For the Novice Trick Dog title, the dog must:
1) perform 10 tricks, or
2) have the CGC on record at AKC and perform 5 tricks.

In the Novice Trick Dog test, handlers:
• May use food/toys as a lure (unless otherwise indicated for a specific trick). (Lures are used to guide the dog into position).
• May use lures, hand signals and/or verbal cues unless otherwise indicated for a specific trick.
• May use food as a reinforcer and may also use clickers to mark behaviors. (Reinforcers come after the behavior to tell the dog the behavior was done correctly).  

CGC Dogs and Trick Dog Titles If a CGC certificate or title is on record at AKC, the dog only needs to perform 5 tricks to earn the Novice Trick Dog title. CGC + 5 Tricks = the AKC NOVICE TRICK DOG TITLE The CGC will count as 5 tricks because the dog has already been tested on foundation behaviors (i.e., sit, down, come, stay and walk on a leash).


Trick Descriptions:
All tricks may be done 1 time unless the Evaluator requests to see the trick again. (Exceptions #17, # 18-dog will do these 2 times)

1. Balance Beam
The dog will walk on a low balance beam or board a few inches off the floor. The board should be approximately 6-ft. long.
• The board should be stable.
• Handler may be beside the dog for safety.

2. Bark on Cue
When the handler says, “Bark!” or “Speak!” (or another chosen verbal cue), the dog will bark.
• The handler may also choose to use a hand signal for “speak.” The hand signal may be given alone or along with a verbal cue.

3. Crawl
The dog will respond to the handler’s cue to crawl by getting in the down position and crawling on his/her belly at least 3 body lengths.
• In the Novice level, the handler may instruct the dog to “down” in preparation for the crawl.
• The handler may use a lure.

4. Fetch it
The handler will throw an object such as a favorite toy or ball for the dog to retrieve. The dog will fetch the object, and will bring it to the handler within 2 feet.
• The dog will fetch the object from at least 10-feet.

5. Find it
A treat (or scent item) will be hidden under one cup, object, or container and the dog will be told to “find it.” The dog will touch the cup/object/container with its nose or will turn the cup/object over.  

6. Get your ____.
When told by the handler, “Get your__” [may be a brush, toy, name of specific toy, etc.], the dog will get the object from at least 5-ft. away and will bring it to the handler. The “Fetch it” trick involves the handler throwing the object. In “Get your ___” the object has been placed at least 5-ft. away from the dog.

7. Get in (the box or container) When the handler tells the dog, “Get in,” the dog will jump or step into a box.
• The box will be big enough to hold the dog
• The sides of the box may be trimmed so the box is only several inches high.
• A box lid may also be used if the lid is several inches tall.
• All 4 paws will be in the box.

7.b. Sits in box/container on cue
[This is an optional separate trick]
When the dog is in the box/container, the handler will cue the dog to “sit” with a verbal cue or hand signal.

8. Get on (low platform or step, etc. with 4 paws) When the handler tells the dog, “Get on,” “Hup,” or any other preferred cue, the dog will jump or step onto a low platform. This can be a wide step for the dog to stand on with all 4 paws, an agility pause table, or a trick dog pedestal.
• Remember that whenever the dog is jumping onto something, the object should be stable.

9. Hand signals (Choose one: sit, down or come)
The dog will respond to one of the hand signals for sit, down or come. If a hand signal has not already been taught, we suggest using the hand signals for AKC obedience if the handler is interested in obedience training. This trick tests the dog’s ability to respond to a hand signal.
• Lures and verbal cues may not be used for this trick.

10. High five
In the high five trick, when cued by the handler, the dog raises one paw into the “high five” (chest height) position. This trick can also be called “wave hello,” or “wave goodbye.” At the Novice level, the dog may simply raise the paw and does not have to wave or paw at the air.

11. Hold (at least 3-seconds)
For the Novice Trick Dog “hold”, the dog will hold an object given to it by the handler for at least 3-seconds.
• The object may be a favorite toy or ball. For an obedience dog, the handler may wish to have the dog demonstrate holding a dumbbell.
• Objects at the Novice level are held at least 3-seconds
• Other objects could be a basket (handle), a stuffed animal that could be worked into a trick dog routine (“take the cat outside”), a letter, etc.

12. Jump (through a low hoop or over a low bar)
When instructed to, “Jump!” by the handler, the dog will jump over a low bar (a few inches from the floor) or the dog will jump through a low hula hoop.
• In Novice, a lure may be used to get the dog through the hoop or over the jump.

13. Kennel up (go in crate, stay in until released)
When told, “Kennel up,” “Crate,” or “Get in your crate,” etc., from 3 to 5 ft. away, the dog will go into the crate and will stay there (quietly and with no resistance) with the door closed for at least 10-seconds.
• The handler will open the door after 10-seconds and will release the dog.

14. Kiss (handler’s cheek or back of hand)
The handler will turn his/her cheek (or offer hand) to the dog, say “Kiss,” or “Give kisses,” etc. The dog will kiss the handler’s cheek or back of hand.

15. Paws up (2 front paws on low footstool or step)
When told, “Paws up,” by the handler, the dog will step up and place his/her two front feet onto a step, stepstool, upside down wooden box or other raised surface.
• Stools, pedestals, and other surfaces should be stable so that they don’t slide when the dog steps up.
• A practical example of this skill is in therapy settings when the dog needs to raise its head so a patient in a bed can reach it for petting.

16. Push-ups (sit, down; sit, down; sit, down)
Push-ups are a good exercise for puppies who are learning tricks.
• In Novice, a lure may be used to guide the dog into a sit. From sit, the dog is instructed to “down,” then sit again, then down.
• The dog will perform the sit/down sequence 2 times.

17. Shake hands
When the handler says, “Shake,” “Paw,” or “Shake hands,” the dog will raise her/his paw chest high so the handler can ‘shake hands.
• Remember that you can reward the dog with food in Novice.

18. Spin in circle
When told, “Spin” or “Circle,” the dog will spin in a full circle.
• The dog may circle to the right or left. More advanced trick dogs can learn to respond to the verbal cues “circle right” and “circle left.”
• The handler may use a lure in Novice to get the dog to spin.
• The dog should spin at least 2 times in a circle.

19. Touch it (hand or target stick)
The touch is the foundation for a lot of trick training. When told, “touch,” the dog will touch the handler’s hand or target stick.
• Say, “touch” and present the object to be touched to 1) the right of the dog’s head, 2) then to the left, then 3) in front of the dog (so the dog will demonstrate it can do this in 3 positions).
• For this exercise, we encourage handlers to learn to use a clicker if they haven’t already. In training, click and reward each time-- the instant the dog does the behavior correctly. First click, then treat.
• By the time handlers get to the Trick Dog test, they may or may not have faded some of the clicks.

20. Tunnel (agility or child’s tunnel)
In this Novice trick, the dog will go through a tunnel.
• The handler may guide the dog into the tunnel at the entrance.

21. Other: Handlers Choice
For the Novice title, the handler may choose up to 2 Handler’s Choice tricks.

22. Other: Handlers Choice