How to Teach Your Dog Fun New Tricks

In this guide

Once your dog has the basics down, tricks are a wonderful way to keep their mind busy and deepen your bond. They also give visiting relatives and children something safe and fun to watch, without the dog being overhandled.

Shake Hands

Ask for a sit. Gently touch the back of one paw, which naturally makes most dogs lift it. Say shake the moment the paw lifts and reward. Many dogs offer the paw on their own once they realise it earns a treat.

Spin

Lure your dog in a full circle with a treat held at nose height. Say spin as they complete the turn. Break it into quarter turns first if your dog struggles with the full circle.

Play Dead

Start from a down. Gently guide your dog onto their side with a treat, saying bang or play dead. Reward calm stillness, building duration slowly.

Roll Over

Building on play dead, lure your dog's nose toward their shoulder so their body naturally rolls. This trick needs a flexible, comfortable dog, so skip it for older dogs with joint issues, which are common in larger breeds during India's humid monsoon months.

High Five

Once shake is solid, hold your palm upright instead of flat. Most dogs adapt quickly since the motion is similar.

Fetch

Encourage interest in a toy, reward your dog for picking it up, then for bringing it closer, and finally for a full return. Many Indian streets and parks get crowded in the evenings, so practise fetch in a quieter space or a fenced area.

Keep It Positive

Tricks should always feel like a game. If your dog loses interest, end the session rather than pushing through. A tired or bored learner rarely makes progress.

A Few Advanced Tricks to Try Next

Once your dog has three or four tricks down, teaching target or touch, where your dog bumps their nose against your open palm on cue, opens the door to many other skills, including closing doors, ringing a bell to go outside, and refining loose leash walking. A reliable speak and quiet pair is also genuinely useful for a dog who barks at every scooter outside the gate, since you can only teach quiet once speak is on cue and predictable.

Tricks for Rainy Days

During the monsoon, when outdoor walks are cut short, a short trick training session indoors is an easy way to tire a dog out mentally when physical exercise is limited. Even ten minutes of trick practice can noticeably take the edge off pent up energy.

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