Teaching your dog tricks is not only fun but also provides mental and physical stimulation for your furry friend. It's a great way to bond with your dog and stay active. With some extra time on our hands due to Covid-19 restrictions, let's explore some cool tricks that you can easily teach your dog and have some fun together!
All you need is some dog treats, basic commands, and a little bit of practice. So, grab some treats and let's get started!
1. Shaking Paws
Teaching your dog to shake paws is usually quite easy because some dogs naturally raise their paw when asking for a treat. Here's how you can teach your dog to shake paws:
- Ask your dog to sit.
- Hold a treat in your closed fist.
- When your dog lifts its paw even slightly, give them a treat.
- If they don't lift it naturally, gently lift their paw and say “shake,” then give them a treat.
- Repeat the command until your pet willingly shakes paws with you.
2. Roll Over
If your dog already knows how to lay down, the next step is to teach them to roll over. This trick is easier for smaller and more agile dog breeds, but with persistence, any dog can learn to roll over. Remember not to physically force your dog to roll over using your hands. Instead, use the treat to lure them into the desired position.
Here's how you can teach your dog to roll over:
- First, get your dog in a down position.
- Using a treat, lure your dog's nose over its shoulder to encourage them to displace their weight and lie on their side.
- Continue the motion until their body rolls over fully, then give them a treat.
- When they consistently follow the treat all the way around in a “roll over,” add the verbal cue “roll over.”
3. Speak
Encouraging your dog to bark on command is easy if your pet is naturally vocal. This trick is especially useful because you can then teach them the “quiet” command. Keep in mind that it may take a bit longer to train if your dog is on the quieter side.
Here's how you can teach your dog to speak:
- Get your dog to bark naturally – a good way to do this is to show them a treat and not let them have it.
- As your dog barks, say “speak” in a clear, upbeat voice.
- Praise your dog and give them a treat.
- Repeat the “speak” command process several times until your dog seems to understand.
4. Place
Training your dog to go to a designated place can be helpful when you need them to settle down, get out from under your feet, or go to bed. For this trick, your dog needs to already know the “down” command.
Here's how you can teach your dog to place:
- First, decide where you want your dog to go, whether it's a bed or a mat.
- Stand close to the bed or mat and give your dog the command “place,” then lure them onto their designated spot.
- Once your dog has all fours on the bed or mat, give them a command to lie down.
- Repeat the command until your dog confidently finds and lays down on their “place.”
- Gradually increase the amount of time they spend there and the distance from which you give the command.
5. Shy (Cover Their Eyes)
One of the cutest tricks you can teach your dog is to cover their eyes with their paw on command. Here's how you can teach your dog to shy:
- Place a small piece of masking tape on your dog's nose.
- Most dogs will immediately attempt to take off the tape with their paw.
- As your dog brings their paw to their nose, say “shy” and reward the behavior with a treat.
- Repeat until your dog understands the command without using tape and will respond to the word “shy.”
6. Bow
With the bow command, your dog will lower their head and front end to the ground while keeping their hips elevated. This makes for a great trick and is relatively easy to teach, as bowing is a natural behavior dogs use when they want to engage in play.
Here's how you can teach your dog to bow:
- Get your dog to stand on all four paws facing you.
- Hold a treat in front of your dog's nose and move it down between their legs to the ground.
- If they bend their front leg without lowering their rear, give them the treat. If they lay down completely, withhold the treat.
- Keep your dog in a bow position for only a few seconds, then use the same treat to lure them back up into a standing position and give them the treat.
- After five successful repetitions, start luring your dog with an empty hand instead of one with a treat in it.
7. Spin
Spin is a great stretch for your dog and an awesome exercise to do before going for a run or engaging in physical activities like agility training. It's relatively easy to teach, as it can be done using your dog's favorite treats.
Here's how you can teach your dog to spin:
- Let your dog know you have a treat in your hand.
- Move your arm in a wide circle around your dog.
- Encourage your dog to follow the food in your hand and spin in a circle. Use the word “spin.”
- After one rotation, reward them with the treat.
- Once your dog understands this trick, graduate to only using the word “spin” or making a circular hand or arm gesture without the treat.
With practice and patience, you and your dog will be showing off your new tricks in no time!
Now, let's recap the tricks we've learned:
Keys to Take Away
- Shaking Paws: Teach your dog to lift their paw and shake hands.
- Roll Over: Train your dog to roll over onto their side.
- Speak: Encourage your dog to bark on command.
- Place: Teach your dog to go to a designated spot.
- Shy (Cover Their Eyes): Make your dog cover their eyes with their paw on command.
- Bow: Train your dog to lower their head and front end while keeping their hips elevated.
- Spin: Teach your dog to spin in a circle.
For more tips and tricks on how to care for your pets, visit HowPetCare. Happy training!