Teaching your golden retriever tricks isn’t solely amusing but also helps develop your dog’s obedience and intellect.
Fortunately, golden retrievers are eager to please the owner and food motivated, so teaching them new tricks is simple.
Essential golden retriever commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “drop it” aren’t particularly entertaining and won’t make your friends and family laugh.
If you want to please the public, teach your golden retriever to give high five, salute, pray, crawl like a soldier, or play the piano.
Some dogs can even learn to ride a skateboard and clean up their toys, but training a dog requires patience and discipline from the owner.
1. High Five
The “high five” trick is a real crowd pleaser and one of the easiest golden retriever tricks to learn, particularly if the dog already knows how to give a paw on command.
To teach your dog to give a high five, have it sit and hold a treat in the air above its head. The reward should be out of your dog’s reach. Then, tap the paw you want your dog to use and say, “high five.”
The dog will likely try to wave at the treat with the paw you’ve tapped, but even if it uses the other paw, give your dog a gentle high five. Then, praise and reward your dog.
After some repetition, your dog will start associating “high five” with raising a paw and should start lifting it without your assistance or rewards.
2. Salute
Salute is similar to a high five because it requires your dog to know how to give a paw. It’s an excellent trick if you have friends or family who serve in the military and admire your dog.
Have your dog sit. If your dog doesn’t yet sit on command, you’ll need to teach it first! Then, ask for a paw. Take your dog’s paw and gently move it to your dog’s nose.
Immediately after your dog’s paw touches its nose, command it “salute” and praise it. Give your dog a treat or its favorite toy. Repeat the steps until your dog masters the trick and gives a salute without your assistance.
Alternatively, you can stick a piece of tape or put a treat on your dog’s nose to make your dog rub its nose with its paw.
3. Army Crawl
On the same military note, teach your dog to crawl like a commando. This trick will not only please any sergeant but also keep your dog fit.
First, have your dog lie down. If your dog doesn’t yet lie down on command, teach it to do that first. Then, hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose, close to the ground.
Move the treat away from your dog really slow, dragging it along the floor. You should move the treat so slow that your dog doesn’t get an idea to stand up and take it.
Your dog will start crawling towards the treat. After it moves a few steps further, command it “crawl” and give it the desired reward.
Gradually increase the crawling distance as you practice the trick. Golden retrievers with hip disorders shouldn’t do this trick.
4. Skateboard
Have you ever seen a dog on a skateboard? This advanced golden retriever trick requires some time, dedication, and a skateboard.
Furthermore, not all dogs have the coordination to pull it off – just like not all people can do skateboard stunts.
Choose a large enough board. A penny board is sufficient for chihuahuas, but for a golden, you’ll likely need a longboard.
Start by getting your dog used to the board. Wedge something against the wheels to keep the board from rolling and scaring your dog during the first interactions.
When your dog appears comfortable around the board, encourage it to put its paws on it and give it a treat. Gradually build your dog’s confidence by having it put more feet on the board and reward it.
Once your dog can stand on the board, move it a little bit and give your dog a treat. Your objective is to make your golden retriever comfortable as you push the board along.
5. Play Piano
If you’re a music enthusiast, teach your dog to play the piano. Your dog won’t learn to play Mozart’s Sonata 11, but this fun golden retriever trick will undoubtedly amuse your friends.
Encourage your dog to approach the piano and give it a treat. Then, put a treat on the keyboard to make your dog place its paws on it. Alternatively, put your dog’s paws on the piano yourself.
Reward your pet after each sound it makes. Given golden retriever size, it will happen naturally. Limit the treats as your dog masters the trick.
Of course, you need to keep your dog’s claws trimmed to perform this trick without damaging the instrument.
6. Say Your Prayers
Teach your dog to pray for more walks, slower squirrels, or better treats. First, master the basic golden retriever commands – “sit” and “give a paw.”
Then, have your dog sit and kneel in front of it. Ask it for a paw and extend your forearm. Place your dog’s paw on your forearm and ask for another paw.
Place the second paw on your forearm. Command “pray” and give your dog a treat. It may take a few tries until your dog gives your both paws.
Your goal is to teach your dog to give you both paws and place them on your forearm on a verbal command. The next stage is teaching your dog to bow its head.
While your dog’s paws are on your arm, hold a treat with your free hand and slowly lower it to make your dog lower its nose. Wait a bit until giving the reward to your dog to make it hold its head down for some time.
7. Clean Up Your Toys
Clean up your toys is a fun and practical golden retriever trick that requires your dog to know the “drop it” command and what toys are.
Distribute toys around the room and ask your dog to bring you one toy. Sit near a container where you want your dog to store its toys. Hold a treat right above the container to lure your dog to it.
When your dog comes to the container, command “drop it.” After the toy falls into the container, give your dog a treat. Repeat the process until all the toys are in the container.
When all your dog’s toys are in the box, command your dog “clean up your toys” and give it a big reward.
8. Bounce a Ball
Golden retrievers admire balls. Bounce a ball is an amusing and simple golden retriever trick that will guarantee you a fun day at the beach or park.
Take a ball and encourage your dog to play with it. Reward your dog every time the ball touches its nose. After some time, try placing the ball on your dog’s nose and reward it.
After your dog gets comfortable with the ball touching its face, bounce the ball lightly off its nose. Only reward your dog if it makes a head movement that can be interpreted as trying to hit the ball.
Your ultimate goal is to make your dog bounce the ball off its nose following a command. Don’t use an overly heavy ball.
9. Get Me a Drink
To master this trick, your dog needs to know the “take it,” “bring it,” and “drop it” commands. Place an empty soda can or plastic bottle on the ground and ask your dog to take it.
Then, tell your dog to bring it and drop it. Catch the bottle with your hand. Say, “get me a drink,” and reward your dog if it has done all the steps successfully.
If your dog can’t yet perform multi-step tricks, practice each step individually and reward your dog constantly.
10. Sneeze
This easy trick to teach a dog has no practical value but can make the public laugh. Teaching your dog to sneeze requires more luck than dedication.
You will need to carry around treats at all times to give them instantly as your dog sneezes. As soon as your dog sneezes for whatever reason, command it “sneeze” and give it a treat.
Over time, your dog should learn to sneeze on command. If you don’t want to leave the training up for a chance, tickle your dog’s nose with a feather or tissue.
11. Wave Goodbye
Wave goodbye is another easy trick to teach a puppy that has already mastered the “give me a paw” command. Ask your dog to give you a paw but raise your hand higher than usual to make your dog reach for it.
Give your dog a treat. Keep practicing, moving your hand higher every time. Your dog should reach above its head with the paw.
When your dog raises its paw high enough, introduce the command word – “wave goodbye.” Give your dog the “shake” command when the paw is extended. After some time, you can eliminate the “shake” command.