Dogs are highly intelligent creatures, and given the chance they can do some amazing things. Though it's true that some breeds are better at learning that others, all dogs require enrichment in their lives to be content. Poor mental stimulation can cause anxiety, boredom and destructive behaviours.
Did you know that 20 minutes of mental stimulation can be as enriching as walking your dog for an hour? If your dog seems wired at the end of the day, even though you have walked them and played with them to tire them out, they might not be getting the mental stimulation they need.
A fun way to add that enrichment is to teach your dog tricks. It's also a great opportunity for you to spend quality time with your dog, which they almost always crave.
I rescued a German Shepard/Husky cross in 2022 called Anayah, and she is a fast learner. Trick training is one of her most favourite things to do, she loves it.
Her learning the tricks isn't what slows us down, it's me finding new tricks to teach her.
Most of the tutorials I found were for things lit sit, lie down, stay, paw etc. I needed harder, more complicated tricks, and then I needed ways to advance them.
I use a verbal cue as well as a hand signal for each trick I teach Anayah, and when I want to really push her training, I will only use hand signals to get her to do each trick. This is a further advancement you can do to increase your dog's mental stimulation.
Some tips before we get into the tricks -
Always start teaching a new trick in an environment the dog is comfortable in to minimize distractions.
Be consistent in your rewarding. Say 'Yes' or 'Good' when your dog does what your trying to teach them, or use a clicker, and stay consistent.
Use high value treats for dogs who aren't food motivated. You might need to use a specific type of treat for training, and keep those treats just for training and nothing else.
Use a toy or a good ear scratch as a reward for dogs who won't take treats at all.
Use normal dog kibble for dogs on a diet or for high-energy dogs. Using their dry kibble can be a great way of still giving your dog a reward for a trick when they are on a calorie restricted diet, or if you have a dog who needs a lot of stimulation, making them work for their dinner can be a good way of tiring them out.
Don't get disheartened if it doesn't work the first time, or the fifth. Keep trying!
If your dog gets confused, go back a step.
These are the most fun tricks I have taught Anayah:
Take a selfie
'Beep beep' (Back up)
Under and over
Figure of eight
Weaving
Keep reading for more information about each one, the cue words and hand signals I use for them, how I taught them and how you can make them harder when your dog understands them.
1 . Take a selfie.
This one is so much fun, and useful for when you want a cute photo of you and your dog.
The first command you need to teach your dog is 'Paws Up'. To do this, tap onto a raised surface (like a chair, low wall or a stall. Don't use a sofa if your dog is allowed on it, they will just jump straight up!). This may take a few tries, my dog assumed I was asking her to get on everything I was tapping, including dinning room chairs! The easiest one I found was to actually use a table that was too high for her to jump onto. As soon as your dog puts their two front paws on the surface, you say 'Yes' or use a clicker, then reward them with a treat, and then you say whatever cue you want to use. I used 'Paws Up' for this.
Do this until your dog is consistently getting it right. Now you can move onto stage two!
Now you need to be on the same level as your dog, I found kneeling or sitting on the floor the best place for this, so both of you are closer to the floor should you get knocked over by your furball. I also suggest wearing a thicker jumper when trying this for the first time, as their claws can scratch you if they slip off. Your dog needs to be behind you.
Tap your shoulder and say your cue for 'Paws Up'. Once your dog has their paws on your shoulder, you say 'Yes' or use a clicker, treat, and then say the cue you want to use for this trick. I use 'Take a Selfie' with Anayah. Once they get the hang of it, start getting your phone and snapping adorable selfies of you and your companion!
I find holding a treat in my spare hand to help lure Anayahs head down into the shot works, otherwise, she's using my shoulder as an advantage point to see things from higher up and is too distracted or looking the total opposite direction!
My physical signal for this is me crouching, kneeling or standing on a surface lower than Anayah and tapping my shoulder, but as soon as she is behind me and I get down low, she is already on my shoulder, I don't get time to say the cue anymore!
This will take some practice, like all tricks! You may find a different technique works for you and your dog, this is just the way I taught Anayah!
Advancement -
Once your dog understands 'Take a Selfie', you can make it more advanced for them by getting them to change which shoulder they put their head on, teach them to look at the camera, teach them to smile and get them to do it whilst on your shoulder.
2. 'Beep Beep' - Back up.
Not only is this fun to teach and easy to incorporate into routines and other tricks, this is also a useful trick to teach your dog for if they are in your way or standing somewhere they shouldn't be. Instead of telling Anayah 'Out' if she is in the kitchen, I say 'Beep Beep'.
With your dog stood in front of you, facing you, you take a step forward. Your dog should automatically want to take a step backwards. If they do, say 'Yes' or use a clicker, treat them, and say the command word you are going to be using. I use 'Beep Beep', because it's more fun than 'Back Up'.
If your dog does not take a step backwards, hold a treat in your hand and hold it in front of their nose, then take a step forward, your dog should follow their nose and step back!
Once your dog has got the hang of this, get them to back up twice in a row before praising and rewarding, then three times and so on until you can get them to consistently walk backwards.
The hand signal I use for this is I hold my hand low in a fist.
Tip - If you have a narrow corridor, a walkway behind your sofa or another form of narrow space, you can use this to help your dog stay in a straight line! I used a corridor to teach Anayah. Even now, though, she still can't go straight, but I am working on it!
Advancement -
I use 'Beep Beep' in other tricks or movements. One of them is Anayah is in 'Middle' (stood in between my legs facing forward) and I say 'Beep Beep' at the same time as stepping backwards, so Anayah and I move in sync. Another is when Anayah is in heel, again I will say 'Beep Beep' at the same time as stepping back and Anayah has to stay next to me. A great way to teach these is to have a treat in your hand in front of the dogs nose as you step back.
3. Under and Over
These are not 'advanced' tricks to teach or for your dog to learn, but when combined or added into other routines or used on obstacle/agility courses, it's fun and energetic, easy to advance, too.
Just a quick safety note - getting dogs to jump over and crawl under things can pose some risks. Only do this if you are 100% confident that your dog is fit and healthy enough to do it. Make sure you are on softer ground (grass is best) as apposed to concrete. or a slippery surface like tiles or laminate. Remember, a dog who knows how to jump is more likely to do it without your command, so keep an eye on them when they are off the lead!
If you have a dog who takes a bit of time to get used to a new trick or command, it's best to take this one steady. The easiest way to teach 'Over' is to have a pole (a broom or alike would work) on the floor. Use a treat to lure your dog over the pole, use a clicker or say 'Yes' and reward, then say the command word you want to use. 'Jump' and 'Over' are common ones.
Once your dog is happy with this, use something bigger or higher. I used my legs to teach this, and every time Anayah was comfortable with a step, I put my feet on an object that got taller each time. If you have access to an agility field, you can use an agility jump and raise it every time to make it harder, or you can DIY a jump at home.
Then teach your dog 'Under'. I have found this has become quite useful when Anayah decides to crawl underneath a picnic bench, I have a command to get her out again.
For this, you want to do the same as for teaching 'Over', but the opposite.
Start with something high enough that your dog can walk under it, lure them through with a treat and Say 'Yes,' or click, treat, and then say the command cue you will use for this trick. I use 'Under'. Then lower the object each time until your dog is having to crawl through.
For hand signals, I move my hand in the direction I want Anayah to go, and over or under whatever object I want her to use.
Advancement -
I then put the two tricks together. I sit on the floor with my knees bent with enough space for Anayah to get under, I get her to jump over and then crawl under before treating. You can get your dog to do this with jumps at an agility field or, again, DIY something for your dog to use.
You can upgrade 'Over' to 'Through', too, where your dog has to jump through something like a hoop.
4. Figure of 8
The Figure of 8 trick is an advancement on 'Spin' where you get your dog to move in a figure of 8 pattern. It's a fun trick to be able to show off to friends and family and is easy to advance into other routines.
For this, you need to teach your dog 'Spin' (I use the term 'Turn' because Anayah knows Speak and they both start off the same, she was getting confused!). To do this, you need a bit of space so that you and your dog wont bump into things! Have a treat in your hand and lure them to turn in a full circle clockwise. If you keep your hand close to your dogs bum, the circle they make will be tighter and look much neater! Say 'Yes' or use a clicker, treat and then say the cue word you'll use for this trick. Repeat until your pup is consistently performing!
Then you need to do the same thing but for the other direction, anticlockwise. You'll need a different cue word for this way, I use 'Around'.
Once your dog knows both ways comfortably, test them and make sure they know which term means which direction!
Now you're ready to step it up to the Figure of 8 trick.
You want to ask your dog to 'Spin' and as soon as they finish the circle, tell them to 'Around' (You may have to still use treats to lure them until they get the hang of it). Make sure your fury friend does the two circles completely, no half circles allowed here! Say
'Yes' or use the clicker, reward and then say the command word you want for this trick, I use 'Figure of 8'.
Repeat until you dog is happy doing it without with no mistakes!
My hand signals for this is I will draw a Figure of 8 with my fingers in the air.
ADVANCEMENT -
Teach your dog to do it both ways, starting Clockwise and Starting Anticlockwise. You'll need a separate cue for the other direction!
This trick can be used in other routines, such as a performance routine.
You can also get your dog to do the Figure of 8 around objects, like two slippers or if your dog would be distracted by eating the slippers, something else!
5. Weaving
This trick can be performed either between weaving poles or your legs as you walk, or even trees that are next to each other, this can be a bit of an awkward one to teach if you have a dog who is easily distracted, but it's worth it! You will need a fair amount of space for this, preferably a long space. Make sure there is nothing you or your dog can walk into whilst your both distracted with the training.
I started teaching Anayah this between my legs as I walked and then advanced it to weaving poles when I had access to them.
Firstly you want your dog in heel to start with. This is going to be where they start this trick every time, and end it, hopefully! You are going to want to start slowly, so that your pup doesn't trip you up. Put the leg that is furthest away from your dog out as if you were walking (a bit further out than usual if your dog is large), and use a treat to lure your dog through your legs. As they end up on your other side, step out with your opposite foot and do the same the other way. Then you're going to do your 'Yes' or click, treat and say your cue word. I use 'Weave.'
Do it again, starting from heel and ended back up in heel, and continue until your dog knows the command and is performing every time. Then you can begin to increase the amount of weaves your dog does!
If you are doing this on weave poles, you again want them sitting at the start of the poles on one side, and using a treat you will lure them around two poles and stop them, 'Yes', treat them and cue word and then continue. So the same principle, just without you as the subject of weaving!
I don't really have a hand signal for this one as Anayah goes into weaving without much prompt!
I always find Anayah sleeps so well after a good training session. On an evening she will often lead me to the treat tin and prompt that she wants to do training. I only have to say the words 'Trick Training' and she gets all excited. That shows you just how much she enjoys learning new tricks and putting her mind to the test.
Anayah is a German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix, so she is incredibly smart but also highly stubborn, some days she isn't in the mood for training, or she isn't focused enough, and that's okay! On those days I will give her a lick mat or some form of food enrichment item instead.
We have days we don't want to work our minds, so do they.
Don't get disheartened if your dog doesn't learn the same way as others do, or if these guidelines don't work for you or your best pal. you just have to find a system that works for you and them.
Give these a go with your fury friend and let me know how you get on in the comments or on social media!
Do you have any other awesome tricks that you think should be on this list? Pop me a message or leave a comment and I'll do another post with more fun tricks on!
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