Pet Trick Day is September 30th. Our canine companions are always cute, but they somehow manage to be extra adorable when they are performing charming tricks. Fido actually has more tricks up his collar than you may think! An local Ellicott City, MD vet lists some of the most adorable ones in this article.

Smile

Technically, dogs don’t smile. Unofficially? They kind of do. You can definitely tell when a pooch is feeling cheerful. However, this trick also has a dark twin: Shark, in which Fido spreads his mouth in a mischievous grin.

Sing

This one is great for many Basset Hounds, Huskies, and other vocal pups. Fido may not win any Grammys, but he can win some hearts.

Cover Your Eyes

With this one, Fido lays down and puts his paws over his eyes. This one will never stop being adorable.

Roll Over

Roll over is another trick that is pretty easy to teach your canine buddy. It’s also a fun way to make your pooch earn his treats.

Shake

The Shake command has a few close cousins, Gimme Paw and High-Five. These are actually some of the more useful tricks. Teaching Fido that he’ll get a yummy snack for giving you his furry foot will definitely make cutting his nails much easier!

Smooches

Although being slobbered on isn’t very appealing, many pups just give gentle, affectionate kisses. This is a fun way for your canine pal to charm guests!

Fetch

Fetch is instinctive in many dogs, particularly in those breeds that were trained to bring their humans fowl or game back. This can also be the basis for more advanced training. If you want to teach your cute pet to bring you your slippers or a cold drink, start here.

Stand

While this one is cute, it isn’t right for all dogs. If your pooch has hip dysplasia, you’ll want to skip this one!

Play Dead

We’re not sure who first taught Fido this one, but we’re eternally grateful for the laughs.

Tips

No matter what you’re trying to teach Fido, the basic guidelines are the same. Start with basic obedience commands, like Sit and Stay. When it’s time for tricks, focus on one at a time. Be sure to incorporate lots of treats and praise!

Do you have questions about your dog’s health or care? Contact us, your Ellicott City, MD animal clinic, anytime!