5 Absolutely Must Teach Tricks for Your Dog

Woman teaching tricks to a white puppy dog outdoors

Training your dog can be a rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. Teaching your dog tricks provides mental stimulation and strengthens the bond between you and your pet. Whether you have a new puppy or an older dog, here are five must-teach tricks that can help improve obedience and impress your friends and family.

Sit

The sit command is one of the fundamental tricks every dog should learn. It’s a versatile command that can be used in various situations, such as when greeting guests or before crossing the street. To teach your dog to sit, follow these steps:

  • Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose, allowing them to sniff it.
  • Slowly raise the treat above their head, causing their nose to follow it.
  • As your dog raises their head to track the treat, their bottom will naturally lower into a sitting position.
  • Once they are fully sitting, say sit and give them the treat as a reward.

Use positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, to encourage your dog’s behavior and reinforce the command.

Stay

The stay command is essential for keeping your dog safe in various situations. It teaches them self-control and prevents them from running off or entering potentially dangerous situations. To teach your dog to stay, follow these steps:

  • Start with your dog in a sitting position.
  • Hold your hand, palm facing your dog, and say stay while stepping back.
  • If your dog remains in place, return to them and reward them with a treat and praise.
  • Gradually increase the distance and duration of the stay command over time, always rewarding your dog for successful stays.

Consistency is key when teaching the stay command. Practice in different environments and gradually introduce distractions to ensure your dog can stay focused and obedient.

Shake Hands

The shake hands trick is cute and a great way to teach your dog polite greetings. To teach your dog to shake hands, follow these steps:

  • Hold a treat in your closed hand, ensuring your dog can smell it.
  • Say shake hands and offer your closed hand to your dog.
  • Your dog will naturally try to paw at your hand to get the treat. As they do, say good shake and open your hand to let them take the treat.
  • Repeat this process several times, adding the verbal cue “shake hands” before offering your hand.

With practice, your dog will learn to extend their paw when you say the cue, creating an adorable and friendly gesture.

Roll Over

The roll over trick is fun and impressive, showcasing your dog’s agility and trust in you. To teach your dog to roll over, follow these steps:

  • Start with your dog in a lying down position.
  • Hold a treat close to their nose and slowly move it circularly towards their shoulder, encouraging them to roll onto their side.
  • As your dog rolls onto their side, say roll over and reward them with the treat.
  • Gradually increase the motion until your dog completes a full roll.

Remember to reward your dog generously during training to keep them motivated and enthusiastic about learning new tricks.

Play Dead

The play dead trick is entertaining and impressive and can amaze everyone. To teach your dog to play dead, follow these steps:

  • Start with your dog in a lying down position.
  • Hold a treat close to their nose and slowly move it towards their shoulder.
  • As your dog starts to roll onto their side, say bang or any cue word of your choice.
  • Gently guide their body into a lying position, rewarding them with the treat and praise.
  • Gradually decrease the guidance until your dog can play dead with the verbal cue.

Remember to keep training sessions short and fun to prevent your dog from becoming bored or tired. Always end on a positive note with praise and treats. Electric invisible dog fences are a popular option for containing dogs within a designated area without traditional physical fences. These fences use an underground wire to create a boundary. When the dog wearing a special collar approaches the boundary, it receives a mild electric stimulus, discouraging it from crossing. Electric invisible dog fences can be useful for training and managing your dog’s boundaries.