So you’ve mastered the basics and feel up for a challenge. You and your dog are on the same page, eager to learn and impress your friends and family with some advanced dog tricks.
But where do you start? What trick will be the most impressive to teach your dog and endear your four-legged friend to your nearest and dearest?
We’ve collated what we think are 9 of the best-advanced tricks. These dog tricks cover a range of skills, so you should find something suitable for you both. Before you dive right in, though, there are some basic things to cover first.
Learning should be fun
Regardless of what type of dog you have, all canines can benefit from a mental workout. Not only does dog training allow your dog to use its brain. But it’s also an excellent opportunity to strengthen your bond. Advanced dog tricks usually comprise a series of smaller commands. Your dog needs to learn each of these commands before the new tricks are performed.
The more advanced the trick, the longer it will take to teach. Patience is key. Make sure you celebrate your dog’s successes and always stop training sessions before your dog gets bored or frustrated. If you make the experience fun with plenty of rewards and encouragement, your dog is likely to learn faster and be a much more willing participant.
Once your dog has learned all the individual commands, you can move on stringing the separate tasks together to perform your chosen advanced trick.
To click or not to click
Most of the dogs in the videos we have chosen have been taught advanced tricks using a clicker. However, if you are not a clicker devotee or have never used a clicker to train your dog before, don’t despair.
Rather than click, you can use a cue word like ‘yes’ or ‘good’ for each right step your dog makes. However, a clicker has two main advantages; firstly, the sound it makes is unique, and secondly, it’s easier to get the timing right. This makes it easier for your dog to know exactly what action it is being rewarded for.
Nonetheless, all these tricks are possible without one, so get plenty of treats at the ready and choose your favorite trick to teach.
Wave hello/goodbye
If you’ve already taught your dog how to shake hands or give a high five, then you’ve got a great head start. Training your dog to wave hello or goodbye is the ultimate in doggy manners and looks very sweet too.
While we consider this an advanced trick, it is relatively easy to teach, so it’s a good place to start.
Cover Your Eyes
This next trick looks impressive but is easy to teach and doesn’t take long for a dog to learn. Sometimes referred to as the shy dog trick, it teaches your dog to raise a paw to their nose as though they are covering their eyes.
You will need some sticky tape or a small post-it and lots of high-value rewards as learning this trick can be annoying for your dog. Remember, training should be fun, so keep sessions short, especially if you think your dog is getting distressed or frustrated.
Go Hide
Purely for show, go hide is a cute trick to teach your dog. It’s bound to get your dog some positive attention from visitors and is a relatively easy party piece for your dog to learn. It relies on teaching your dog to target something first. You can either teach that step as part of this overall trick or as separate training before tackling Go Hide.
Almost universally suitable for any dog and owner. Teaching your dog this trick is a great way to develop your relationship not only that, it provides your dog with some much-needed mental stimulation too.
Jump into my arms
If you’ve got a big bear of a dog, you may want to give this command a miss unless you are on the sturdy side.
While a dog jumping up at you is not always a pleasant experience, if you can get your dog to do it on cue and jump right into your arms for a hug, how cool is that.
This trick isn’t just fun and impressive, though; it has a useful side. If you ever need to pick up your dog, this trick takes the strain out of having to lift them.
Shut that door
This trick is not only fun, but it can be useful too. There aren’t too many steps to teach your dog. So it’s a good place to start when training for a more complex task.
Not only that but once your dog knows the targeting action that is integral to the trick, it can be used in so many other ways. So it’s a really great skill for your dog to learn.
Clean your paws
You know those friends who aren’t really into dogs but include your dog on the invite because otherwise, they wouldn’t see you?
Get your dog some serious brownie points by teaching it how to wipe its paws before entering the house. Even the most house-proud friends and family couldn’t fail to be impressed by this trick.
Your feet on mine
Want to go even further than teaching your dog to wipe its feet? How about teaching your dog to walk with his paws on your feet.
This trick may be easier with a medium-size dog. If your dog is the size of a horse, it’s going to be uncomfortable for you. But if your dog is the size of a mouse, it’s going to be uncomfortable for your dog.
If you’re unsure of the logistical possibility of doing this trick with your dog, move on – training sessions should be fun!
Play dead
This trick requires you to teach your dog several commands and then string them together to produce the impressive play-dead trick. If you’ve already taught your dog a ‘down’ command, you’re one step closer.
While this has to be one of the most popular dog tricks to teach, do keep in mind your dog’s comfort as it requires your dog to roll over on the floor. Help your dog by training your dog on a soft surface as your dog may need to repeat the action multiple times; comfort is key.
Where’s Your Bum?
We just had to include this one. It’s reasonably complex as your dog has to learn several individual components first. It’s worth it, though; it’s top of the class if you want to get a laugh.
Not only that, each of the different skills that build-up to the finished stunt is well worth teaching too.
Advanced dog tricks to teach your dog
Training your dog should feel rewarding for both you and your dog. Not only does learning new tricks give your dog mental stimulation, but it helps to deepen your relationship.
What’s more, having a well-trained dog means that you are more likely to be able to take them with you if you visit friends and family. Dogs love the challenge of learning if it’s fun, so always leave your pet wanting more as dogs and dog owners that are frustrated with the process are unlikely to succeed.
Take your dog training slowly, train in short sessions, reward your dog often with treats and praise and give your dog plenty of breaks. Above all, remember that when you teach your dog tricks, it should be a rewarding experience for you both.