Just like for your dogs, training is essential to prevent unwanted behavior; learning new tricks can also have equally rewarding effects on them. More importantly, it can bridge the communication gap between a pet and its owner and make them more responsive and less impulsive. It also keeps dogs sharp, mentally and physically alert, helps deal with behavioral issues, exercise regularly, and allows the pet to bond closer to their owner. Learning tricks is also a great way to stimulate your pet's mind and challenge them to perform new and advanced tricks than sit, come, fetch and spin.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while training new tricks to your dog:

1. Reward-based training, which includes positive reinforcement, guarantees mutual trust, quicker response and builds a special bond between the dog and owner.

2. Using a clicker is an easy and fast way for the dog to mark the desired response and respond effectively to advanced tricks and commands. 

3. To avoid hampering their relationship, owners must break down a complex trick into smaller sections based on their dog's preference, breed, temperament, and age.

4. Keeping short training sessions on a daily basis allows the dog to be more attentive, interested, and follow the commands without tiring.

Ahead, find the most engaging, cool, and quirky party tricks to teach your dog.

1. High Five

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The first step is to have your dog in the 'sit' position and place their favorite treat in your closed palm. Hold out the palm in front of the dog but don't let them grab the treat until they lift their paws - once they do, mark their behavior using a clicker, and some praises starting with 'good job!' Follow the clicker with a treat and repeat the same action over and over. After a few successful tries, owners can present an open palm to their dog while holding the treat in the opposite hand. Once the dog touches their paw to your palm, mark their good behavior and offer them a treat. The owner must remember not to get frustrated if the dog doesn't perform accordingly or responds slowly. Instead, practice the initial step by placing the treat under a thumb over a closed palm. For the last step, the owner needs to practice holding the palm up instead of holding it straight. Remember to mark their good behavior and reward them each time they follow the command. You can also teach your dog to high five at a particular height once they’ve successfully learned the steps above.

2. Wave

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When teaching this trick, owners must be prepared with a clicker to mark their dog when they follow a command, along with a handful of treats approved by the vet, as rewards. Now that your dog has already learned how to do a high-five, they can easily transition to doing a wave as well. The first step is to get the dog back in position to do the high-five. Then, hold your palm at a distance for them to reach out and do a high-five in the air. The act of reaching out to the hand with their paws resembles a wave. Mark their behavior with a clicker and offer them a treat each time they do the 'wave.' At this point, owners can also add a verbal cue, such as 'bye,' and use it before holding up their palm. Doing this frequently will allow the dog to adjust to the word 'bye' and use it alone to wave back at you. Remember to keep marking their behavior each time they listen accurately and practicing the trick each day for better learning.

3. Offer Kisses

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Before they begin, owners must be prepared with their dog's favorite treats and a jar of peanut butter. Some dogs can naturally understand how to kiss their owners and only need a verbal cue such as 'kiss' to follow the command. Owners can physically point to their cheek before saying the word to direct the dog and maintain consistency. Each time they follow, mark with a clicker and offer them a treat with some positive praises. If the dog cannot follow the command, place a dollop of peanut butter on your cheek and allow the dog to lick it off. You can mark their behavior with a clicker and a treat, and practice this repeatedly using the verbal cue. Once the dog can comprehend the previous commands successfully, only use the word 'kiss' to get the dog to kiss you. Keep practicing the steps till the dog follows the steps efficiently, and then you can stop offering them the treats. Make sure to use as many positive affirmations such as 'Good boy/girl' and 'Thank you,' as possible to show them that you're pleased. 

4. Bow 

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The first step is to get your dog to stand squarely and mark them with a clicker and a treat in the same position. Then, angle your hand holding the treat away from the face that makes your dog dip their shoulders a bit. Click every time the dog follows and offer them a treat. The trick is to make them bend and push their paws out without moving/dipping their limbs. For this, owners need to extend their arm downwards and click each time the dog leans on their forearms while keeping their legs up. In case the dog sits entirely on the floor, don't mark their behavior. Use the verbal cue 'bow' before stretching your arm and keep repeating the same action over and over. Owners must remember to keep their training duration to less than 10 minutes. Otherwise, the dog may lose interest or tire at the bow position. To release the dog from the bow position, owners can use a different verbal cue, such as 'up' or 'okay,' so that the dog stands back straight. 

5 Roll Over

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For doing this trick, your dog should already know how to lay down. Once the dog is reliable with the laydown command, angle the treat towards the side of the dog's face, making them lie on his side. When the dog can follow this correctly, click and reward their behavior with some positive affirmations. Practice it repeatedly until the dog becomes consistent at laying on its side. Once the dog can lay down comfortably, move the treat towards their backbone till they are lying flat on their back, and then move the treat to the other side entirely, till the dog rolls over. When the dog follows the action, use a clicker to mark their behavior and offer them a treat. Keep practicing till the dog starts to roll over efficiently and reward them each time. Owners will require teaching this trick in parts since it's more complex than others to follow through. They should also be aware that not all dogs are comfortable with rolling over. So it's best to see if your dog is responding positively rather than forcing them to lay on their side. 

Additional Tip - How to Maintain Safety While Training Your Dog Outdoors? 

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Spending time outdoors can be essential for a dog's mental stimulation and benefit from daily aerobic exercises. Outdoor activities such as on-leash running, obstacle training, outdoor play such as fetch and digging pits are excellent ways to keep dogs active and help build their strength. However, dogs are more susceptible to fleas in the outdoors as they prefer warm and moist environments to find a host and start the breeding process. A single adult female can lay up to 40 eggs in a day that are likely to survive all year round. Pet owners must ensure that they offer the best flea treatment for dogs at regular intervals to prevent flea and tick infestation. A more convenient option is to get a monthly subscription for flea medicine for dogs that delivers at your doorstep and saves you from the hassle of visiting the vet every few months. Other flea preventions for dogs include regular baths, daily brushing, home sanitization, follow-up treatments every two to three weeks, mowing the lawn, and keeping it moisture-free to make it a less inviting space for pests. 

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In conclusion, there may be endless party tricks for your dog to learn, but the owner must remember that other than factors such as age, preference, breed, and size, training your dog comes with a lot of patience and practice. So make sure to move at their pace and keep things enjoyable for them, rather than making it a stress-inducing activity. Also, while the tricks may look cool to others, know that you and your best friend are having fun, deepening your special bond, and that you’re helping maintain your dog's overall health.