Training your dog to perform tricks is a rewarding experience that strengthens your bond and provides mental stimulation for your furry friend. It enhances your patience and precision while fostering deeper engagement between you and your dog. This guide offers a variety of tricks, from beginner-friendly to more intermediate challenges, ensuring there’s something for every dog and owner.
Easy Tricks to Start With
Beginning with simpler tricks helps build your dog’s confidence and prevents frustration. These foundational behaviors make learning more complex tricks easier down the line.
Play Fetch
While some dogs instinctively love to fetch, others need to be taught. Start by introducing a toy your dog enjoys, encouraging mouthing and offering praise for any interaction. If your dog isn’t toy-motivated, use treats as rewards. Gradually toss the toy a short distance, rewarding your dog for picking it up and returning it to you. As your dog masters this, slowly increase the throwing distance.
Take a Bow
This classic trick can be taught by luring your dog into a bow position with a treat. Reward even slight movements towards the desired pose. If your dog tries to lie down, gently guide them back. Once your dog understands the action, gradually increase the duration they hold the bow.
Leave It
This essential command is crucial for your dog’s safety, preventing them from ingesting harmful items. To teach “leave it,” place a treat on the floor and say the command. If your dog attempts to grab it, cover it with your hand. Reward them when they refrain from grabbing. Progress to placing multiple treats on the floor and eventually practicing with food on their nose or paws.
Clean Up the Park
For dogs that enjoy fetching, this trick involves picking up small, designated items like wrappers. Similar to teaching fetch, encourage your dog to pick up the item, and reward them for bringing it back. Gradually increase the distance and complexity.
Crawl
Begin with your dog in a sphinx-like position. Hold a treat near their nose and slowly move it forward, rewarding your dog for crawling. Gradually increase the distance, eventually encouraging them to crawl across the room.
Shake a Paw
Hold a treat in your hand, allowing your dog to sniff it. The moment they lift a paw, open your hand and give the treat. Once consistent, offer your open hand (with a treat in the other) and encourage them to lift their paw. As their paw touches your hand, reward them. Eventually, add the verbal cue “shake.”
High Five
Building on “shake a paw,” gradually lift your hand higher each time. This encourages your dog to reach up to touch your hand.
Go Into Your Crate
If you use a crate, make it a positive space by tossing treats inside. Encourage your dog to go in and out, rewarding them for entering. Gradually add a verbal cue like “crate” or “kennel.”
Jump Through a Hoop
Start with a hula hoop held at ground level. Use a treat to guide your dog through it. Reward them for passing through. As they get comfortable, gradually raise the hoop higher.
Go Through a Tunnel
Begin with a short tunnel. Have someone hold your dog at one end while you kneel at the other, calling them excitedly. Reward them for coming through. Gradually lengthen the tunnel and introduce a cue word.
Head Cock
To elicit a head cock, try making an unusual noise or gesture. Reward your dog the moment they cock their head. Once consistent, add a cue word like “listen” or “what’s that?”
Jump for Joy
Encourage your dog to jump by holding a high-value treat or toy above their head. Reward any upward jump, especially when all four paws leave the ground. Add a cue like “jump” or “bounce.”
Jump Over a Bar Jump
Start with the bar set very low. Call your dog over it and reward them. Gradually increase the height and add a verbal cue.
Nose Touch
Present your hand, and reward your dog for sniffing or touching it. Once they consistently touch your hand, add a cue like “touch.” This is a foundational trick for many others.
Kisses
Build on the “nose touch” trick. Instead of touching your hand, guide your dog to touch your cheek. Gradually fade your hand cue until they touch your cheek directly on cue.
Get Up Onto an Object
Use a treat to guide your dog onto low, stable objects like a park bench or a sturdy rock. Reward them for getting up. Gradually progress to narrower or slightly higher objects, always ensuring safety.
Paws Up
Encourage your dog to place their front paws on an object. This can be done with everyday items like stools or boxes.
Spin Circles
Lure your dog in a circle with a treat, rewarding them upon completion. Gradually increase the speed and fade the lure, replacing it with a cue. Be mindful not to overdo this trick to prevent dizziness.
Unroll a Mat
Hide treats under a rolled-up mat. Reward your dog for nudging the mat to find the treats. Gradually increase the number of nudges required before rewarding.
Which Hand Holds the Treat?
Hide a treat in one hand and present both closed hands to your dog. Reward them for sniffing or pawing the correct hand.
Play Soccer
Use a lightweight ball and encourage your dog to nudge it. Reward any contact with the ball. Gradually increase the number of nudges required before rewarding.
Dig on Cue
Find a designated digging spot and hide treats or toys. Encourage your dog to dig, pairing the action with a cue word like “dig!”
Speak/Sing
Capture barking behavior by rewarding your dog when they bark, perhaps triggered by a doorbell. Once they bark on cue, reward only for the commanded bark to prevent excessive noise.
Hide in a Box
Toss treats into a box large enough for your dog. Reward them for getting in. Gradually add cues and ensure the box is stable.
Go Around a Cone
Lure your dog in a circle around a cone or other object. Reward them for completing the circle. Gradually fade the lure and add a verbal cue.
Frisbee
Encourage your dog to tug on a frisbee. Reward them for picking it up and bringing it back. You can also toss it lightly in the air for them to catch.
Peekaboo
Stand with your legs apart and lure your dog between them. Reward them when they come through. Add the cue “peekaboo” as they move.
Ring a Bell
If your dog knows “shake a paw,” hold their paw near a bell. Reward them when they accidentally hit the bell. Gradually progress to them intentionally ringing it, and add a cue.
Run Circles Around You
Lure your dog in circles around you with a treat. Reward them periodically. Fade the lure to a pointing or sweeping motion.
Pick a Card
Hold out cards and reward your dog for mouthing them. Gradually increase the difficulty until they can take a card from a spread.
Intermediate Tricks
These tricks often build upon simpler behaviors or require more practice and patience.
Back Up
Use a mat or different flooring to encourage backing up. Reward your dog for stepping onto the mat. Alternatively, walk towards your dog and reward any backward steps.
Shell Game
Start with one cup and a treat underneath. Reward your dog for identifying the correct cup. Gradually add more cups and increase the complexity of the shuffling.
Leg Weaving
Teach your dog to weave through your legs while you stand or walk. Reward for each step initially, then gradually for every two or three steps.
Go To a Target Mark
Use a distinct mat as a target. Reward your dog for stepping on it. Gradually increase the distance and reduce the target size.
Jump Through Circled Arms
Hold your arms to form a hoop and lure your dog through it with a treat. Gradually bring your arms closer together.
Jump Into Your Arms
For smaller dogs, encourage them to jump into your arms while you are seated or leaning. This requires significant trust and practice.
By incorporating these tricks into your routine, you can provide your dog with essential mental and physical exercise while strengthening your unique bond.
