Teaching a dog tricks is fun, if not during the process then definitely after the fact, when you and the dog get to show off. Standard tricks like "sit" and "shake" have become so common that a dog is almost expected to know these by command. Here's a few unique dog trick ideas that might be useful for impressing your friends or having fun on a rainy day.
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Hypnotize
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Unfortunately, you won't really be hypnotizing your dog with this trick--just making it appear as though he is. Assuming your dog already knows hand signs or vocal commands for more basic tricks, you can teach him a new hand sign or vocal command that tells him to lie down and roll onto his side, into a sleeping position.
Do you want a present?
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Before giving your dog a treat, meal or toy you can teach him or her to bring you a "present". For this trick, you need teach your dog that to obtain the reward, he meeds to go find something to bring to you. Ask your dog if he wants a present, and when he brings you the first thing he finds laying around, give him the reward.
Answering the phone
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Although this trick doesn't work as well with cell phones, it is almost worth keeping around a landline phone or toy phone just to do perform the trick with. Each time the phone rings, your dog will retrieve the reciever with his mouth and bring it to you.
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