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On top of being loyal companions, dogs are also intelligent and trainable household pets who can learn a lot of tricks.
Teaching your dog a few tricks will strengthen your bond, improve your pet parenting journey, and give you confidence to recall them from harm.
In this guide, we will take you through 20 tricks to teach your dog from essential command training to advanced-level cues, and how to train your dog to execute them.
20 Tricks to Teach Your Dog
1. Sit
Teaching your dog to sit is one of the easiest obedience training you can ever undertake, no wonder it is so popular among many pet parents.
Dogs who respond to this command are more receptive and always ready to learn other tricks and difficult tricks.
This command is highly applicable in everyday life including when you’re waiting in traffic or when you want your canine friend to stay calm in front of your guests.
Start by holding a treat or toy above your dog’s head to get their attention and slowly move your hand up. This gesture will make your dog follow your hand with their nose and automatically sit down.
Once your dog is seated, make sure to reward the response with the treat and slowly introduce the hand or word cue in subsequent sessions. Repeat the process until your dog sits on command repeatedly.
2. Stay
Teaching your dog to stay is a life-saving command that prevents them from running into potentially dangerous situations.
Once your dog is seated comfortably, you can start by putting your hand before their face and moving back while saying ‘stay’. Offer your dog a treat reward if they stay put on command.
Teaching the ‘stay’ command requires lots of practice even after they have mastered it because dogs can easily get distracted.
3. Stop
Teaching your dog to stop doing something on command is basic training that helps prioritize safety during walks and various activities.
To train your dog to stop on command, use a leash and let them move freely while you hold it. As your dog begins to move, firmly say ‘Stop’ and gently pull the leash to bring them to a halt.
Immediately stop and reward your dog with a tasty treat once they stop and praise to reinforce the behavior.
Practice this repeatedly in calm, distraction-free environments before gradually introducing more stimulating settings until your furry friend reliably stops without needing the leash tug.
Remember to practice in a variety of settings and gradually introduce distractions, reinforcing the behavior until it becomes engrained in your dog.
4. Come
Nothing can be more satisfying than telling your dog to come and seeing them running toward you with a smiley face and wagging tails.
This command is not only cute but also important for recalling your dog from dangerous situations especially when they go off-leash while on a busy street.
You’ll need a treat or your dog’s favorite toy to get their attention when starting this training. Once your furry friend smells the goodies and looks at you, give them a firm but friendly ‘come’ command.
Your dog will most likely start running toward you, so prepare a welcoming hug, praises, and treats to reward the positive response.
5. Go Potty
Creating and reinforcing a consistent bathroom routine is one of the most important things you can do for your dog and family. It’s also a very easy-to-do trick if you follow the steps correctly.
To teach your dog good bathroom habits, you’ll start by establishing a specific outdoor spot that you want them to use as their toilet.
Take your dog to this spot at regular intervals. This could be after meals, waking up, or just before going to bed.
Use a consistent verbal cue like ‘Go potty’ when you reach the designated area. Wait patiently until your dog goes, and immediately reward them with treats and praise to reinforce the behavior.
If your dog doesn’t go, don’t scold them – just try again later. Over time, they will associate the cue and location with the act of going potty. Consistency is key to success.
6. Let’s go
The ‘let’s go’ command can be very helpful in many situations such as when your furry friend is holding onto something dangerous or when taking them out.
Teaching your dog to respond to this command is fairly easy. You can start by giving the dog a treat or toy to hold and then saying ‘let’s go’ while taking the valuable item away.
Remember to praise or pet your dog adequately for obeying this command and return the valuable item that you snatched from them.
7. Give Kiss
If you’re one of the many people who enjoy taking a doggie smooch, then you need to train them how to give kisses in a better way. Teaching your dog to kiss on command can also prevent excessive licking.
This command is fairly simple and it usually goes well with kids and teenagers. You can train this command by rubbing a crunchy treat on your cheek and asking your dog to kiss it.
Repeat the procedure until your dog responds to the command without the food motivation, and soon enough, you’ll be able to get the sweetest affection from your best friend on cue.
8. Back up
Teaching your dog to back up is fun and it can also come in handy in a variety of tricky situations.
Once your furry friend learns to back up on cue, you can confidently recall them from running into danger.
To teach your dog to back up, position yourself facing them with a treat in hand. Hold the treat close to their chest and gently move toward them while saying “Back up.”
As your dog steps backward, mark the action with a firm ‘Yes’ or use a loud clicker and reward them with a tasty treat.
Practice taking one or two steps back at a time, and gradually add distance as they become comfortable with the movement.
Over time, reduce reliance on treats and ensure your dog responds reliably to the verbal cue or hand signal alone.
9. Shake Paw
Teaching your dog to shake paws is not mandatory, but it is a very popular trick that can showcase your canine’s obedience levels.
You’re likely to have an easy time teaching this cue because many dogs enjoy using their paws on interaction, and they will certainly love it when given attention based on that.
To start the training session, have your lovely pup sit in front of you. Hold a treat in your hand and let your dog see and sniff it to get their attention.
Say the cue ‘Shake’ while gently lifting one of their front paws with your free hand. Reward them immediately with the treat and praise for allowing you to lift their paw.
Repeat this process several times, gradually encouraging your dog to lift their paw on their own when you extend your hand and say “Shake.”
10. High-five
Once your dog learns how to shake paws, you can quickly transition and teach them this cool trick that will showcase their friendly personality.
The major difference between shake paw and high five is the position and how the trained dog places their paw against your hand.
Begin by having your dog in a sitting position. Hold a treat in your hand, show it to your dog, and then raise your hand slightly above their head.
As your dog reaches up to investigate, gently tap one of their paws with your free hand. Immediately reward them with the treat and offer praise. Repeat the procedure until your dog responds to this cue.
11. Spin
You can effortlessly lure your dog to make several spins by holding their favorite treat in your hand while making a circular motion.
To train your dog to spin, take a treat and hold it close to your dog’s nose, and them move the treat in a circular motion around their head and body.
As your dog follows the treat with their nose, their body will naturally spin. Say the word ‘Spin’ as they complete the motion, and reward them immediately with the treat.
Over time, phase out the treat and rely on the verbal cue and a hand gesture. For added fun, teach them to spin in both directions by using separate cues like ‘Spin Left’ and ‘Spin Right.’
You can stand out from other fellow pet owners when showing them how your dog can differentiate between right and left.
12. Lie down
Teaching your dog to lie down on command is important for several reasons. This trick can help calm your dog when they’re getting too hyper or becoming rowdy.
This command can be built on the foundation of the ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ commands. Start the training by having your furry friend sit in front of you.
You can then give them the verbal cue ‘lie down’ while using a downward hand motion to guide them into what you expect.
Praise your dog and give them an enticing treat when they make a reliable response. With enough patience and practice, your dog will be able to execute this command without treats.
13. Roll over
The roll over command is useful in asking your furry friend to roll over on their back. You can start this training by having your dog lie on their belly.
Hold a tasty treat firmly over their head and utter the phrase ‘roll over’ while moving the treat over their shoulders as they follow with their noses.
Once their head looks sideways, the dog’s entire body should follow suit and roll over their back in no time.
Mark the response with a clicker and hand over the treat as a sign of appreciation for the good response. Practice this command severally and slowly remove the enticing treat until your dog responds on cue.
This command can be useful when you want to inspect the underside of your dog for skin conditions or external parasites.
14. Jump
Training your dog to jump high and low is great for everyday physical exertion, agility training, hiking, and everyday fun.
To teach your dog this trick, start by holding a treat or toy just above your dog’s head or slightly in front of them. You can then encourage your dog to jump up to reach it.
Make sure to use the cue ‘Jump’ as they leap, and immediately reward them with the treat or toy once they land.
Once your dog learns how to jump vertically, you can introduce small hurdles or obstacles like a low broomstick, encouraging them to leap over by guiding them with a treat.
Gradually increase the height of the jump. Make sure your dog remain confident and safe throughout the training.
15. Ring the bell
Teaching your dog to ring a bell is a practical and communicative trick that can be especially helpful for potty training or when your dog wants to go outside.
Using training treats and practicing patience throughout the process will definitely help your dog get the knack for this trick.
Before training your dog to ring a bell, you’ll want to install it at your dog’s nose or paw height near the door you frequently use for potty breaks.
Begin the training by showing your furry friend the bell. Take a treat and hold it behind the bell to encourage your dog to touch the bell with their nose or paw.
The moment your dog makes contact with the bell, say the phrase ‘Ring the bell’ and give reward them with a tasty treat.
Open the door and move out with your dog to teach them that the bell’s sound is associated with the action of moving out.
Repeat this training process consistently while gradually linking the bell’s sound with going outside for potty breaks or other reasons.
Be patient and ensure you reinforce this action every time they successfully ring the bell to communicate with you.
Make sure you’re there for your dog each time they ring the bell. Failing to show up might imply to your dog that the trick doesn’t add up.
16. Quiet
Teaching your dog to get quiet on command is useful in getting them to stop barking and maintaining a tranquil environment.
When your dog begins barking, say “quiet” in a firm but calm tone. Use a treat to redirect their attention away from barking and toward you.
Once your canine friend maintains silence, make sure to reward them with a treat and offer a few verbal praises to show your satisfaction with quietness.
17. Speak
In addition to the quiet command, this one is also helpful in curbing excessive barking behavior by making your canine friend bark on cue.
Before teaching your dog to speak, you should begin by finding a situation that naturally excites your dog and causes them to bark.
This could be anything from the doorbell ringing or reaching out to a toy or treat. When your dog barks, immediately say the cue ‘Speak’ and reward them with a treat and praise.
You’ll also want to pay attention to your dog when they ‘speak’ during this training. This will reinforce the idea that ‘speaking’ can get them your attention.
Repeat this until your dog starts to associate the word ‘Speak’ with soft barking. Gradually introduce the cue without the natural trigger, encouraging your dog to bark on command.
Be sure to practice in different settings to ensure your dog can respond reliably to the cue in various situations.
Training your dog to speak works well when undertaken in a quiet environment free from noisy distractions.
18. Walk slowly
Teaching your dog to walk slowly can come in handy on many occasions, especially during outdoor conditions.
Training this command should be built on the backdrop of other basic tricks such as ‘come’, ‘stop’, and ‘sit’.
Have your dog seated away from you by one or two meters and call him by name or use the ‘come’ command.
If they start running fast, give the stop command and use a hand signal to encourage a slower pace. Once your dog walks slower, reward them with tasty goodies and repeat the process as needed.
19. Take a bow
Teaching your dog this tick will have them stick their chest on the ground while raising their rear end in the air.
Even though it may initially sound like a heavy task to accomplish, you should approach it in confidence because bowing is a natural behavior for dogs.
Bowing is a natural play gesture for dogs, so you can easily train this trick by capturing the behavior. Hold a treat near your dog’s nose and slowly guide it downward and slightly toward their front paws.
As their chest lowers to the ground while their rear stays elevated, say ‘Bow’ and reward them immediately.
Practice this several times, marking the behavior with a click or verbal praise every time they bow. Over time, you can phase out the treat, and your dog will perform this trick on command.
Professional dog trainers call this behavior play bow because dogs usually take a bow when playing with each other. It is a subtle way of inviting each other for a play.
20. Guard
This is an advanced command that works well with guard dogs and watchdogs. It harnesses the dog’s protective instincts to make them look after your valuables.
Introduce your dog to the object or space you want them to guard. This could be the backyard gate or an entryway tp your parking.
Encourage your dog to sit or stay near the object and use the cue ‘Guard’ while rewarding them with a treat for staying put.
You can then increase the challenge by having a stranger with protective clothing approach the guarded area.
Reward your dog for alerting you with a bark or maintaining focus on the object as the stranger approaches.
Practice this command consistently, but ensure your dog remains friendly and only uses this behavior when appropriate. Consider enlisting the help of a professional trainer for advanced scenarios.
Conclusion
We strongly recommend you start teaching your dog these tricks as early as possible to make it easier for you.
Some of these 20 tricks to teach your dog are quite simple while others can be built on the foundation of basic training.
It’s prudent to start with the basic ones and work your way through the advanced tricks and commands.
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Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.
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