There are five AKC Trick Titles that a dog can earn: They are the AKC Novice Trick Dog (TKN), the KC Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI),  AKC Advanced Trick Dog (TKA), the AKC Trick Dog Performer (TKP), and the AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE). In 2020, the AKC announced that CGC evaluators could  evaluate AKC Trick Dog Titles via video, but whether live, or in this time of COVID, through video, each title involves incorporating the following tricks to some degree:

• Balance beam (walk on board a few inches off floor)
• Bark on cue (“Speak”)
• Crawl (dog on belly, crawls at least 3 body lengths)
• Fetch it (ball, etc., 10 ft. away, bring to handler within 2 ft)
• Find it (find treat or scent item hidden under 1 cup or object)
• Get your _______. (Leash, brush, name of toy)
• Get in (gets in box)
• Sits in box (on cue)
• Get on (gets on low platform or step – 4 paws)
• Hand signals (Choose one: down, sit, or come)
• High five ____ Hold (3 seconds)
• Jump (thru a low hoop or over a low bar)
• Kennel up (go in crate, stay in until released)
• Kiss (point to cheek or back of hand)
• Paws up (2 front paws on low stool or step)
• Push-ups (sit, down, sit, down, sit, down)
• Shake hands
• Spin in circle
• Touch it (hand or target stick)
• Tunnel (agility tunnel or child’s tunnel)

The winners of the AKC’s Second Annual competition was a virtual event open to Elite Performers, AKC’s highest level of trick dogs. More than 100 competitors from 29 states and Canada submitted videos of performances that were judged by three AKC licensed judges. The winners were Debbi Snyder and her Border Collie, “Amos” from Lakeland, Florida.  You can see their routine, “Hairy Pawter and The Sorcerer’s Bone,” below. See if you can spot Amos performing variations of the aforementioned requirements:

The two semi-finalists in the competition were Sandi Taylor and her Borzoi, Evie, from Tulsa Oklahoma, and Tracy Dulock and her Golden Retriever, Gryffindor from Robinson, Texas. Gryffindor was the 2019 competition winner.

Click here to learn more about teaching your dog to do tricks.