# Stupid Pet Tricks **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662 "2011-08-22T15:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/1 "2011-08-22T15:27:02Z")
Anyone teach their pets any new tricks lately (stupid or otherwise)? We’ve been trying to teach our Shepherd to stack river rocks. She is pretty bright, but try as we might, [we can not get her to stack more than five.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/kalirocks.jpg)☹ Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/2 "2011-08-22T16:15:19Z")
That is impressive as hell! That stack looks precarious, I probably couldn’t do that. My dad built a door knocker at dog height and the hound uses it, saves the new paint. A trick that evolved accidentally - my dog will jump up like freaking Jaws and slobber all over any hand that has the temerity to flip her the bird. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/3 "2011-08-22T16:22:01Z")
My pit knows a ton of tricks - she rings a doorbell when she needs to go outside, in addition to the other normal dog things like sit, stay, jump, spin, dance, touch that etc. We’re TRYING to teach her to pick up a basket in her mouth and carry it to the other person, but for some reason, her brain will NOT understand we want her to pick it up. She’ll grab the handle in her mouth and drag it until it falls over, then she wants a treat. It’s very frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/4 "2011-08-22T19:44:24Z")
The Little Girls taught themselves a new one today and gave me a present of a half-dead mouse. We don’t usually have mice in the summer, but they found one. They weren’t allowed to be dogs in their old home. One even had a bare patch from where she rubbed on the crate they were always locked in. Our Lab cross has been teaching them some of ropes so they now are learning how to play, but his way of dealing with a mouse is to give it a shake, throw it in the air, and swallow it. He would never slobber all over it and give it to Daddy. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/5 "2011-08-22T20:04:27Z")
[Lilith’s](http://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/4812664477/) only real trick is to sit with a cookie on her nose until we tell her to “take it!”, and then she somehow flips it into her mouth without it ever hitting the ground. The best part of the trick is when she’s sitting there balancing the cookie, she just looks extremely meek and embarrassed. It cracks me up. Poor mistreated doggie! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/6 "2011-08-22T22:44:25Z")
She’s so cute! We evolved with dogs. They’ve been part of our lives for at least 15,000 years. Lilith can be adorable because that’s part of how it started. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/7 "2011-08-25T03:30:20Z")
What, no cred for the Little Girls? Who figured out how to be Terriers all by themselves? Unofficially, they are Weshies, West Highland/Shih Tzu crosses. More unofficially, they are perfectly adorable, as long as they keep their presents on the floor. If I’m stuck being unemployed, “Andy Griffith” should remain corpse-free. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/8 "2011-08-25T03:33:36Z")
Mr Spock, a 28lb flamepoint Siamese mix, taught himself to sit up and beg when he wants attention. Unfortunately, I have never been able to get a picture of him doing it. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/9 "2011-08-25T04:01:54Z")
Is being perfectly housebroken aside from a deep need to pee on our bed when nobody’s looking a “trick?” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/10 "2011-08-25T05:24:13Z")
I’ve taught all 3 of my cats to not come when called. I’ve also taught them to stay sleeping on various pieces of furniture on command. ---
**Author:** ![ecseas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/11 "2011-08-25T05:39:48Z")
My dog will go where you point. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/12 "2011-08-25T12:53:47Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Is being perfectly housebroken aside from a deep need to pee on our bed when nobody’s looking a “trick?” Sure. You’ve been tricked into accepting unacceptable behavior!😛 A friend freaked out last night over another “trick” my 3 dogs apparently have been taught. When I am in a hurry, I take them out and say “HURRY PEE!” and all three run to the first patch of grass and do synchronized urination.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/13 "2011-08-27T13:58:47Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > [Lilith’s](http://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/4812664477/) only real trick is to sit with a cookie on her nose until we tell her to “take it!”, and then she somehow flips it into her mouth without it ever hitting the ground. The best part of the trick is when she’s sitting there balancing the cookie, she just looks extremely meek and embarrassed. It cracks me up. Poor mistreated doggie! We’ve tried teaching this trick to [Puck](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TGp6FmvyGg94Gf6ustEEkM7Av6i4X8ZJop0Yo6bQsls?feat=directlink), our Boston Terrier, but he won’t keep his head still. However, he can sit still if you place his treat on the floor in front of him or on top of his paw and wait…wait…wait…OK! NOW! eat it only when he’s told. He will wait for an interminable time which is really impressive. We can even leave the room while he’s waiting and he won’t break when no one’s looking. He does look pitiful though while he’s waiting, I almost feel bad. He also plays dead when shot at with finger guns, will “speak” with a bark or use his “inside voice” which quiet, throaty moan. He shakes and does all the other usual doggie tricks. His latest trick is learning to spell which is to say he’s learning to recognize all his old commands by their spelling, as opposed to sounded out. So far, he’s mostly gotten S-I-T down pat. We thought it would be funny to “teach a dog to spell”. He’s a very patient and eager to please dog who will do just about anything for a treat or a kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/14 "2011-08-28T16:32:10Z")
When I was a boy, I got a puppy at the pound; she was about 2 months old, I think. We got her spayed at 6 months, but when she was three or four months old, she started going into this weird false estrus every few weeks or so, and would leave a trail of blood drops behind her for a few days. Whoops! Sorry, I thought the thread title was “Stupid Pet Trickles.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/15 "2011-08-29T13:41:54Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > She’s so cute! > > We evolved with dogs. They’ve been part of our lives for at least 15,000 years. Lilith can be adorable because that’s part of how it started. Thank you! Puck is so cute, **Brown Eyed Girl** …I’d really like to have a Boston Terrier or pug. You have to love such a face! [Here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/6093010854/) is a picture of Lil doing her trick with a piece of pizza crust. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/16 "2011-08-29T22:09:27Z")
My GF taught Kali to open fences. [It is cute when you want her to do it, but we have to be careful securing gates now.](http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/?action=view¤t=2011-08-28_12-43-17_649.mp4)😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/17 "2011-08-29T23:24:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My GF taught Kali to open fences. That is the stupidest pet trick I can imagine. What was she thinking? One of the Little Girls figured out that, though she is small, momentum equals mass times velocity, and if she thinks a door is ajar or part of the fence might be weak she hits it with a flying leap. ---
**Author:** ![inkling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkling)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/18 "2011-08-30T00:26:12Z")
I was practicing my putting in the living room once, and taught my golden retriever to fetch the ball, drop it in a convenient location, then sit/stay until told to go get it again. It was surprisingly easy to teach, but the roll got messed up by the saliva and I was concerned about leaving a big wet streak on the rug, so I stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-pet-tricks/593662/19 "2011-08-30T03:48:22Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Thank you! > > Puck is so cute, **Brown Eyed Girl** …I’d really like to have a Boston Terrier or pug. You have to love such a face! > > [Here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/6093010854/) is a picture of Lil doing her trick with a piece of pizza crust. Well done, Lil! Lil’s got a long enough snout to make that trick easier. Poor Puck just can’t manage to keep it up there. Thanks for the compliment! You think that’s cute, you should see his [puppy](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hdKQhrVYFrDZzGYQ7gWSNw?feat=directlink) days! 😃 BTs are little clowns!