Teach your dog these easy dog tricks: shake paws, roll over, spin, speak, play dead, kiss, bow, sit, down, wave, fetch, back up, come, stay, and crawl. These basic obedience commands and fun tricks will please your pet and anyone who sees them!
You have probably already heard of most of these tricks for dogs, but you need to know that some are relatively easy to teach, while others will make your dog the most skilled in the park! Read on to learn more about the tricks!
15 Easy Tricks To Teach Your Dog
Besides having a dog-friendly backyard, you must learn these 15 easy dog training tricks for harmonious living with your furry friend: shaking paws, rolling over, spinning, speaking, playing dead, kissing, bowing, sitting, down, waving, fetching, backing up, coming, staying, and crawling.
1. Shake Paws
Shaking paws is one of the most popular fun dog tricks to teach your pet. To teach a dog to shake paws, begin by having them sit and hold a treat near their nose – those can be fresh-breath dog treats for extra help! Gently lift one of their paws while saying the command "shake" and reward them immediately after.
2. Roll Over
For roll over, start with your dog in the down position and hold a treat by their nose. Slowly move the treat towards their shoulder, encouraging them to follow it and roll onto their back and side. As they complete the motion, say "roll over" and give them a treat. Repeating this process will help them understand the connection between the movement and the command.
3. Spin
Teaching spin involves using a treat to guide your dog in a circular motion. Begin by standing before them and moving the treat around them in a circle. As they follow the treat and turn in a full circle, say "spin" and reward them once they have completed it. You can eventually teach them to spin in both directions by alternating how you move the treat.
4. Speak
To teach your dog to speak, excite them with a toy or treat, then wait for them to bark in anticipation. When they do, say "speak" and immediately reward them. This command can take patience, as you will be capturing a natural behavior, but once they learn to bark on command, it becomes a fun trick.
5. Play Dead
For play dead, have your dog lie down and use a treat to lure them onto their side. Once they are lying down and still, say "play dead" or "bang" and reward them. With enough repetition, they will associate lying still on their side with the command.
6. Kiss
To teach kissing, hold a treat near your face and say the word "kiss" as your dog comes forward to lick you. When they do, reward them immediately. This simple trick can be a cute way to bond with your dog.
7. Bow
A fun and theatrical trick is a bow, where you capture a natural stretch. You can also guide your dog by lowering a treat toward the ground, ensuring their chest drops while keeping their rear up. As they stretch, say "bow" and reward them.
8. Sit
Perhaps one of the first steps on how to raise a puppy is the simple puppy trick of sitting! Teaching sit is essential and can be done by holding a treat over their nose and slowly moving it backward. As their head follows the treat, their bottom will naturally lower to the ground. When they sit, say the command "sit" and reward them with a treat.
9. Down
For down, start with your dog in a sitting position. Hold a treat in front of their nose and lower it to the ground. As they follow it, their body will move into a lying position. Once they are fully down, say "down" and give them a treat.
10. Wave
To teach wave, begin by teaching the "shake" command. Once they have mastered shaking hands, hold your hand higher than usual and encourage them to raise their paw without touching your hand. As they do, say "wave" and reward them that, over time, they will lift their paw in a waving motion.
11. Fetch
When teaching fetch, begin by showing them a toy and tossing it a short distance. As they chase the toy, encourage them to return it by using a happy, excited tone. When they do bring it back, reward them with a treat or praise to reinforce the action.
12. Back Up
Back up can be taught by standing in front of your dog and walking toward them. As they step back naturally, say "back up" and reward them once they have moved. Gradually, they will learn to respond to the verbal cues without needing you to step toward them.
13. Come
To teach, come, call your dog's name, then say "come" while showing them their favorite treat. Reward them immediately when they reach you, reinforcing that coming to you results in positive outcomes—practice in different locations to strengthen their recall.
14. Stay
Another famous command to teach your dog is to tell them to stay. They love being with their human companions, but having them in one place is sometimes necessary. The command stay involves having your dog in a sit or down position.
Hold your hand up, palm out, and say, "stay." Take a few steps back, and reward them if they remain in place. Gradually increase the distance and duration so they learn to stay until released.
15. Crawl
To teach crawling, start with your dog lying down and holding a treat low to the ground before them. Move the treat forward, encouraging them to crawl without standing up. Reward them as they move forward in a crawling motion.
You can find more pet content besides these 15 easy dog tricks on homeyou's inspiration blog! Regardless if you are a cat or dog person, you will discover new tips and tricks!
