09/02/2026
TDA (Trick Dog Advanced) offers lots of skills to pick from- pause to read them all. The good news is that you only need 10! Which one should we get started on next? Too bad “spring in the air like a lunatic” isn’t on there already….
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AKC Trick Dog is a fun beginner-friendly dog sport that focuses on teaching your dog useful and entertaining skills through positive training. Dogs earn titles by performing a certain number of tricks at different levels, starting with Novice and working up through Intermediate, Advanced, Performer, and Elite Performer. Tricks can be simple things like sit, spin, shake, crawl, jump through a hoop, put toys away, or ring a bell to go outside. The goal isn’t perfect obedience, instead it’s building teamwork, confidence, and communication with your dog in a low-pressure environment that works for dogs of all ages and breeds.
Getting started is pretty simple. Start by choosing a few easy tricks your dog already knows or can learn quickly using treats, toys, and short training sessions. AKC provides official trick lists for each title level, and you can either test in person with an AKC evaluator or submit videos online through approved evaluators. Most people begin with the Novice title, which only requires 10 basic tricks. Trick training is a great entry point into dog sports because you don’t need expensive equipment or a special facility. You can practice right in your living room for a few minutes a day and build from there.
