Training tricks is easy and great fun for you and your dog.  Tricks also help your dog to learn how to learn and can allow you to experiment with many different ways of training without damaging a needed behavior.

There are dozens of ways to teach any trick, so if you would like to teach a particular trick, just ask us for some suggestions on how to start.  Obviously, the easiest behaviors to teach are the things your dog does naturally and that just need some minor modifications.  It is easiest to train tricks with a clicker or marker signal such as "Yes!" or "Good!".

Here are some of the possible tricks you might want to teach your dog:

Balance treat on nose
Balance treat on nose then toss and catch it
Bang! Play Dead
Bare teeth (Be a Wolf!)
Bark or Speak
Bark silently (Whisper)
Beg
Bow or Curtsy
Bring your leash
Carry a basket
Circle around me
Close your eyes
Cock your head to one side
Cover your eyes
Crawl
Dance
Dig
Fetch me a (specific object)
Find/Bring keys, remote (anything)
Get your tail
Gimme five or low five
Growl*
Hide your eyes (shame)
High five
Howl*
Lead another dog by leash
Learn family members’ names & go to them
Lie on blanket, grab corner & roll over
Limp
Moon Walk (scoot back in a bow)
Nod your head
Open the door
Pick up (anything)
Push a ball
Put toys in a basket
Ring a bell (with nose or paw)
Roll over
Say your prayers (beg with nose down)
Shake hands
Shake yourself
Shame on you (and hide under chair)
Sneeze
Spin
Stare
Stop dead on cue
Touch or show me (anything)
Wag your tail
Walk backwards
Walk sideways
Wave
Weave between your legs

* You may wish to consider whether you want to teach & reward your dog for howling or growling.