication and is not an easy task.

2. Help With Laundry

Some videos of dogs doing their owner’s laundry have gone viral on the internet. This phenomenon is no big deal in a day in the life of a household helper. Imagine how much time this might be able to save you! Although dogs are colorblind and may not be able to separate colors, they are quite intelligent to be able to do these tasks. If you haven’t trained your dog to do any obscure tasks, this is a good one to work on in case you ever do need the help.

3. Opening Doors

Many dogs are trained to both open and close doors. This can be helpful for wheelchair-bound individuals and it can be a pain for people who end up chasing their dog that has escaped down the road. This is usually taught by tying a rope around the handle that they can grab with their mouth. The rope is also used to show which doors he should or should not open. Dogs can even be taught to open the refrigerator and grab you a tasty beverage. It’s advised that you not have them grab metal cans because their teeth can puncture them. Having your dog grab you a beer has to be the ultimate party trick!

4. Surfing

That’s right. There are a few famous surfing dogs and it’s pretty common in places like Huntington Beach, California which has a designated ‘dog beach.’ Usually this sport is reserved for larger breeds because of the danger aspect of the waves. If you are going to attempt to get your dog to surf, it should never be on big waves. You should also make sure your dog is a very strong swimmer. You can also teach your dog on how to use a dog treadmill this can help them be more comfortable in surfing.

5. Flushing Toilets

This silly trick can really come in handy for people who can’t let their dog out during the day due to work. It seems impossible but it’s taught in stages and very doable. When your dog associates a certain command with going to the bathroom you can litter train them. Once they know how to use a litter box you can graduate to the toilet.

6. Help You Get Dressed

Dogs are not only loyal and loving, they can help you with your daily needs. Many service dogs are trained to grab your clothes to help you get them on or off. If that isn’t the ultimate expression of service, we are not sure what is. Dogs can be trusted to consistently help their owners their entire lives. Now if only the same could be said for humans. The service dogs provide is selfless and caring, there is so much to be learned from them.

7. Bomb Sniffing

Detection dogs are used by the military and police to find and trace humans and objects. They sniff out bombs and narcotics which is something humans cannot do. This is truly one of the most remarkable things dogs are trained to do since they are not actually repeating something humans can do. You can actually teach your dog to find things and people too.

Dogs love to protect you and help you which is why they should never be hit. Hitting a dog can cause long-term psychological issues. The amazing tricks mentioned above required positive reinforcement with treats. This is a great reminder of the amazing things that can be accomplished with positive energy in our lives. It’s best to start training your dog at an early age. Dogs need to be socialized and trained so they do not bite people. All dogs owners should study how to train their dogs for their safety and for well-being of their dog.

8. Dialing 911

This one is a bit questionable as it only works if you have an old-school phone. Usually, the speed dial is set to 911 but there are countless stories of service dogs actually moving the receiver and hitting the button to call 911 when their owner is under duress. Certain breeds make excellent guard dogs that can protect you and other breeds are able to detect when their owner is sick and in need of care. Dogs have even been used to detect early illness as well as cancer. Dogs are extremely sensitive and know their owners much better than we think. It’s important to realize that our stress can affect our dogs and try to maintain a positive attitude not only for ourselves but for them as well.

Extra things you can do while teaching:

Teaching your dog or puppy tricks can be a fun way for you to spend some time together. No dog is ever too old to learn new things, so the expression, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” should be relegated to the nearest trash can. There are also exercises that you can teach them when using treadmills for dogs. And, another bit of advice that you shouldn’t start any kind of training until a puppy is 6 months old is also useless. You can start teaching a puppy as young as 2 months of age; their minds are very receptive at this point. However, regardless of the age of the dog you are going to teach, there are several things that you must observe faithfully if you want the project to work out:

Patience

Your pup or dog will simply take multiple repetitions to understand what you want; getting angry will serve no purpose. Ignore mistakes completely.

Praise

Your canine friend wants your approval, so when he or she learns a new trick, be sure to praise extravagantly. Positive reinforcement works.

Treats

Dogs love to eat, and besides praise, nothing reinforces a job well done than a nice little tidbit. Keep a pocketful handy to treat every little step in the right direction.

These learning experiences will also be a way for you to bond more closely with your puppy or dog. Simply spending time with your companion will help to cement the relationship more strongly. Your dog will also become more confident and it’s a great way to siphon off some of a puppy’s energy constructively. There are numerous, positive ways to train your dog to do tricks, just choose one that you and your dog feel comfortable with to achieve the best chances of success (clickers, target sticks, etc.).

Important And Necessary tricks to teach your dog

While some might not look on basic obedience training as being tricks, these tricks can actually serve to save the life of your dog. Dogs run out in the street all the time and are struck by vehicles. Very often you see the owner frantically trying to call the dog back, but because the dog has not learned these survival tricks, the dog can be hit. You can start these obedience tricks when your dog is very young. Most reputable breeders don’t release a pup until it’s 12 weeks old, and you should begin right away as soon as the pup has settled into your home.

Sit

This trick teaches your companion to sit down on command. You can either wait until the dog sits and then say ‘Sit’ and give a treat, or you can gently push the dog’s hindquarters down while repeating the word and treating. This is often followed up with the command to stay.

Stay

A dog that has been properly trained for this trick will stop what he or she is doing upon hearing the command. This is important when you and your dog are in a city or town where issues might arise with vehicles, people, or other pets. This is the most important command. When your dog is off the leash you need to make sure he comes when called or the situation could get very dangerous.

Come

Your puppy or dog shouldn’t have too much difficulty learning this, especially if there’s a treat waiting in your hand. As training goes on, you can cut back on the treats and rely more on praise and attention.

These simple obedience tricks will help to lay the groundwork for more involved tricks that you may want to teach your puppy or dog. Always remember that even smart breeds can have some individuals who are a bit slower than others. Never push your pup or dog, and break off the training as soon as it becomes boring or frustrating for either of you.

Fun tricks to teach your dog

While obedience tricks may well be necessary, it’s always nice to teach your dog tricks just for fun. The attention you provide (as well as the treats) will help to make this a great experience for both of you.

Leap

Start this trick with a stick on the ground. As you call your dog to you, as soon as he steps over the stick, use the word ‘Leap’ and treat. Gradually raise the height of the stick as the dog progresses.

Shake hands

With your dog in the sitting position, either wait for your dog to raise his or her paw or take it in your hands, using ‘Shake’ as the keyword. Dogs have a natural instinct to raise a paw to those they like (ours do it all the time) so this should be an easy trick for most of them.

Doors

Dogs can easily be taught to open doors, although you can make it a good deal simpler for them if you tie a cloth around the handle first – it’s something they can get their teeth into. A word of caution; dogs who know how to open the refrigerator may help themselves without permission. Closing the door might be a bit more difficult and take a bit more work. Use a target stick or your hand to bring the dog’s nose close to the door and treat and praise when the dog presses on the door. A bit of practice will soon have the dog pushing the door shut upon command.

Catch

Active dogs especially love to play catch with their owners. Start out by using a treat for the dog to catch, and once the dog has learned how to catch these reliably, you can use a ball or Frisbee instead. This trick is good for dogs who have a high energy level that needs to be burned off daily.

Roll over

Start your dog off lying down. Hold a treat close to the floor near the dog’s nose and move it so that the dog rolls over onto his or her side. Keep moving the treat until the dog rolls over onto his back and then completes the roll onto his other side. You will probably have to start with just getting the dog to go over onto one side and progress from there. Be sure to praise and treat each positive step.

Teaching your dog or puppy tricks can really be a great way to spend some time together and have fun. Highly trainable dogs like Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Poodles of all sizes will be the easiest, while stubborn dogs like French and English Bulldogs might resist training altogether. And, if your dog can’t or won’t learn tricks, just appreciate him or her as they are.