I need an idea for a new trick...
 

Hi everyone. I need a new trick to teach Loki. He knows shake, high five, and wave... crawl, roll over, play dead... speak, spin, kiss... Some more I'm not thinking of?? But I can't come up with a new trick. His last two were kiss and wave, my current favorites. Our favorite thing to do is walk to the park and show off the newest tricks to the kids. They always ask what new things he can do! I looked through my training books but they are mostly theory books. Can someone suggest a book with a lot of tricks in it?

THANKS! :animal-pa

P.S. He can't do beg or sit up or anything that involves sitting on his back legs. He has a luxating patella (bad knee).

What about Yawn?

Watch Loki for things he does naturally that are cute and then start praising him when he does it naturally.

This is not really a trick you have to teach but the kids LOVE IT!

Take a treat and hide it in one hand. Put both fists out and ask "Which hand is it?" Jazzie will sniff both hand and will put her paw on one of my fists. I open it up and if it's there, she get's a treat. If it's not we do it again!

The kids can take a turn too and like I said they think its the best trick ever!

That's too cute! We'll have to try both of these. Loki yawns and stretches all the time. I'm trying to capture the stretch too!

Try weave--going through your legs, touch-he touches a stick or your foot with his nose, back--he goes backwards,bow-- like the play bow. He sounds like a real bright little guy!

Some good ideas here already. How about "leave it" with a piece of food between his paws? People are always impressed when Joey does that one!

He does targeting very well, but the kids are rarely impressed with that (I am though!) We did leave it in several of his classes and it's definately something we need to work on. I got a nice lecture from the trainer today because we are slacking on some things!! (Like COME!)

Any other ideas?

I did that with Boo the Boxer and then took it one step further. Remember the shell game where there were three shells with something hidden underneath? Well I did that with Boo. It was great fun! Sometimes she would get too excited and just put her paw on one of the three and look at me -- for her it really was gambling, 'cause if she guessed wrong, she didn't get the treat hidden underneath.

Ok, I cheated and started to google "fun dog tricks" and found these!

HIDE YOUR EYES
How: The dog can be in a sit or down for this one. The idea is to get her to cover her eyes with one paw on command. It will take some practice to find out the best method for your dog as we find they all respond to different signals. You may prefer to do it in a down. Then with treat in hand, tell the dog to "cover your eyes". Physically lift her paw over her muzzle and reward. If you blow gently on her nose, she may be inclined to swipe at her face. When she does this, reward. You have to just repeat the command and movement until the dog realizes what is needed to get the treat.

SNEEZE
How: The object is to make your dog sneeze on command. The signal will be the handler cupping her hands around her nose and mouth and saying "sneeze". With the handler seated in a chair, have your dog in a sit/stay in front of you. Cup your hands around her muzzle, say sneeze and blow gently into her nostrils. Continue until she either snuffles, sneezes or makes any such motion. Reward "good sneeze" and treat. Repeat. This may take a long time depending on the dog. Some will sneeze immediately, and others will take a lot of work to respond.