Top Tricks To Teach Your Dog

How to teach your dog to Sit

Difficulty: Easy

When it comes to dog training, one must sit before they can stay. Such is the natural progression of top dog-gery.

But luckily, teaching your pup to pop a squat is relatively easy:

1. Start in a quiet, familiar location.

2. With your furry friend on all fours, get their attention with a treat to the beak.

3. Curve your hand over their head and move it towards their back. As you do, your pooch’s tush should naturally go to the floor.

4. When your dog is sitting, praise them with their positive marker and give them the treat.

Eventually, your pup will know to sit when they hear the word ‘sit’, whether there’s a treat on the table or not!

How to teach your dog to Stay

Difficulty: Easy

Put your pup’s safety fur-st by teaching them to stay. You know how much they like to hound the traffic.

And besides, who doesn’t love a game of musical statues? Your dog is no different. But in this case the music is your voice – you songbird, you! Here’s how to play:

1. Start by getting your dog to sit (they’re a pro at this, now).

2. Hold up your hand, facing away from you with a flat palm, and say (or sing) ‘Stay’.

3. Step back a few paces, and if your dog stays in place? It’s treat time.

4. Repeat this process, gradually increasing the distance between you and your dog each time.

And voila! Your pup will stay put before you know it.

How to teach your dog to Come

Difficulty: Easy

Obviously, you need to teach your dog to come if you’ve taught them to stay. No one likes a Mal-tease.

And all you really need is a reward and a radiance (of personality, of course). Here’s how to draw your doggy in:

1. Start a few paces away, with a treat or a toy in hand.

2. Call your dog’s name and tell them to ‘come’. Bonus points for whoever reaches the highest decibel.

3. If your pup is playing hard to get, tap your legs and gesture your dog towards you.

4. When they do come, praise them and give them the treat or toy.

Don’t worry, soon enough you’ll have that pup running to you at the drop of a cat.

How to teach your dog to Lay Down

Difficulty: Easy

This one will come in handy when your pup is zooming a little too excitably:

1. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s snoz.

2. Lower your hand to the floor and wait for them to follow.

3. When your pup’s gut is on the ground, say ‘down’ and give them the treat (and lots of pats).

It really is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

How to teach your dog to Shake Hands

Difficulty: Easy

Imagine not greeting new people with a proper handshake – that’s just paw manners.

So, to save your dog’s reputation, here’s how to teach them to shake:

1. Get your dog to sit.

2. Hold a treat – and make sure they’ve seen it – before you close your fist around it.

3. Using your other hand, pick up your dog’s paw and say ‘shake’. Hold the shake for at least two seconds (you want it short but sweet).

4. Give your pup some praise – and the treat.

The result? A dignified doggo, in every interaction.

How to teach your dog to Roll Over

Difficulty: Medium

You’ve taught them to stop. You’ve taught them to drop. Now, it’s time to roll.

Although teaching this trick is slightly more involved than the others:

1. Start with your dog in the ‘down’ position.

2. Hold a treat in your hand and move it to the side of their head.

3. As your dog lays on its side, praise them.

4. Move your hand to the other side of their head (in a circular motion).

5. Keep moving your hand around your dog – within reason. We don’t need any dizzy doggies on our paws – and say ‘roll over’.

6. When your dog has fully rolled over, give them the treat and a tummy rub.

Because much like a good time, you’ve got to let the dogs roll.

How to teach your dog to Play Dead

Difficulty: Medium

Nothing like a bit of morbid fun every now and then, amiright?

And although this trick isn’t necessarily helpful for any training, it sure is entertaining:

1. Start with your dog in the ‘down’ position.

2. Hold a treat beside your dog’s head.

3. Move the treat down towards your dog’s shoulder – they should fall onto their side as their head follows the treat.

4. Give them the treat.

5. Start to repeat this exercise with the cue ‘play dead’.

6. Use your release word to end the trick. And be sure to reward your dog for a job well done.

The best part of this trick? The resurrection!

How to teach your dog to Play Fetch

Difficulty: Hard

We know what you’re thinking: “It can’t be that hard to get a dog to chase after a ball, right?” Right.

It’s getting them to bring it back that’s the hard part.

But good news! We’re teaching you how:

1. Have your dog sit calmly beside you.

2. Casually bounce a ball or throw it in the air to yourself.

3. Once your dog is showing interest in the ball, gently throw it away from you and say ‘fetch’.

4. When your dog has the ball, remain where you are and say ‘come’.

5. Praise your dog for coming back, take the ball, and go again!

For this one, practice makes paw-fect.

But eventually, your dog will be dropping all kinds of objects in your lap – ready to play their favourite game. You’re welcome!

Bonus trick: How to teach your dog to Leave It

Difficulty: Varied

Once your pup gets their paws into something, it can be tricky to turn their attention away. Those Staffies can be stubborn!

But good news – you can teach your pooch to let sleeping dogs lie. And here’s how:

1. Offer your dog a treat. Then close your fist around it. Because what you giveth, you can taketh away.

2. Wait patiently and don’t say anything. You’re entering a stalemate, partner.

3. When your dog breaks – we mean, backs off from your hand – give them the treat and lots of praise.

4. Repeat these steps, adding in the cue ‘leave it’.

All of a sudden, your pup has learned personal space!