Despite the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” dogs of all ages can learn new things with the right motivation. There are plenty of easy tricks to teach your dog that help sharpen their mind and strengthen your bond together. Whether you’re a seasoned dog owner or a beginner to the world of dog training, we’ve put together seven easy tricks to teach your dog that will have them showing off their skills in no time!
🐾 Pro Tip: Some tricks require basic cues like ‘Sit,’ ‘Stay,’ and ‘Down,’ so be sure your dog knows these first. Be mindful of your dog’s age and body condition, as some tricks may be more challenging than others for older or less mobile dogs. In this case, try a trick that will be physically easier for them to learn.
7 Easy Tricks To Teach Your Dog
Sit Pretty
Prerequisite – ‘Sit‘
‘Sit Pretty‘ is a cute way to train your dog to strike a pose! Start by having your dog sit down and hold a treat above their head, slightly beyond their reach. As your dog lifts their front paws off the ground to reach for the treat, say the cue word ‘Sit Pretty’ at the same time and then deliver the reward.
Spin
Start by holding a treat close to your dog’s nose. Slowly move the treat towards their shoulder, and in a circular motion, encourage them to follow it with their nose. Once they have completed a full circle, treat and praise. Begin to say ‘Spin’ just before you present the treat for them to follow. Once your dog understands the game, you will eventually remove the treat from your hand and only reward them after they spin. When practicing this trick, be sure to always move in the same direction.
Roll Over
Prerequisite – ‘Down‘
When training ‘Roll Over,‘ start with plenty of room and teach this trick on a softer surface, such as a carpet. Cue ‘Down‘. Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and allow them to follow it with their nose as you move it towards their shoulder. Continue slowly moving the treat over their body towards their backbone, and make your way to the other side. As your dog follows the treat, they should roll over. Say ‘Roll Over‘ as your dog performs the action, and reward with the treat.
Play Dead
Prerequisite – ‘Down’ and ‘Stay‘
With easy tricks to teach your dog, ‘Play Dead’ is a fan favorite. Start with your dog lying down. Lure them on their side by holding a treat close to their nose while slowly moving it back towards their shoulder, resulting in them lying on their side. Cue ‘Stay‘, then reward. Repeat slowly while adding more time to the ‘Stay‘ in the lateral down position. Begin to say “Bang” or “Play Dead” or give a hand signal (finger gun) before the treat lure. Pause for a few seconds as they lay, then reward them for their dramatic performance. Eventually, try giving the cue without using the treat lure.
High-Five
Prerequisite – ‘Sit‘
‘High-five‘ is a perfect celebratory trick to teach your dog. Have your dog sit facing you after cueing them to sit. Hold a closed fist out to them with a treat inside. As your dog begins to become impatient, he should paw the fist. Immediately reward them. Begin to hold a fist without the treat. As soon as your dog paws it, reward them. Start to say “High Five” or “Up Top” just before presenting your fist. Reward when they paw it. Slowly open the fist into a palm for a high five. Repeat this process, and soon your dog will be an enthusiastic high-fiver!
Bow
Start with your dog standing on all fours facing you. Hold a treat to their nose and slowly lower it towards the ground angling in between your dog’s front legs. The goal is to have them follow the treat, encouraging them to dip their head and slightly drop their elbows while their rear end stays up. As soon as you see them in this position, reward them. Begin to require they remain in the position for a ½ second, then 1 second, then 2 seconds in the bow before rewarding. Start saying “Bow” or “Take a Bow” before the treat lure. Over time, have your dog follow your hand without a treat reward for the bow position. Finally, practice with just the verbal cue and remove the motion of your hand. With practice, your dog will be a star performer in no time.
Crawl
Prerequisite – ‘Down‘
‘Crawl‘ is a fun addition to your dog’s repertoire. Ask your dog to lie down and hold a treat on the ground slightly in front of their muzzle. If they offer any forward movement towards the treat, reward. The reward should come from your opposite hand. Repeat, slowly dragging the lure further and further from your dog, resulting in more forward movement and eventually them crawling towards you for it. Continue to reward your dog from the opposite hand. Start to say “Crawl” before the treat lure. Eventually, have your dog follow your hand without a treat reward for the crawl from the opposite hand at the end of their crawling. Finally, practice with just the verbal cue and remove the treat lure and hand motion.
Training should always be a fun experience for you and your dog. Know your dog’s limits and abilities before initiating any training. Patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are essential to successful dog training!
With GoodPup, you get private, one-on-one dog training over live video calls with trainers who use science-based, positive reinforcement methods to teach cues and address unwanted behaviors. Get started on your GoodPup dog training today!
