Dog Tricks & Skits

There are many tricks you can teach your dog, and then incorporate them into skits to amuse and delight your friends. Training your dog is a great way to build the bond between you and stimulate it mentally. The best way to teach a skit, which is a combination of several motions, is to break it down into simple movements and train each one individually before putting it all together in one.

  1. Sit and Down

    • Sit and down are not the most impressive tricks in the book. Lots of dogs know those two commands, so they do not spark amazement from onlookers, but they should. They are the foundation of all good training work, and do much more than just provide stepping stones for other training. Good solid sit and down commands give you control over your dog in situations that might otherwise become out of hand, and could save its life in a serious situation such as running toward something dangerous like a moving car. Basic dog tricks also teach your dog how to learn.

    Transition Basics

    • Train your dog to do as many transition tricks as possible so you can link them together for complicated skits. These tricks include play dead, roll over, stand up (on hind legs), jump an obstacle, crawl and crawl under a bar.

    Fetch

    • There's more to fetch than meets the eye.

      Fetch is fun. Fetch is a game, turned trick, turned helpful aid. Fetch makes a good transition from simple tricks to skits that are also helpful. Using fetch you can teach your dog to get the car keys, get those slippers dogs are famous for bringing when you come home tired, or just bring back a ball to play.

    Helpful Tricks

    • There are other helpful tricks you can teach once your dog learns how to learn. Carrying items for you on a walk, carrying a bucket in the yard and other toting functions are amusing and helpful. Be careful not to overload a bucket or ask a dog to carry something too heavy. Other helpful tricks that can turn into helpful aids are learning to distinguish objects you have handled, and pick them out of a group of similar untouched items. Use the scent discrimination trick along with hide and seek fun and turn it into search and rescue.

    Dance Routines

    • Dance routines are enjoyable skits, and great exercise for both you and your dog. Dogs are capable of long routines once they learn the steps. Teach your dog to jump through your arms circled into a loop, over your leg, or run under your leg. Teach your dog to back up, stand up and walk forward on its hind legs, and spin in circles, and you are well on your way to a waltzing partner that will take its visual cues from you seamlessly during the performance.