Who says you cant teach an old dog new tricks? Here are 52 commands and tricks to teach your new or old canine - and how to do them. Click on each trick for more information and pictures!
When youre finished, remember to check out the Blog for more great tips!
 | Trick #1 - Respond To The ClickerThis is the foundation of every other trick on this list. Step 1: Click and give the dog a treat.Step 2: Repeat about thirty times. This teaches your dog to associate the click with the treat. Step 3: To maintain this connection it is important to follow the rule: Never click without treating and...... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #2 - NameStep 1: When your dog looks at you, click and treat.Step 2: Repeat 2 to 4 times. Step 3: Say his name as he looks at you. Step 4: Repeat 5-7 times. Step 5: Call him. If he looks at you...... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #3 - Touch - NEW! Featuring Additional Training VideoTeach your dog to touch the end of a dowel: a foundation many tricks build upon Step 1: Hold your touch stick away from you and wait. Step 2: Dogs are naturally curious, so when your dog touches it with his nose or mouth, click and treat. Keep doing this until...... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #4 - SitTeach Your Dog to Sit on Command! Step 1: Wait until he sits down on his own. Click and treat.Step 2: Repeat several times. Step 3: Say Sit as soon as he sits. Click and treat. Step 4: Repeat several times..................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #5 - DownUse this trick to build more advanced tricks Step 1: Grab your clicker and a good treat.Step 2: Just watch your dog and wait for him to lay down. When he lays down, immediately click and treat. Step 3: Keep waiting for your dog to do it again. Soon he will realize that he gets a click and treat whenever he lays down. Step 4: When your dog begins to lay down more often......... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #6 - StandIf your dog will stand still, it makes care and grooming easier Step 1: Have your dog lay down. Wait for him to stand up. When he stands up, click and treat. Repeat this action several times until he learns that he has to stand up in order to get his treat. Standing is so natural that it is likely that the dog wont immediately understand why he is being rewarded, so it may take more repetition than usual. (Initially, its okay to click even if.............................................— Read More! — |
 | Trick #7 - ReleaseThis command tells your dog to be released from sitting or staying Step 1: Give the command to sit. After waiting five to eight seconds, go ahead and use the vocal command with a hand motion of your choice to tell your dog to be released from his sitting position. If you act excited while doing this, your dog should naturally release. When he does so, click and treat. Repeat this step until your dog is consistently releasing.Step 2: Eventually, you will want to be........................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #8 - ComeThis is perhaps the most important command to teach your dog. It could save your dogs life! Step 1: Load the cue instead of the clicker. Heres how:Go up to your dog and give the command that you will use to call the dog, then treat him. For example: Say the word "here Puddles" and give him a piece of bacon. Repeat multiple times during the day and each time give different treats (bacon, chicken.............................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #9 - StayA simple command that lets your dog know to stay put Step 1: Have your dog sit. Click and treat.Step 2: Say stay. Wait six seconds. Say release then click and treat. Step 3: Say sit, stay and wait ten seconds. Say................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #10 - HeelTeach your dog to walk beside you without pullingStep 1: Begin by having your dog on a leash looped to your belt on your left side. That way you dont have to use your hands to hold the leash. Step 2: Should your dog pull on the leash—never go in the direction that your dog is pulling. Step 3: When your dog is close to you with his......................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #11 - Take ItThis command tells your dog to pick up an item you point to Step 1: Get one of your dogs favorite toys and set it on the ground. Wait for him to pick it up in his mouth. Click and treat.Step 2: Repeat this several times. When he starts picking up the toy without hesitation, start using the command take it when you click and treat. Step 3: After a few times of that, see if he will............................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #12 - Leave ItThis is not just a trick, it can save your dogs lifeStep 1: With your dog on a leash, let her smell the dog biscuit - then drop it two or three feet in front of her. Step 2: Call her by name and say "leave it" as she starts for the treat. Restrain her with the leash. Step 3: When your dog looks at you, click and treat with the chicken cube. Praise her as she gives up the........................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #13 - Bring ItThis command tells your dog to bring you an object Step 1: Tell your dog to get a toy by using the "Take It" command.Step 2: Encourage your dog to come towards you with the toy. Click and treat if he brings it towards you a few steps. Do this a few times. Step 3: Keep encouraging him to come nearer to you with the toy. Click and treat when he comes to you with the toy.......................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #14 - Learn names of everythingTeach your dog the names of household items Step 1: Have your dog touch your hand and click treat.Step 2: Hold the object in your hand and say touch. Click treat when he touches the object not when he touches your hand. Step 3: Call the object by its name (tug, squeaky, bunny, etc.) just as he touches it. Click and treat............................................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #15 - BellTeach your dog to ring a jingle-bell when he needs to go outside Step 1: Use a training stick to target the bell.Step 2: When he touches the bell, click and treat. Step 3: When he touches the bell on his own, click and jackpot. Step 4: Whenever you take him outside, have him touch the bell first. The reward is to open the door........................................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #16 - Eliminate on CommandTeaching this is better than spending hours outside on a rainy day Step 1: Designate a specific spot in your yard to make clean-up easier.Step 2: Wait until he finishes eliminating, then click and treat. Step 3: Do this each time, introducing a command such as "Park" or "Find a good spot." Step 4: Be consistent, but vary the reward........................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #17 - LeapTeach Your Dog To Leap Over A stick Step 1: Have your dog sit and stay while you lay a stick on the ground. Cross over to the other side of the stick and call your dog. As soon as the dog crosses the stick, click and treat.Step 2: Do this a few more times before adding height to the stick by placing a couple of thick books underneath it. Click and treat while he is crossing the stick.......................................................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #18 - Jumping Through A HoopUsing the leap command, teach your dog to jump through hoopsStep 1: Let your dog get used to the hoop. Set it on the ground; click and treat when he approaches it. Step 2: Have a helper hold the hoop (do not elevate the hoop) on the floor in front of him. Step 3: Call your dog or lure him through the hoop. Click and treat as he walks through the hoop................................................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #19 - Jumping PeopleThis is a great backyard circus trick Step 1: If your dog can comfortably jump over a stick elevated about 25 inches from the ground then you can begin to teach him to jump over people who are on their hands and knees in the crawl position.Step 2: Have your dog jump over the stick. Click & treat. (repeat a few times). Step 3: Have a helper kneel............................................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #20 - Go to a placeTeach your dog to go to an previously assigned spot or marker Step 1: Have your dog touch the training stick. Click and treat.Step 2: Place a piece of tape or a disk on the floor. Use the training stick to point to the marker, and click/treat when he is on that spot. Practice this several times until your dog knows to go to the marker to get his treat. Step 3: Call the marker by its name (mark, spot, disk, etc.) just as he steps into it. Click and treat. Repeat until........................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #21 - SpinTeach your dog to spin around in circles Step 1: Using your touch stick, guide your dog around in a circular motion. As he makes a full turn, click and treat. Step 2: Keep doing this several times, eventually adding a hand signal (circular motion with index finger). Step 3: Use the touch stick less. When your dog can spin without the touch stick, add your command........................................................ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #22 - High Five, Paw, Shake HandsPeople love it when puppies give them their paws to shake Step 1: Have your dog sit in front of you.Step 2: When he lifts his paw click and treat. Step 3: Repeat five times. Step 4: Wait for him to offer lifting his paw....................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #23 - ShakeTeach your dog to shake when given the command Step 1: Catch this trick with the clicker. Click and treat after you give him a bath or after you go outside in the rain when he shakes the water off.Step 2: If he offers the behavior again click and jackpot. Step 3: Click and treat and give the command "shake" whenever he shakes. Step 4: Give the command. When he shakes........................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #24 - JumpGet your dog excited, and teach him to jump Step 1: Catch this trick with the clicker. Click and treat after you give him a bath or after you go outside in the rain when he shakes the water off.Step 2: With your touch stick, hold it high in the air so that he has to jump up to touch it. As soon as his legs come off the ground, click and treat. If hes having trouble, start out with................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #25 - Roll OverTeach your dog to roll-over; the most famous of dog tricksStep 1: Have your dog lay down. Step 2: Lure him with the training stick or with your treat to have him move over to one hip and on his side. Click and treat. Step 3: Use the lure to get him to go over on his back. (This may take time for some dogs). Click and treat................................................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #26 - Sit Pretty (Beg)Begging is easy for some breeds, but others have a harder time Step 1: Get down on your dogs level with your dog sitting in front of you.Step 2: Let your dog smell a treat and then slowly lift it up above him. Step 3: When she lifts her paws off the ground click and treat. Step 4: Each time her hindquarters................................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #27 - SpeakTeach your dog to bark when given the command Step 1: Get your dog to bark. For example, if you know that your dog barks when the doorbell is rung, then ring the bell, and when he barks say "Speak" and click and treat.Step 2: After repeating this several times, try giving him the command (Speak). If he obeys and barks, give him a jackpot............ — Read More! — |
 | Trick #28 - Teaching HushTeach a command that will stop your dog from barking Step 1: Focus your attention on your dog while he is barking. If he looks at you and stops barking, even for a second, click and treat.Step 2: Repeat this several times, eventually adding the word "Hush" as you click and treat. Step 3: After several training sessions while your dog is barking, give your dog the command and click and treat when.............................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #29 - TugTeach your dog to not only tug, but also give Step 1: Take a rope toy and offer it to the dog and say "take it." (Reward your dog with praise when he moves toward the rope toy.)Step 2: When your dog takes it, gently shake and tug the rope toy to get the dog to hold and pull against the tugs. Step 3: Click and Treat when your dog tugs back on the rope toy. Use "Tug" as your command. Keep repeating this until.............................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #30 - Open/Close A DoorTeach dogs to open and close doors Step 1: Tie a bandana or cloth around your door. Tell him to tug it. Wait until he tugs the door open, then click and treat.Step 2: Keep doing this, eventually saying, "open" whenever he tugs the door open. Click and treat every time. Step 3: After your training session, he should be able to open the door at your command................................................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #31 - FetchIf your dog has mastered tug and bring it, teaching fetch will be easy Step 1: Start by playing tug. Say the "take it" command when you want your dog to pick up the rope toy, and then the "give" when you want him to release the rope.Step 2: Have your dog "give" the rope, but then toss it a few feet away. Say, "take it." Click treat when he picks up the rope. Step 3: Generally, your dog should be............................................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #32 - BackTeach your dog to walk backwards Step 1: With your dog standing facing you, walk forward toward him. When he takes a step backwards, click and treat.Step 2: Continue stepping forward. When he takes multiple steps backwards, click and treat. Step 3: Practice this until he understands that if he backs up, he deserves a treat. Start walking toward him less............................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #33 - YawnThis trick, like speak, is best caught with the clicker. Step 1: Most dogs will yawn when they are anxious. You can use that to help you catch the yawn. Look for your dog to yawn when he wants to go outside or wants a ball or toy that you are holding. When he yawns, click and treat. Because this trick has to be caught with the clicker, it can be fairly difficult, and you have to.................................— Read More! — |
 | Trick #34 - Bring Your SlippersTeach your dog to bring you your slippers, or any object Step 1: Using the "Learn Names" trick, teach your dog the name of whichever object you want him to bring you (Slippers, for example).Step 2: Now that he knows what the name of the object is, tell him to "Take my Slippers." Click and treat. Step 3: Tell your dog to Take it and Bring it. If he does so, click and treat. Step 4: Now, try combining all three tricks....................................... — Read More! — |
 | Trick #35 - LeashTrain your dog to bring you his leash Step 1: Set the leash on the floor. Tell him to take it. Click and treat when he does.Step 2: Go to the door. Tell him to take the leash, bring it, and drop it in your hands. Click and treat. Step 3: Repeat the take it, bring it, drop it action several times, saying, "Leash!" when he.............................................................. — Read More! — |
 | Trick #36 - Get Your DishTeach your dog to bring you his dish when he is hungry Step 1: Use the "Learn the Names of Everything" (Trick #13) to teach him to touch his dish on command.Step 2: Teach him to hold the dish in his mouth using the "take it" command (  
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