10 Practical Tricks to Teach Your dog

10 Practical Tricks to Teach Your Dog

This article is a copy of a blog from 6 pack of dogs fan Keith Howard and his blog (http://www.lawncareservice.net/blog/2011/10-practical-tricks-to-teach-your-dog/).

Having a dog is a great feeling since you get a lifelong pal that will stick by your side loyally forever. Most people like to teach all the great tricks to their dog in order to have a well-trained and well-behaved pet that is able to do things others can’t. There are several tricks that you can teach your dog in order to make a more entertaining pet that is able to compete with other pets, showing just how bright he or she really is. Some dogs are quite intelligent and it doesn’t really take much but a bit of guidance and reward in order to teach the best of tricks, while there are some dogs you have to work a little harder with in order to ensure he or she gets the gig. If you are thinking about teaching your dog something new, here are 10 practical tricks to teach your dog, that just about anyone can do quite easily.

1. Sit. This is perhaps the most basic of tricks to teach your dog and extremely practical. Not only is it very easy to teach, but your dog is able to comprehend this command very easily due to the one word, one syllable command type. For most, this is often the first trick worked on and leads to great success with the reward of a few good treats.
2. Beg. Every dog begs, but there are different ways of begging. The typical owner doesn’t want the dog to beg unless it is a trick, in which the dog sits with his paws up, begging quietly. This is a great trick to teach, and is done easily with the dog’s favorite treats and a great deal of patience.
3. Stand. There aren’t many breeds out there that can stand perfectly, but they all can pretty much stand if taught how by their master. Teaching a dog to stand is much like teaching them to beg, and can be a great trick to show all your friends as they stop by.
4. Heel. Heel is one of the most basic commands, yet is still a trick that many dogs may not know. This is great for those big dogs that like to attack and can ward them off the attack easily. With a quick “heel”, they will sit back and leave the threat alone.
5. Roll Over. This is a great trick to teach a dog that is obedient when it comes to laying. Once the dog knows how to lay down, half the work is done and the next step is roll over. Rolling over is a harder trick to teach, but many dogs grasp it after only a few tries.
6. Lay Down. Laying down is a necessity for a dog, but if you are patient and interested in teaching your dog new tricks, you can teach them to lay down on command. This is one of the most practical of tricks to teach as most dogs can learn this one in less than a day.
7. Shake Hands. Whether you call it giving paw or shaking hands, dogs are great at learning this trick. Any breed can learn it and the earlier you teach it the quicker the pup will learn. Giving paw is a great way to show your dog affection as well, making it a great trick to teach.
8. Fetch. This is a trick that is always taught by kids and dogs are prone to grasp it almost immediately. Even if you have the dog that just stares at the object flying away, after a couple tries, he or she will likely get the hang of it and do the trick all the time. This is also a great trick to teach if you want to have great fun with the pup.
9. Get the Paper. There aren’t many masters that really teach this trick anymore because many people rather just get the paper from the store reducing the issues with the paper boy, but this is a highly practical trick nonetheless. There are many dogs that actually enjoy this trick and will stay on routine until they no longer have a paper to fetch.
10. Play Dead. Playing dead is a great trick to teach, especially for those that wish to put their pup in some acting later on. Teaching a dog to play dead is not only amusing, but can be extremely easy for the master to accomplish with a few great treats and a while to master the trick completely.

All dogs have great potential to perform great tricks, and there are some tricks that are very practical and can be taught to just about any dog. While there are some tricks exclusive for certain breeds, these 10 tricks are for any breed that has the will to try.

6 pack of dogs is brought to you by the pet lovers at: