Fun Tricks to Teach Your Dog (Beyond Sit and Stay)

So your dog has mastered “sit” and “stay”? Congratulations! Now it’s time to expand their repertoire and explore the exciting world of dog tricks. Teaching tricks is a fantastic way to bond with your furry friend, provide mental stimulation, and impress your friends and family. Plus, it’s just plain fun! Here are a few engaging tricks to get you started, moving beyond the basics:

1. Shake/High Five

This trick is relatively easy and always a crowd-pleaser. Start with your dog in a sit position. Hold your hand out, palm up, near their paw. Say “shake” or “high five.” If they lift their paw, even accidentally, reward them immediately with a treat and praise. Gradually increase the expectation, requiring them to lift their paw higher and place it in your hand before rewarding. Be patient and consistent. Soon, they’ll be giving you enthusiastic high fives!

2. Play Dead

This trick might seem a little more challenging, but it’s surprisingly simple to teach with the right approach. Start with your dog in a down position. Lure them onto their side by holding a treat near their nose and gently moving it towards their shoulder. As they lie down, say “play dead” and give them the treat. Gradually, require them to stay in the “dead” position for longer periods before rewarding. You can also add a dramatic flair by saying “bang!” before giving the command.

3. Roll Over

Building on the “play dead” trick, roll over is a natural progression. Once your dog is reliably lying on their side, continue luring them with a treat, guiding their nose further towards their back until they complete a roll. Say “roll over” as they perform the action and immediately reward them. You may need to break this down into smaller steps, rewarding them for turning their head slightly at first, then progressively requiring more of a roll before receiving a treat.

4. Spin

This is a fun and energetic trick that’s great for burning off excess energy. Hold a treat near your dog’s nose and lure them in a circle, either clockwise or counterclockwise. As they turn, say “spin” or “twirl.” Reward them as soon as they complete the circle. Repeat the process, gradually fading the lure and relying solely on the verbal command and hand gesture. You can teach them to spin in both directions!

5. Fetch Specific Items

Take fetch to the next level by teaching your dog to retrieve specific items by name. Start by introducing the name of a single item, such as “ball.” Show your dog the ball, say its name, and then throw it. When they bring it back, reinforce the name as they give it to you and offer a reward. Once they consistently retrieve that item on command, introduce another item with a different name. Gradually increase the number of items and test their ability to differentiate between them. Remember to keep training sessions short, positive, and reward-based. Celebrate small successes and be patient. With consistency and enthusiasm, your dog will be impressing everyone with their newfound trick abilities in no time!