Some dogs pick up tricks extremely fast while others may take a bit longer to master this new skill. Don't feel bad if your pooch's trick trade isn't up to snuff. Rome wasn't built in a day! It's all about positive reinforcement, being repetitious and staying positive. Your pup will pick up on all of these things from you. So set the standard according to their learning curve. Every dog is different, but more importantly…… every dog is capable!

8. Army Crawl

Army crawling is a fun trick to teach to your dog that helps him improve his physical fitness.

Some dogs will begin to crawl without training when attempting to sneak onto the couch or hoover up crumbs from the carpet.

Start by commanding your dog to lie down. Hold a treat firmly between your fingers so that your dog can smell and lick the treat but cannot take it from your hand.

Hold the treat in front of your dog’s nose, and slowly drag it along the floor. As soon as your dog crawls just a few feet, praise him, and give him the treat. If the dog stands up to take the treat, quickly take it away, and start again from the beginning.

Try to get your dog to crawl for a slightly longer distance each time. Once he has mastered the trick, command your dog to lie down when he is at least 10 – 15 feet away, and then get him to crawl towards you.

7. Dance

Dancing is generally considered to be a skill for smaller dogs, but larger breeds can also learn it with some gentle encouragement.

However, this trick is not recommended for dogs that are overweight or suffer from problems with their hind legs.

From the sitting position, raise a treat slowly up and over your dog’s head. Repeat a command such as “up”, “dance” or “spin” until he rises up on his hind legs.

You might need to move the treat slightly behind your dog’s head to get him to stand up. If your dog already has good balance, hold the treat in front of his nose, and then slowly move it around his head until he spins in a circle. Larger breeds such as Labradors and Bull Mastiffs may be slightly unsteady on their feet to begin with, so let them get accustomed to just standing up before getting them to spin.

6. Skateboard

Skateboarding dogs are the stars of some of the most popular videos on YouTube.

Smaller breeds such as bulldogs and pugs are perfect for this trick as they have a lower centre of gravity. Start by introducing your dog to the skateboard gradually.

Some dogs can be terrified of a noisy, moving object that has the ability to chase them, so it is important to break them in slowly.

Place the skateboard upside down on a carpeted surface to allow your dog to inspect it at his own pace. Praise and reward him for any interest he shows in the skateboard. Spend a few sessions simply doing this and gently spinning the wheels to let him get comfortable before proceeding to the next step.

Turn the skateboard the right way up, and start slowly rolling it away from your dog on the carpeted surface. Never roll it directly towards your dog as this may spook him. Take the skateboard outside, and continue rewarding your dog every time he shows interest or touches the skateboard.

Slowly begin to entice your dog to mount the skateboard. You may have to give your dog some gentle encouragement at first by lifting him onto it. Once he stands still, reward him generously. Begin to build up your dog’s confidence before graduating to pushing him on the skateboard. Once he feels safe and secure, gently roll him forwards and backwards whilst praising and administering treats.

5. Play the Piano

If you have a piano or keyboard in your home, why not teach your dog to play it and amaze your friends?
If your dog will do almost anything to earn treats, then teaching him to play the piano is extremely easy.

Larger dog breeds should be able to perform this trick with a standard size piano. Start by placing a toy piano or keyboard in the centre of a quiet room without any distractions.

As soon as your dog shows any interest in the piano, praise and reward him with treats. Keep the first few sessions short to ensure that your dog does not lose interest or become frustrated. Try tossing treats away from the piano whenever your dog shows an interest in it or nudges it with his nose and paw. As soon as he returns back to the piano, praise him enthusiastically, and toss another treat.

Once your dog begins to understand that good things happen whenever he approaches the piano, start limiting the amount of treats you give unless he concentrates his attention on the keyboard. Large and enthusiastic dogs may begin pressing keys without any prompting.

If your dog needs a little encouragement, try placing the treats on the keys so that he has to press them with his nose in order to win the treat. As soon as he presses a key, say the command “play” and reward generously.

 4. Peek – a – Boo

Original Image Source: Brinks Alo

Peek-a-boo is an adorable trick to teach your dog and is a great way to impress your friends.
There are two different methods to teaching your dog this trick. If your dog can already give his paw on command, start by having him sit in front of you, and ask for his paw.

Grasp his paw in your hand, and then raise it over his eyes. Repeat the command gently, and treat him immediately.

Continue repeating the process until your dog makes the connection. Another way to teach this trick is by using a small piece of scotch tape.

Have your dog sit in front of you, and then stick a small piece of tape or a yellow post-it note to the end of his nose. Ensure the tape is not too strong or he will have trouble removing it. Wait for your dog to raise his paw to remove the tape.

As soon as your dog lifts his paw to his nose, praise him, and administer a treat. Continue with the tape until he begins to understand the command. Next, try simply tapping your dog’s nose gently to get him to raise his paw. If you repeat these steps whilst saying the command, your dog will eventually perform the trick automatically.

3. Play Soccer

Many dogs will be a natural with a football and display amazing dribbling skills from the very first time. Others will need a little practice before they are ready to hit the football field.
Choose a ball that is slightly larger than your dog’s mouth so that he cannot pick it up and carry it. Take your dog to an open space such as the back garden or an empty park.

Make sure you have a supply of treats to reward him whenever he performs well.

Start by getting your dog acquainted with the ball by leaving it in front of him and allowing him to smell it. If he starts moving the ball by himself, immediately praise him, but do not give him a treat at this stage. If your dog is not interested in the ball at all, start gently rolling it towards him while encouraging him to play with it.

Every time your dog touches the ball with his nose or paw, praise him immediately. It may take several sessions before your dog gets the hang of dribbling the ball, but it will happen eventually. Start kicking the ball longer distances away from you and encouraging him to dribble it all the way back. Reward him with a treat as soon as he returns with the ball.

2. Sing to Music

Some dogs love the sound of their own voice and will start singing every time someone picks up an instrument or when their favourite song comes on the radio.
Others need a little more encouragement to show off their vocal talents.

This may not be the best trick to teach your dog if you live in an apartment or have neighbours living close by.

Some dogs will conduct their own practice sessions whilst you are out of the house which could drive your neighbours crazy.

Start by experimenting with different songs, tones and instruments to see if any of them inspire your dog to start singing. As you are the leader of the pack, lead by example, and start howling to encourage your dog to join in. Some dogs become more vocal when asking for something such as their food or a walk. As soon as your dog starts to make noise, say the command, and give him a reward.

One of the most famous examples of musical dogs is the New Guinea Singing Dog that is a close relative of the Dingo. This wild dog emits a long melodious howl that is characterised by several high notes. No matter what breed you have, all dogs are descended from wolves, and most will eventually rediscover their howling abilities.

1. Put Away Their Toys

If you keep your dog’s toys neatly stored in a basket, chances are he will be able to take them out and spread them all over the house without any encouragement.
Getting him to put them back again is a completely different issue. With a little patience and determination, you will eventually be able to teach your dog to clean up after himself.

Sit on the floor with your dog’s toy basket in front of you. Choose one toy, and throw it to the other side of the room. Once your dog chases after it, hold a treat over his toy basket, and call him back to you.

If he drops the toy before returning, remove the treat from his sight, and command him to fetch the toy. It may take a while for your dog to get the hang of this, and it is much easier if he already knows how to fetch.

Once he returns to you with the toy in his mouth, hold the treat directly over the toy box, and command your dog to release the toy. When he drops it into the box, give him the treat and lots of praise. Repeat these steps, and slowly begin to move the toy box away from you. Hold the treat over the box by extending your arm, and work up to simply pointing towards the box.

How precious are these tricks? We love the inspiration from Dog Notebook! For even more awesome tips, check out their page here. And in case you thought #5 was impossible, check out this video post we made of Sadie the Piano Playing German Shepherd! She's adorable.

Do You Have an Awesome Dog Trick to Share With Us? 

If you've taught your dog an awesome dog trick, we want to hear from you! Share your trick, a photo of your dog performing or a video of them doing the trick in the comments section below! We love learning new things (and so do our dogs) so pass on your wisdom and pay it forward!