What trick(s) could I teach my dog next?

Question

I have an 8-11 year old English springer spaniel who is small for a spaniel, but with a very long back. So far, my family and I have taught her:
-sit
- lie down
- roll over (also x2 rolls)
- jump (over an obstacle)
- up (putting front paws onto a higher surface)
- wait (aka 'stay')
- leave it (which she will do if she has been told to even if the treat is on her nose, as she knows she will get another for doing it! Two marshmallow dog)
- climb (dont do this anymore as she is a bit older)
- catch
- find it
- paw
- high five
- drop

And basically I have no idea what to do next... I would do speak, but she NEVER barks except in her sleep, so that didn't work, tried walking backwards, which she did for a while, and used to do crawling as well (we are recapping that today!) so yeah, anyone have any age appropriate tricks to teacher her? Thanks! (she also knows other words, like no, dinner and etc, but those dont really count as tricks!)

Sandy · Accepted Answer

How funny! I was thinking about what other tricks to teach my dog as well, I'm running out since she knows 23, but I have found a few more! Here is a list of tricks that she knows plus some that we're working on...

Sit
Stay
Come
Lie Down
Crawl
Leave It
Balance objects on nose
Bang (play dead)
Take a bow
Paw (or shake)
7 agility obstacles
Catch a frisbee
Give it (a.k.a. drop it)
Spin
Roll Over
Look left/Look right
Heel

We are currently working on "say your prayers", "go to your mark", and "cover your eyes".

One of my personal favorites was teaching her to balance stuff on her nose and head. Remember not to do anything heavy though! Here is the tutorial I used...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYAEhm8YiI&t=52s

We eventually worked our way up to this!

Anonymous · Answer

I taught my dog to spin.   It's very cute if I do say so myself.

She also knows over, under, tunnel, bang-bang (play dead), "little woof" (quiet speak...more like a "fff" or soft growl), bottoms up (downward dog in human yoga)...

? · Answer

There are Entire BOOKS written on training dog TRICKS.  Amazon (that has reviews from certified buyers) and ebay sell them new and used.  BUY one!

Instead of just teaching TRICKS why not actually let her learn something USEFUL that she can also allow her to use her brain and/or inbred instincts & scenting ability?  She can even earn a  TITLE, if she is a registered dog.  there are AKC hunting tests for Springers (rules can be found online).  At the lower levels nobody will shoot a bird.  There is a new sport known as "Nose-work" which can BUILD on her 'find-it' training, or AKC sport of  tracking - which Springers EXCEL at and both are good for "senior dogs" to participate in.

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What trick(s) could I teach my dog next?

3 Answers