Have the many months of limited activity had you looking at dog tricks with a new eye? I’ve been training Barli several tricks lately (we started with Shake and High Five then progressed to Perch and bell ringing.) I really wanted to enroll Barli in a trick training class this fall but didn’t want to take the risk so I opted to do some searches and teach him at home.
And apparently I’m not alone! We just received a guest post, below, on which dog tricks are currently being searched for the most in the UK. You’ll see that many of these are top tricks for US dogs, too. I’ve paired these most-searched tricks with videos to help you enjoy some fun with your dog!
I purchased the book below (Amazon affiliate link) and have been working through it to teach Barli some fun tricks!
Which Dog Tricks Are Everyone Teaching Their Dogs?
Sit, beg, roll over. These are some of the tricks that dogs get taught. The UK is a nation of dog lovers, but which tricks do dogs get taught most? Using exclusive data from Butternut Box, we can reveal the most searched-for tricks on Google to teach dogs in the UK.
Whether you want to show off to your other doggy owner pals what a good boy your dog is, or you think you will benefit from having a more active life, here are the top tricks you can teach your dog.
“Say Please!”!
Beg (often called “sit pretty”) is the trick that makes dog work for their treats or food. This trick has the highest monthly searches in the UK, but also tops overall searches in the whole of the UK.
Beg could be popular because owners may think this is a good way to get dogs to earn their treats, rather than simply handing it to them.
Barking on Cue
When people aren’t teaching their dogs to beg, the next highest search is ‘dog bark’.
Owners will teach their dogs to bark because, from then on, it will be easier to teach them to be quiet.
Getting your dogs to learn this trick will allow you to have control over their behavior, especially their voice, which will allow you to stop excessive barking.
Roll Over Dog Trick
The trick that is growing in popularity is the roll.
‘How to teach your dog to roll’ grew the most in each region of the UK. The search term rose 260 per cent in the North West and a staggering 320 per cent in the South West.
Lockdown practice
Searches for various forms of dog tricks soared in April 2020 according to data from Butternut Box. This could be because more people were stuck at home during the first lockdown period.
It could also be the result of more people getting dogs during lockdown, so more people were looking to see what tricks they can teach their new furry friends.
Dog trainers are even offering virtual classes to make sure dogs can still be taught through lockdown! As you sit and work from home, your dog can be doing the same.
Why do dogs need tricks?
Teaching your dog new tricks (whether they are old or not) can be beneficial in many different ways.
Spending more time with your dog through teaching them will allow you to form a closer bond. This will also encourage them to trust you, as they may not listen to you if they don’t respect you.
Obedience and manners are something that can be achieved through training as well, which are important traits for your dogs to have. You need to know that they will listen to you, especially if they are going to be around other dogs.
Training will obviously help a dog become healthier by building up muscle and stamina, especially when doing very physical tricks such as roll over and jump. Pairing your training with some weight loss dog food will be very beneficial to your dog’s lifestyle if they need to lose weight. It will also be good if you have a very active breed of dog such as Golden Retrievers.
Learning tricks and skills will allow them to channel their energy into something positive.
Teaching your dog new tricks can be a struggle with some dogs, or a delight with others. But whether your dog is a Pug or an Akita, teaching them a various number of tricks (ensuring they are tricks that their breed can do) can be highly beneficial to their wellbeing.