List of Dog Trick Ideas
Dogs love to interact with their owners, and trick training is a super fun and productive way to spend time with your dog that both of you are bound to enjoy. Not only is learning new things fun and enriching for your dog, but teaching tricks to animals can help you to become more patient, more precise with what you ask, and improve the bond and engagement between you and your dog.
Section 1: Easy Tricks
Listed below in this section are several tricks you can teach to your dog that are typically not too difficult for most dogs, although you may have to adapt to suit your own dog. If you are struggling with a particular trick, you can always try something else and go back to the harder trick later. All dogs are different, so what one learns easily could be more challenging for another. It is best to start with tricks that your particular dog finds easy, to build confidence early on and prevent frustration.
Play Fetch
Some dogs are born with a love of chasing things and playing fetch, but for those that don't have that natural drive, they have to be taught to play fetch. Start with a toy that the dog likes, ideally a soft toy, and get the dog excited about it and encourage mouthing. Praise extensively anytime the dog grabs it in their mouth. If your dog is not super toy oriented, you may have to reward with a treat whenever they tug at it. Drop the toy at your feet and reward when the dog picks it up, then gradually try tossing it a short distance away. Reward as soon as the dog picks up the toy and turns back towards you. If they bring it all the way back at any point, make a big fuss and give them lots of treats! Gradually toss the toy further away when they seem to be catching on.
Take a Bow
Bow is a traditional and popular trick, and most dogs pick up on it readily. You can teach this by luring the dog in a downward position with a treat while they are standing. Reward for every little attempt they make towards a bow position, even if they are only leaning into it slightly. If the dog tries to lie down instead, hold your arm under their belly and reward just for small steps again. After a few repetitions when the dog understands what you're asking, you can remove your arm and begin to gradually increase the duration that the dog holds the bow for.
Food Refusal/Leave It
This is a very useful and potentially life saving behavior for any dog, and it also leads to many cool tricks. A leave it command is great, not only for keeping your dog from grabbing accidentally dropped foods in the kitchen, but also for preventing your dog from grabbing something potentially harmful on the ground when out on a walk.
You can teach this by placing a small piece of food on the floor in front of your dog and saying "leave it." Keep your hand nearby and cover the food with your hand if the dog tries to dive for it. Once your dog stops diving for the food, pick it up and tell the dog "okay" or "take it" and give it to the dog. Repeat this several times, and eventually start to practice this with more pieces of food spread out on the floor. After you teach your dog to leave food pieces on the floor, you can also practice with the food on the dog's nose or paws for a more challenging trick.
You can teach this by placing a small piece of food on the floor in front of your dog and saying "leave it." Keep your hand nearby and cover the food with your hand if the dog tries to dive for it. Once your dog stops diving for the food, pick it up and tell the dog "okay" or "take it" and give it to the dog. Repeat this several times, and eventually start to practice this with more pieces of food spread out on the floor. After you teach your dog to leave food pieces on the floor, you can also practice with the food on the dog's nose or paws for a more challenging trick.
Clean up the park (Fetch garbage pieces)
This trick is easy for dogs that are play oriented and already know how to fetch a ball or other toy. This trick is similar to teaching a regular fetch, the dog just has to get used to picking up something with a different feel than what they're probably used to. Start by encouraging your dog to grab a wrapper in their mouth and reward when they do. After that, try dropping it on the ground in front of you and having the dog pick it up. Throw it a little further each time until the dog is confident with picking it up and bringing it back to you.
Crawl
Crawl is an adorable and easy trick to teach. Start with your dog lying down in a sphinx position (with their legs under them-not lying on their side), and hold a treat near their nose. Start slowly dragging the treat away. Reward when the dog crawls forward slightly. Gradually increase the distance you ask the dog to crawl. Once they get really good at crawling, you can work up to increasing the distance enough so the dog will crawl to you from across the room.
Shake a Paw
Another popular and traditional trick, shake a paw is an easy and fun trick to teach any dog. To start this trick, hold some food in your hand (the smellier the better!) and let your dog sniff it. Encourage them to "get it!" As soon as they lift their paw, open your hand and give them the treat. Do this a few more times. Once your dog is lifting their paw consistently, hold out your open hand (with a treat in the other hand) and encourage them to lift their paw again (you can move your treat hand closer if needed.) Put your open hand under their paw when they lift it up, and feed immediately when their paw hits your hand. Try this a few times, holding their paw a little bit longer each time. Once they seem to understand the behavior, add a cue such as "shake."
High Five
This trick is similar to shake a paw, except high five requires the dog to reach up a bit higher to paw touch your upright hand. To teach this, start with shake a paw, then just slowly start lifting your hand a little higher each time.
Go Into Your Crate
If you have a crate or want to get one for your dog, this is a good behavior to teach. If your dog is unfamiliar with a crate, toss several treats inside and let them check it out at their own pace first. Once they're comfortable going in, start asking them to go in and out again. Toss a treat into the crate. Once the dog goes in, reward them with another treat from your hand after they turn around, before they come back out. Encourage them to come back out, but don't reward when they do. Toss another treat into the crate and repeat the process. After a few times, see if the dog will anticipate the next move and go in the crate on their own. Reward when they do, and start adding a cue word such as "crate" or "kennel."
Jump Through a Hoop
Jumping through a hoop is a fun and easy trick for dogs of all sizes. Start with a hula hoop that is plenty big for your dog to pass through, and hold the hoop at ground level with one hand. Use your other hand to guide the dog through the hoop with a treat. Reward when they pass through the hoop, and repeat several times. Eventually, start to fade out your hand by pointing or tapping the hoop to prompt the dog to go through, rather than luring. Gradually raise the hoop higher until they are jumping through.
Go Through a Tunnel
If you have access to a tunnel for your dog, this is also a fun and easy trick to try. Start with the tunnel pretty short, and have someone hold your dog on one side. Kneel down at the other end of the tunnel and look through the tunnel. When your dog makes eye contact with you, call them excitedly and reward when they come through. Gradually make the tunnel longer, and start attaching a cue word as they are running through. Once they become more confident around the tunnel, try sending them through while you're standing beside them, and running along beside the tunnel to the meet them at the other end. If your dog is nervous about the tunnel at the beginning, you can also toss several treats inside and let them check it out at their own pace.
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Head Cock
A cute and slightly confused looking head cock is by far one of the cutest tricks you can teach your dog. To teach this, try to prompt your dog into cocking their head by making an odd noise or something similar. Try different things until you get this response. As soon as they cock their head, give them a treat. Repeat until they are offering the head cock more frequently, then name the trick and start saying the new cue word as the dog cocks their head.
Jump for Joy
Jumping for joy is a fun trick that involves the dog jumping straight up in the air on cue. This trick may be best avoided if you have a very large, excitable dog. To encourage them to jump, try to catch them in a playful mood, and hold a high value treat or toy in the air over their head. Get excited and try to prompt them into jumping. As soon as they try to jump up even a little, give them the reward. Keep trying, and praise extensively if all 4 paws leave the ground. Once you are getting the jumping behavior, start naming it (for example, "jump" or "bounce" or use a hand signal, such as moving your hands in an upward motion, as a new cue for their trick.
Jump Over a Bar Jump
This is another super easy trick you can teach your dog. Bar jumps are often used in agility and obedience competitions, or you can try them with your dog just for some exercise and fun. Jumps for dogs can be purchased, or you can think creatively and make your own jumps with a few materials around the house and yard. To teach this, start with the bar really low, and call your dog over the low bar. Reward them with a treat or toy when they come over it. After some practice, you can start naming their new trick, and moving the bar up a bit higher.
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Nose Touch
A nose target is one of the simplest things you can teach your dog, and this can also be used to teach countless other tricks in the future. To teach a nose target, hold your hand out towards your dog, and reward with a treat as soon as they reach towards it to sniff your outstretched hand. Present your hand again and reward when they sniff again. Next time, wait until the dog actually touches your hand (if they haven't already) and then give a treat. Repeat a few times, then start adding a cue as they touch your hand, such as "touch."
Kisses
Giving kisses on cue is a pretty easy and cute trick. This trick can be simply regular doggy kisses, or a nose touch to the cheek instead. To teach the nose touch, start by teaching your dog to nose touch your hand (see above) and then put your hand up against your cheek. Ask for a nose touch, then gradually fade out your hand (ie. ask for a nose touch to three fingers, two fingers, and finally just one finger up against your cheek.
Get Up Onto an Object - Platform Work
This is a trick that can make your walks more creative and interesting. Teach your dog to jump up onto objects by guiding them up with a treat and reward when they get up onto the object. Start with things that are wide and low to the ground to make this trick easier at first, and gradually work your way up to narrower and taller objects. Always make sure the things you ask your dog to jump up on are safe! Some examples of potential objects to use on your walks include (unoccupied) playground equipment, large rocks, park benches, rock ledges or similar natural or man made items. You can also make a platform or something similar to start with in your backyard, and practice sending your dog to their platform from across the yard.
Paws Up
This trick involves just putting their two front paws up on an object. You can do this on walks (with tree stumps, playground equipment, etc.) or using household items from your own house or yard. Step stools, chairs, upturned laundry baskets or plastic containers all work well. You can also gradually move to smaller containers or other objects that are just big enough for the dog to fit their paws on.
Spin Circles
This trick is pretty simple to teach. Simply take some treats in your hand and lure the dog slowly around in a circle. Reward upon completion of the circle. Gradually lure them around faster and start to fade out your hand and replace it with a cue. Remember to only do a couple repetitions of this trick at a time, as dogs can get dizzy from too much spinning around.
Unroll a Mat
Unrolling a carpet or mat is a useful and cute trick to teach your dog. The first few times, start by hiding a few treats under the roll of the mat and show the dog where the treats are. Whenever they nose at the mat looking for the treats, praise and give them a treat from your hand. After some practice, wait until they nudge the mat two or three times before rewarding with a treat. Practice until they are pushing the mat multiple times and unrolling it.
Which Hand Holds the Treat?
Which hand holds the treat is a simple trick that encourages a dog to use their nose. Hide a smelly treat in one of your hands and hold them out to your dog. Open your hand just a little to let the scent out and get your dog's attention. When they sniff or paw at the correct hand, give them the treat. Switch hands periodically and practice with both. If the dog struggles at all, make the correct one more apparent by opening your hand more and holding it a little closer to your dog.
Play Soccer (Push a Ball Around)
Pushing a ball around is an easy trick to teach, and pretty cute too. You will need a relatively lightweight blow up ball for this trick, which can be found cheaply at most stores from Spring to Autumn. Some dogs will go up to the ball right away and touch it with their nose when it's placed in front of them, so reward quickly if your dog does this. Otherwise, they may need a bit of encouragement. Place a couple treats around the ball, so the dog has to nudge the ball a little to get at them. Show the dog where the treats are if needed. Reward whenever the dog pushes the ball, even just a little at first. As they get the hang of the trick, wait for them to nudge the ball a second time before rewarding, then three times in a row, etc, until the dog can push the ball several times all around the room.
Dig on Cue
Digging on cue is a fun trick for dogs, and a good trick for teaching your dog where he is allowed and encouraged to dig. Start by finding a good spot for your dog to dig, preferably outside your yard in a sandy pit or snow pile. Hide some treats, bones, or highly valued toys under the surface in front of your dog, and encourage them to get it. Praise lots when they paw at the ground, and repeat a word like "dig!" excitedly so they learn to pair that particular word with the digging.
Speak/Sing (Bark/Howl)
This is another traditional favorite, although you may want to consider skipping this trick if your dog is prone to bark/howl excessively. To teach this, simply find something that triggers the dog to bark (such as a doorbell) and capture the behavior by rewarding the dog when they bark. Repeat it a few times until the dog offers a bark without the trigger. Give an extra reward every time the dog barks without the trigger, until they are barking on their own. Add a cue such as "speak" every time the dog barks. Then, you can teach the dog to only bark on cue by only rewarding when you say "speak." After this behavior is learned, be sure to reward only when they do it on cue so they don't learn to "speak" excessively whenever they want something.
Hide in a Box
Although this may seem cat oriented, hiding in a box can be a cute trick for dogs as well. You will need a box (or multiple boxes) that are big enough for your dog to fit in comfortably. You may want to start with a box with lower sides initially if they seem hesitant to jump in. Try to encourage them to get in by tossing some treats inside (make sure you hold the box steady so it doesn't tip when the dog jumps in!) If they are hesitant to jump into a box with high sides, start with something lower, and reward for even just putting one or two paws inside at first. Give lots of treats and praise when all 4 paws are in the box.
Go Around a Cone or Other Object
This is a simple trick that can be practiced with all kinds of different objects for variety. You may start with a large cone or ottoman in your home or yard, and then take it outside and practice on trees or poles while out on a walk with your dog. To teach this, simply lure your dog in a circle around the cone (or shape it if preferred,) and reward when they come around the cone. Practice a few times until the dog gets the idea and is going around more confidently, then start to fade out your lure and add a verbal cue as your dog runs around the cone. Once you've mastered the basic concept, you can also teach your dog to run around the cone in the opposite direction
Frisbee
Teaching a dog to catch a frisbee is fun for both the dog and person, and can open the door for many more cool jumping and frisbee tricks down the road. You can also compete in disc dog competitions in the future if you choose, or just practice at home for fun and exercise. Learning to catch a frisbee is great for high energy dogs in particular that really love to run and jump.
Start by encouraging your dog to tug on the frisbee. If they seem to be enjoying that, you can try tossing it a short distance away and reward with a game of tug when they pick it up. You can also try getting your dog excited and tossing the frisbee very lightly in the air for them to catch. If they seem to have trouble catching it in the air, practice with some easier items, like catching treats that are tossed to them, or catching a highly valued, softer toy, and give lots of praise for catching the items.
Start by encouraging your dog to tug on the frisbee. If they seem to be enjoying that, you can try tossing it a short distance away and reward with a game of tug when they pick it up. You can also try getting your dog excited and tossing the frisbee very lightly in the air for them to catch. If they seem to have trouble catching it in the air, practice with some easier items, like catching treats that are tossed to them, or catching a highly valued, softer toy, and give lots of praise for catching the items.
Peekaboo
Peekaboo is an adorable trick where your dog goes between your legs and looks up at you when you say "peekaboo." Start by standing with your legs just apart, and your dog standing behind you. Lure your dog forward between your legs and give them the treat. Practice several times. Eventually, start to add your cue word as the dog is coming forward. "Peekaboo" is the most common cue, but some people may choose to use cues like "Saddle up" or "Where's my dog?" as an alternative.
Ring a Bell
This trick involves the dog batting a bell hung from a door knob with their paw. This trick is easiest if your dog already knows how to shake a paw. Ask them to shake a paw a couple times for a warm up, then hold your hand close to the hanging bell and ask them to shake a paw again. Hold your hand close enough to the bell that the dog hits it a bit while reaching towards your hand. Reward and praise extensively when they make contact with the bell. Continue to use your hand to prompt them to lift their paw, but hold your hand behind the bell so they end up pawing the bell instead. Start adding a cue, such as "ring it," or "bell" as soon as the dog is pawing at the bell pretty consistently.
You can also teach your dog to ring the bell whenever they need to potty outside by cuing them to ring the bell, then opening the door right after they ring it. Open the door every time they ring the bell, and they will quickly learn to pair the two together. However, if you're going to teach this, beware that your dog might catch on to ringing the bell whenever they want to go outside for any reason, whether that's to potty or just to chase a squirrel running up the tree.
You can also teach your dog to ring the bell whenever they need to potty outside by cuing them to ring the bell, then opening the door right after they ring it. Open the door every time they ring the bell, and they will quickly learn to pair the two together. However, if you're going to teach this, beware that your dog might catch on to ringing the bell whenever they want to go outside for any reason, whether that's to potty or just to chase a squirrel running up the tree.
Run Circles Around You
Another simple trick is teaching your dog to run circles around you. This trick is pretty simple, and also easy to teach. Lure them around you with a treat in your hand at first, rewarding periodically. Take turns rewarding on your left and right side, so the dog doesn't start to anticipate and stop at one spot to wait for their treat. After they are following your hand around pretty well, try fading out the lure a little by pointing or making a short sweeping motion instead to cue your dog to run around. If desired, you can also add a verbal cue as the dog is going around.
Pick a Card
Pick a card is a cute party trick, and most dogs learn it fairly quickly. You will need a handful of cards for this trick (ideally old cards you don't mind getting chewed or slobbery.) You can also use old gift cards and wash them between uses.
To teach this trick, start with one card in your hand. Hold it out towards your dog, and reward if they mouth at it at all. If not, try smearing some peanut butter or something similar on it to prompt them to mouth at it. You can also take a slice of cheese, and hold it firmly on top of the card. Reward every time the dog tries to grab the card. Start to loosen your grip, so the dog is able to easily take the card from your hand. Reward every time the dog takes the card, and continue to practice until the dog is taking the card as soon as you hold it out in front of him. Start to add more cards one at a time, presenting them in a fan to your dog. 3-5 cards is a good number to work up to. Make sure the cards are separated far enough so the dog only takes one card at a time.
To teach this trick, start with one card in your hand. Hold it out towards your dog, and reward if they mouth at it at all. If not, try smearing some peanut butter or something similar on it to prompt them to mouth at it. You can also take a slice of cheese, and hold it firmly on top of the card. Reward every time the dog tries to grab the card. Start to loosen your grip, so the dog is able to easily take the card from your hand. Reward every time the dog takes the card, and continue to practice until the dog is taking the card as soon as you hold it out in front of him. Start to add more cards one at a time, presenting them in a fan to your dog. 3-5 cards is a good number to work up to. Make sure the cards are separated far enough so the dog only takes one card at a time.
Section 2: Intermediate Tricks
Several of these tricks build off of previous tricks, or take longer to teach than those in the list above. It may help to work on some of the beginner tricks first, so your dog has a starting point to work from.
Back Up
There are a few ways to teach a dog to back up, and some may work better for one dog and not another. However, the general consensus among teaching this to any dog, is that it's best to have a mat, or two different flooring surfaces you can use. For example, you would start with your dog on some hardwood or linoleum flooring, with a mat just a step or two behind him, and reward as soon as his back foot touches the mat. This teaches the dog to keep backing up until they feel the mat, rather than stopping to look at you every step to see if they've backed up far enough yet.
Anyway, some people start to teach this by simply walking towards their dog and rewarding if the dog takes a step back. If your dog starts backing up when you walk towards them with their food bowl, you could also try that. Some people create a narrow space on each side of the dog and click/treat whenever they take a step backwards. You can also lure the dog backwards by holding a treat under their nose and moving it backwards for the dog to follow. Whichever method you use, start with the mat close by at first, and reward as soon as their back feet touch it. Gradually move the mat a little further away as the dog catches on to the concept.
Anyway, some people start to teach this by simply walking towards their dog and rewarding if the dog takes a step back. If your dog starts backing up when you walk towards them with their food bowl, you could also try that. Some people create a narrow space on each side of the dog and click/treat whenever they take a step backwards. You can also lure the dog backwards by holding a treat under their nose and moving it backwards for the dog to follow. Whichever method you use, start with the mat close by at first, and reward as soon as their back feet touch it. Gradually move the mat a little further away as the dog catches on to the concept.
Shell Game
The shell game is a fun trick to try with your dog. Start with one cup, and a treat underneath it. Show the dog the treat, then place the cup back over it and encourage the dog to get it. As soon as they nose it or touch it with their paw, remove the cup and let them have the treat. After a couple repetitions with just one cup, try adding a second one. Again, show the dog which one the treat is in, and reward when they get the right one. After a few successful tries, start switching the cups around just once. Gradually start to switch them around multiple times or add more cups to choose from. If your dog struggles at all, make things easier again and help them out a little.
Leg Weaving
Leg weaving is a fun and cool looking trick, mostly geared towards smaller or medium sized dogs. Dogs can learn to weave figure eights around your legs while you're standing in one spot, or they can weave through your legs one at a time while you walk in a straight line. To teach your dog to weave, simply start by luring and rewarding for each step. Eventually, you can start to fade your lure and reward for every two steps, three steps, etc, rather than every time.
Go To a Target Mark on the Floor
Sending a dog to a target is a necessity for film work and a good way to build on behaviors from a distance. Start with a large round mat (ideally a solid stand out color such as yellow or green) and start working close to it. Reward any time the dog touches it with a paw, whether it is intentional or not. You can start by luring or shaping with a clicker, whichever you prefer and your dog responds to best.
Once they are more deliberately touching the target with their paw, try sending them to the target from slightly further away. You can also start to cut the target into a smaller and smaller shape. After they can touch one target, you can also start adding in a second one and send the dog back and forth between targets. Also try asking for known behaviors once they get to the target to mix up the game a bit more.
Once they are more deliberately touching the target with their paw, try sending them to the target from slightly further away. You can also start to cut the target into a smaller and smaller shape. After they can touch one target, you can also start adding in a second one and send the dog back and forth between targets. Also try asking for known behaviors once they get to the target to mix up the game a bit more.
Jump Through Circled Arms
This trick is best suited to medium or small sized dogs. To teach this to your dog, start by holding your arm at a comfortable height for your dog to jump, and touch the wall with your hand to prevent the dog from running around your arm. Toss a treat or lure your dog over your arm and reward when they jump over. Practice several times, gradually moving your hand away from the wall. Once your dog can jump over your arm without a lure, start holding your other hand above to create a disconnected hoop. Gradually move your arms closer together until they form a hoop.
Jump Into Your Arms
Jumping into your arms is another fun and cute trick. Again, this one is geared towards smaller or medium sized dogs that you can catch and hold in your arms. To start, your dog should be pretty comfortable being held or carried by people so they won't be startled when you catch them. You may also want to teach them to jump up on a variety of different objects of different shapes and sizes first.
Start by sitting on a chair and encourage them to jump up. After you have mastered this, lean against the wall in a sitting position and try it again. Gradually start to slant yourself against the wall instead of sitting, and start catching your dog in your arms instead of on your lap. This takes a lot of time and trust to master, so be patient and practice just a little at a time.
Start by sitting on a chair and encourage them to jump up. After you have mastered this, lean against the wall in a sitting position and try it again. Gradually start to slant yourself against the wall instead of sitting, and start catching your dog in your arms instead of on your lap. This takes a lot of time and trust to master, so be patient and practice just a little at a time.